Objectives: This study examined whether management-level discussions on Health and Productivity Management (HPM) and the involvement of occupational health professionals in discussions are associated with workplace health promotion (WHP) program outcomes, as indicated by HPM evaluation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 2495 corporations that submitted the 2020 HPM Survey Sheets. Corporations were categorized into 3 groups based on the presence or absence of HPM discussions at management-level meetings and the attendance of occupational health professionals. The overall score and the deviation score for “assessment and improvement” were used as indicators of program outcomes. Multiple regression analyses were performed, adjusting for industry sector, company size, and number of occupational physicians and occupational health nurses.

Results: Corporations without HPM discussions at management-level meetings showed significantly lower scores on both indicators (overall score coefficient: −11.70; 95% CI, −12.83 to −10.53; “assessment and improvement” coefficient: −11.30; 95% CI, −12.50 to −9.97). In contrast, corporations with HPM discussions attended by occupational health professionals demonstrated significantly higher scores than those without such attendance (overall score coefficient: 5.39; 95% CI, 4.61-6.18; “assessment and improvement” coefficient: 5.15; 95% CI, 4.28-6.02). These associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that discussions about HPM at management-level meetings and the involvement of occupational health professionals are associated with WHP program outcomes. These results suggest that collaboration between top management and occupational health professionals in management reviews may contribute to the successful implementation of WHP programs.

Objectives: There is a growing interest in understanding the long-term impact of employment status on psychological stress. We aimed to explore the association between socioeconomic status and psychological stress over a long-term follow-up period across the COVID-19 pandemic, employing the Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale (K6).

Methods: We evaluated K6 scores from the 2021 follow-up survey of NIPPON DATA2010 using a self-administered questionnaire. The association between employment status and changes in K6 scores over 11 years was examined. Multiple regression analyses were used to estimate both crude and adjusted differences in K6 score changes across various socioeconomic factors including employment category, annual household income, marital status, and household size. Analyses were stratified by age, gender, and prefectural population size.

Results: This study included 1532 participants with an average age of 54.9 years. Over 11 years (2010-2021), participants in both gender and age groups showed increases in mean K6 scores (men: 2.79 to 3.06; women: 3.15 to 3.56; <65 years: 3.27 to 3.47; ≥65 years: 2.37 to 3.08). Nonemployed participants, particularly homemakers, showed significantly greater increases in K6 scores, compared with full-time employees, especially among women, younger individuals, and those in densely populated areas, with a significant interaction with age.

Conclusions: Nonemployed individuals, especially homemakers, experienced greater psychological stress over the past 11 years than did their fully employed counterparts. Public interventions, including strengthened social connections and telemental health services, may help mitigate these disparities, enhance mental well-being, and foster a sense of belonging.

Objectives: Cancer screening is crucial for early detection and improved health outcomes. Limited evidence exists on the association between occupational class and cancer screening participation in Japan. Therefore, we aimed to examine screening participation rates and disparities among active workers across different occupational classes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a nationwide web-based survey conducted in Japan (September to November, 2023). Eligible participants included current workers aged 40-64 years for colorectal, lung, and stomach cancer screenings (n = 7038); workers aged 40-64 years for breast cancer screening (n = 2929); and workers aged 30-64 years for cervical cancer screening (n = 4252). Cancer screening participation rates across occupational classes (upper nonmanual, lower nonmanual, and manual workers) were compared using the chi-square test. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs for nonparticipation, adjusted for sex, age, educational attainment, household income, and workplace scale. Upper nonmanual workers served as the reference group.

Results: Manual workers consistently had lower cancer screening participation rates. Compared with upper nonmanual workers, manual workers exhibited significantly higher PRs for nonparticipation in colorectal (PR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.22), lung (PR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12-1.34), stomach (PR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23), and cervical cancer screenings (PR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.33). The disparities were particularly pronounced among male workers.

Conclusions: Manual workers had lower cancer screening participation rates, particularly for colorectal, lung, stomach, and cervical cancer. Targeted interventions are needed to improve screening, particularly among manual workers, and reduce occupational disparities in cancer prevention and outcomes.

Objectives: The cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains uncertain in the majority of affected individuals, but the influence of socioeconomic status on CKD progression has recently gained attention. We compared the risk of CKD progression among 18 occupational classifications using an annual health checkup database.

Methods: We used the annual health checkup data and health insurance claims data of the Japan Health Insurance Association in Kyoto prefecture between April 2012 and March 2016. The primary outcome for survival analysis was defined as a more than 30% change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from the first health checkup. We used the Cox proportional hazards model for time-to-event analyses to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the primary outcome, adjusting for age, sex, eGFR, body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, dyslipidemia, uric acid, urinary protein, and existence of kidney disease at first health checkup.

Results: We analyzed 239 506 employees, and 1736 (0.7%) individuals whose eGFR had decreased by 30% or more; the mean follow-up period was 2.8 years. When we compared the risk with that for “manufacturing,” 5 categories of industries (“information and communications”; “transport and postal services”; “accommodations, eating and drinking services”; “living-related and personal services and amusement service”; “medical, health care and welfare”) were associated with a decline in the increased risk of eGFR after adjusting for the confounding factors and/or mediators.

Conclusions: We provide evidence that the risk of CKD progression depends on occupational type. Further research is needed to confirm the mechanism and causal relationships involved.

Objectives: To evaluate lifestyle and weight changes in new male employees of Japanese companies and clarify the effects of environmental and lifestyle changes on weight changes in early years after joining the company.

Methods: We analyzed health checkup results and lifestyle questionnaires of 160 male graduates hired by a particular company between fiscal years 2009 and 2012. The data obtained included health examinations from the time of the job offer to the fourth year at the company. Weight changes were analyzed using a Friedman test. Lifestyle questionnaires were analyzed using a McNemar test. Twelve male employees who had been with the company for 5-10 years were interviewed about their lives before and after joining. The results were transcribed and analyzed using the Steps for Coding and Theorization method.

Results: Compared with employees’ weight at the time of the job offer, their weight at the time of joining the company and in the second and third years increased significantly. (P <.001). An increasing number of participants ate dinner late, missed opportunities for exercise, and did not get sufficient sleep. Interview results indicated that overtime, commuting, and work-related drinking parties among new employees led to late dinners and difficulty in maintaining exercise habits, and that stress at work led to overeating.

Conclusions: New employees gained weight during their first 3 years at the company, and lifestyle changes such as overtime work, late dinners due to drinking parties, and loss of opportunities for exercise during the same period had an impact.

Objectives: Strengthening the research workforce is essential to safeguard public health and human lives. This study examined the associations between work hours and perceived performance appraisal, and the intention to leave the medical research workforce.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data collected from medical researchers between December 2022 and January 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to participants via all 141 societies of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences. Weekly work hours were self-reported using 10 response options. Perceived appraisal of research performance at work was assessed using 6 response options and dichotomized into inappropriately appraised (slightly disagree/totally disagree) and the rest. Intention to leave the research workforce was also self-reported and dichotomized. We calculated multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for intention to leave, according to work hours and perceived appraisal.

Results: Of 3139 participants (852 women), most (n = 686) worked 60-79 hours weekly. One in four (n = 745) felt inappropriately appraised, and 11% (n = 356) intended to leave. A U-shaped association was observed between work hours and intention to leave (aOR: 2.05; 95% CI, 1.12-3.73, for weekly working 100 hours or longer), although the quadratic trend was not significant (P = .15). The inappropriately appraised group had a 3.6 times (95% CI, 2.81-4.58) higher OR of intending to leave compared with their appropriately appraised counterparts.

Conclusions: The results suggest that researchers who work long hours and feel inappropriately appraised are more likely to consider leaving the medical research workforce.

Objectives: Noise is a pervasive environmental factor in manufacturing settings and is a well-known cause of noise-induced hearing loss. However, its effects on autonomic nervous system function and cognitive work performance have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of high-intensity noise exposure on autonomic activity and cognitive performance using objective physiological and behavioral indicators.

Methods: Task performance was assessed using two 15-minute sessions of the Uchida-Kraepelin test. Autonomic nervous system activity was evaluated through continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV) and measuring salivary amylase activity at 3 time points: immediately before the first test, between the 2 test sessions, and immediately after the second test. All measurements were conducted on 2 separate days under the absence of noise or the presence of 90 dB(A) pink noise.

Results: Exposure to noise significantly increased low-frequency (LF) and the LF/(LF + high-frequency [HF]) ratio. HF and the coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR) showed no significant change. Salivary amylase activity was also significantly elevated during noise exposure, particularly after task completion. Performance on the Uchida-Kraepelin test revealed a significant decrease in the response volume ratio under noise exposure. The number and rate of incorrect responses remained unchanged.

Conclusions: High-intensity noise exposure activates the sympathetic nervous system and impairs work performance by reducing processing speed while maintaining accuracy. These findings underscore the importance of considering noise not only as an auditory hazard but also as a factor affecting cognitive ergonomics and occupational performance.

Background: Shift work is associated with irregular dietary habits and poor nutritional intake, increasing the risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess dietary quality and nutritional intake according to shift work status among Korean adult workers.

Methods: Data from 15 121 adult workers aged ≥20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2013 and 2021 were analyzed. Dietary quality was evaluated using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and shift work status was determined by self-reported working hours. Associations between shift work and dietary quality were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, accounting for the complex survey design. Stratified analyses by gender were also conducted.

Results: Shift workers showed no significant difference in overall dietary quality compared with day workers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.80-1.04). However, shift workers more frequently skipped breakfast (OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.89) and consumed fewer fresh fruits (OR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.98), vegetables excluding kimchi/pickles (OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-0.99), and protein-rich foods (OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99). Conversely, shift workers had better adherence to recommended sodium intake (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.34). Gender-stratified analysis revealed lower fruit intake among male shift workers and more frequent breakfast skipping and lower fruit/protein intake among female shift workers.

Conclusions: Among Korean adult workers, shift work was associated with unfavorable dietary patterns, characterized by increased breakfast skipping and lower intake of fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods. Tailored strategies to improve meal regularity and dietary balance are recommended for managing the health of shift workers.

Objectives: Passenger rail drivers’ physical behaviors contribute to individual, organizational, and community risks. As work tasks are theorized to determine physical behaviors performed during work hours, there is a need to clarify how work tasks determine passenger rail drivers’ physical behaviors to inform improved work design. The aim of this study was to describe the physical behaviors of passenger train drivers across their work tasks and breaks, and explore what potential influences create variations in physical behaviors within tasks.

Methods: An exploratory observational field study was conducted with passenger train drivers in South Australia. Across a shift drivers were observed directly, and a hierarchical task analysis was conducted to identify their main work tasks and sub-tasks, with simultaneous accelerometry to quantify the physical behaviors.

Results: Ten male passenger train drivers, median age of 53 years, were observed. The hierarchical task analysis identified seven main tasks: Pre-Service, Set-Up, Driving, Switching Ends, Pack-Up, Waiting Time, and Breaks. Driving was almost all sitting (99%), whereas Set-Up and Switching Ends involved considerable moderate/vigorous physical activity (24% and 21%, respectively). Physical behaviors varied within tasks due to worker characteristics (eg, individual motivation), uncontrolled work elements (eg, weather), and structural work elements (eg, timetables).

Conclusions: Passenger train drivers’ physical behaviors at work were largely determined by their work tasks, but varied with worker characteristics, as well as uncontrolled and structural work elements. These findings may be used to inform future job redesigns to promote passenger train drivers’ health through their physical behaviors at work.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate, using wearable sensors, the impact of transitioning from an 8-hour to a 12-hour shift schedule on sleep patterns and well-being in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses with pre-existing sleep disturbances. We also examined differences in outcome based on chronotype.

Methods: We conducted an observational study at a university hospital ICU between November 2020 and October 2023, before and after a hospital-wide shift schedule change. Nurses wore wearable sensors and completed daily surveys over 5 weeks under each shift system. Rotating-shift ICU nurses with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score >5 were eligible. Sleep metrics and subjective well-being were compared using linear mixed models, adjusting for age. Sleep episodes were categorized relative to shift timing, and chronotype-stratified subgroup analyses were performed.

Results: Eighty nurses completed the study (12-hour shift: 37; 8-hour shift: 43). The interval between shifts was greater for the 12-hour shift group (36.12 vs 26.78 hours). Total sleep duration did not significantly differ between groups (12-hour shift: 418.5 minutes; 8-hour shift: 398 minutes); however, the 12-hour shift group had less fragmented sleep, higher subjective well-being scores, and lower reported stress and fatigue. Evening chronotypes appeared to benefit more from 12-hour shifts, with longer sleep duration and higher well-being scores, though these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Transitioning to a 12-hour shift schedule was associated with reduced sleep fragmentation and improved well-being, particularly among evening chronotypes. These findings suggest that shift schedule structure and individual chronotype may influence adaptation to shift work in ICU settings.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to synthesize the effectiveness of work ability interventions on productivity outcomes.

Methods: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024541404) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. In December 2024, a systematic search from 2000 onward was conducted using databases including EBSCO, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Two reviewers independently screened articles, assessed quality using risk-of-bias tools, and extracted data, with a third reviewer resolving any disagreements. The eligibility criteria were defined using population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) elements.

Results: Of the 55 articles that underwent quality assessment, 26 were excluded due to high risk of bias. Among the remaining 29 articles, 24 were randomized controlled trials, of which 5 conducted economic evaluation, and 5 were nonrandomized controlled trials, collectively conducting 33 interventions. The results of the original studies showed that 5 work ability interventions had a statistically significant effect on productivity. Four interventions effectively reduced absenteeism, and 1 intervention increased the risk of absenteeism. One intervention indicated that the cost of absenteeism was reduced, and another showed that the intervention was more effective and less costly than usual occupational care.

Conclusions: Our analysis of work ability interventions showed that 28 interventions did not have an effect on productivity and only 5 interventions affected productivity. This systematic review highlights the limited evidence regarding evidence-based work ability interventions that affect productivity. Despite the importance of the topic, it remains understudied, and there is insufficient evidence to support decision-makers aiming to enhance productivity.

Objectives: Japan faces the need for occupational health management based on an understanding of workers’ health and its impact on work productivity. Given a paucity of comprehensive studies, we conducted this study to investigate work productivity by diseases among workers of various occupations in Japan, by using a large-scale database.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive study used pre-existing data derived from health insurance claims and 2 surveys conducted in 2021. The analysis included the data of ≥19-year-old current workers with response data to the questions regarding Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI). The WPAI of the target diseases, defined by claims diagnosis codes, was plotted against the 1-year prevalence of each disease. The cost of lost productivity was estimated based on the response data regarding the WPAI.

Results: Overall, 31 540 individuals participated, and the analysis showed that psychiatric disorders, headache, epilepsy, and insomnia had a high percentage of participants reporting any level of WPAI, although the prevalence of these diseases was low. We also explored the cost of lost productivity to supplement the interpretation of the overall impact of health problems; however, no clear trend was observed.

Conclusions: Many Japanese workers with psychiatric disorders, headaches, epilepsy, and insomnia have impaired work productivity and daily activities.

Background: Self-rated health is a comprehensive measure of health status that may influence occupational accidents, particularly those involving human factors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-rated health and occupational accidents across various industries and occupations. We also investigated the relationship stratified by the type of accidents.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study using online self-administered questionnaires targeting workers in Japan. A baseline survey was conducted in March 2022, followed by a 1-year follow-up survey. Self-rated health at baseline was categorized into 4 groups: very good/good, slightly good, slightly poor, and poor/very poor. The dependent variable was the occurrence of occupational accidents and types of occupational accidents during the follow-up period. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for covariates were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. We also performed trend tests and calculated P for trend.

Results: The analysis included 15 744 participants, among whom 1534 experienced workplace accidents. Compared with the very good/good group, the ORs for occupational accidents were 1.37 (95% CI, 1.21-1.56) in the slightly good group, 2.41 (95% CI, 2.07-2.80) in the slightly poor group, and 3.67 (95% CI, 2.94-4.59) in the poor/very poor group. Trend tests revealed significant associations between self-rated health and injuries from falls, injuries from cutting and rubbing, and heat stroke but not with injuries from crashes or tumbles and injuries from flying or falling objects.

Conclusions: Self-rated health was significantly associated with occupational accidents, particularly those involving substantial human factors.

Epoxy resins are a common cause of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Carbon fiber-laminated epoxy resin (CFLER) is a newer material with enhanced mechanical properties, but its health effects remain underreported. A 46-year-old male worker developed erythroderma involving >90% of his body surface and dyschromia after chronic exposure to CFLER in a confined workspace. Skin biopsy demonstrated features of chronic dermatitis, and immunohistochemistry revealed uneven melanocyte distribution. Laboratory studies showed elevated immunoglobulin E levels without internal organ dysfunction. Chest radiography indicated prominent bronchovascular markings without clinical symptoms. Intervention with topical clobetasol and avoidance of CFLER led to gradual resolution of erythroderma and improvement of dyschromia. Unlike previous reports focusing on acute epoxy resin dermatitis, this case highlights chronic skin changes and pigmentary alterations. Chronic exposure to CFLER can lead to melanocyte dysfunction, resulting in hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Prompt identification and management are crucial to prevent severe complications such as high-output cardiac failure. This case emphasizes the importance of protective measures against CFLER exposure to prevent severe occupational dermatological conditions, including erythroderma and dyschromia.