Objectives
Use Bayes statistical methods to analyze the factors related to the working ability of petroleum workers in China and establish a predictive model for prediction so as to provide a ...reference for improving the working ability of petroleum workers.
Materials and methods
The data come from the health questionnaire database of petroleum workers in the Karamay region, Xinjiang, China. The database contains the results of a health questionnaire survey conducted with 4,259 petroleum workers. We established an unsupervised Bayesian network, using Node-Force to analyze the dependencies between influencing factors, and established a supervised Bayesian network, using mutual information analysis methods (MI) to influence factors of oil workers’ work ability. We used the Bayesian target interpretation tree model to observe changes in the probability distribution of work ability classification under different conditions of important influencing factors. In addition, we established the Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes (TAN) prediction model to improve work ability, make predictions, and conduct an evaluation.
Results
(1) The unsupervised Bayesian network shows that there is a direct relationship between shoulder and neck musculoskeletal diseases, anxiety, working age, and work ability, (2) The supervised Bayesian network shows that anxiety, depression, shoulder and neck musculoskeletal diseases (Musculoskeletal Disorders, MSDs), low back musculoskeletal disorders (Musculoskeletal Disorders, MSDs), working years, age, occupational stress, and hypertension are relatively important factors that affect work ability. Other factors have a relative impact on work ability but are less important.
Conclusion
Anxiety, depression, shoulder and neck MSDs, waist and back MSDs, and length of service are important influencing factors of work ability. The Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes prediction model has general performance in predicting workers’ work ability, and the Bayesian model needs to be deepened in subsequent research and a more appropriate forecasting method should be chosen.
Background
Recent research has convincingly shown that the ability to work mainly depends on the cognitive status in multiple sclerosis (MS). An international committee of experts recommended a brief ...neuropsychological battery to evaluate cognitive performance in MS. BICAMS comprises three tests, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the learning trials of the California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-II), and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R).
Objective
To validate BICAMS on a sample of German MS patients and healthy controls (HCs).
Methods
According to the international guidelines for validation, examiner’s instructions were standardized and translated into German. Due to the availability of better normative data for future applications in routine clinical care and classification of individual performance degree, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) (German version: Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeits-Test, VLMT) was chosen instead of CVLT-II. 172 MS patients and 100 HCs entered the study. BICAMS was administered at baseline and retest (after 3–4 weeks).
Results
The groups did not differ in age, gender or education. Mean age of MS patients was 43.33 years (SD 11.64); 68% were female and 86.9% had relapsing-remitting MS. Patients performed significantly worse than HCs on the SDMT (
p
< 0.01) and on BVMT-R (
p
< 0.05) but not on VLMT. In addition, BICAMS was shown to be reliable over time:
r
= 0.71 for BVMT-R,
r
= 0.72 for VLMT and
r
= 0.85 for SDMT. SDMT
z
-score proved to be a good predictor for the ability to work in a full-time (
p
< 0.001) as well as in a part-time job (
p
< 0.001). VLMT
z
-score turned out to be a significant predictor only for the ability to work in a part-time job, while BVMT-R
z-
score showed no significant predictive value.
Conclusion
In this German validation study with the VLMT, the modified BICAMS (BICAMS-M) turned out to reliably detect cognitive problems in MS patients and to monitor cognitive performance over time. SDMT revealed the best predictive value for working ability. Moreover, only the SDMT was able to predict the ability to work in a part-time or full-time job. Following these results, application of the SDMT is recommended for medical statements on working ability of MS patients.
This research is motivated by the phenomenon of empowerment that does not show results in an effort to increase the working ability of fishermen. Various trainings have been carried out to improve ...working ability, including assistance from the government and the private sector, but still have not shown an increase in the empowerment of East Lombok fishermen. Therefore, the empowerment of East Lombok fishermen was examined in this study. This study aims to determine the effect of fishermen empowerment towards their working ability in east Lombok. Data was obtained through questionnaires to 171 fishermen respondents in East Lombok, interviews with community leaders related institutions, and field observations. The analysis was carried out descriptively and quantitatively. Descriptive analysis explains the indicators that have a score above and below the average total score for each variable. Quantitative analysis uses SEM with PLS applications to determine the level of significance between variables as mentioned in the research objectives. The results showed that empowerment had a positive and significant effect on fishermen working ability. This means that the empowerment of the East Lombok fishing community must continue to be improved to improve the empowerment of fishermen. Variables that have a significant effect must be increased to improve the welfare of fishermen in East Lombok.
Patients undergoing lumbar discectomy are typically referred for postoperative rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding effectiveness of postoperative rehabilitation to improve surgical outcome ...and hasten return to work is scarce with conflicting results in the published literature.
This study investigates the effect of postoperative rehabilitation on return to work, duration of sick leave and working ability after surgery for lumbar disc herniation.
Single center randomized controlled trial.
Patients scheduled for primary discectomy due to lumbar disc herniation were included in the study.
Self-reported measures included working ability, work status, and job type defined by the International Standard Classification of Occupations. All outcomes including duration of sick leave were obtained from follow-up questionnaires at 1 and 2 years after surgery.
This is a secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial comparing patients who were referred to rehabilitation at the municipal facility starting 4–6 weeks postoperative (REHAB) and patients sent home after surgery without any planned rehabilitation course (HOME). Linear regression was performed to identify baseline characteristics associated with duration of sick leave.
One hundred forty-six patients were included and equally distributed between the groups. Follow-up rate was 78% after 1 and 2 years. Both groups had a similar postoperative sick leave period of approximately 9 weeks. After 1 year 79% had returned to work in the HOME-group versus 74% in the REHAB-group, which was not statistically significant. Working ability improved from baseline to 1 year in both groups and this improvement was sustained at 2-year follow-up. Stepwise linear regression showed that preoperative duration of leg pain and working ability was associated with duration of postoperative sick leave.
Referral for unstandardized municipal rehabilitation does not affect duration of postoperative sick leave, return to work or working ability in patients recovering after surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Duration of preoperative leg pain and preoperative working ability was significantly associated with the duration of postoperative sick leave.
Purpose
The impact of obesity on quality of life (QoL) and working ability vary in different dimensions. This study investigated the association of obesity with QoL and working ability in Finnish ...adults. Comorbidities as associative factors were also characterised.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 4956 randomly selected adults. QoL (EUROHIS-QOL 8 total score and individual components), perceived physical and psychological working ability, and sick leave days were analysed in different body mass index (BMI) groups. Regression models were used to study the role of comorbidities as associative factors.
Results
EUROHIS-QOL 8 total score was significantly lower in BMI group 25.0–29.9 kg/m
2
(4.01; 95% confidence interval 3.97–4.05), BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m
2
(3.85; 3.79–3.91), BMI 35.0–39.9 kg/m
2
(3.75; 3.66–3.85), and BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m
2
(3.73; 3.46–4.00) compared to individuals with normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m
2
) BMI (4.08; 4.04–4.12). Individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m
2
) rated their QoL lower than individuals with normal BMI in seven of the eight EUROHIS-QOL 8 components. A lesser proportion of individuals (53–73%) with obesity rated their physical working ability as very or fairly good compared to individuals with normal BMI (90%,
p
values < 0.001). The psychological working ability was rated as very or fairly good by 71–75% of individuals with obesity compared to 85% of individuals with normal BMI (
p
= 0.008 and
p
= 0.001 in individuals with BMI 30.0–34.9 and BMI 35.0–39.9 kg/m
2
, respectively).
Conclusions
Obesity was negatively associated with both physical and psychological components of QoL, even after accounting for obesity-related comorbidities. Obesity treatment can benefit from a holistic approach that considers these multifaceted associations.
To investigate post-stroke return-to-work and its associations with cognitive performance, motivation, perceived working ability, and self-perceived barriers to returning to work.
Prospective cohort ...study of a clinical sample.
Participants were 77 stroke patients younger than age 69 years. Assessment included a cognitive screening method for stroke patients (CoMet), a questionnaire regarding work-related matters, and a question regarding motivation to return to work. A predictive model of return-to-work was built, and how participants managed in their working life was examined.
Cognitive performance was significantly connected with returning to work. Three of the 5 individuals who dropped out of working life had cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive performance predicted 80% of those who had not returned and 37% of those who had returned by 6 months after the initial assessment. Self-perceived working ability and barriers predicted 64% of those who had not returned and 78% of those who had returned at the 12-month follow-up.
Cognitive performance seems to be a crucial predictor of return-to-work post-stroke, but individuals' own evaluations of their working capabilities are also important.
Background
Cervical dystonia (CD) is the most common form of dystonia. The onset of CD is usually before 60 years of age and it may cause severe functional and psychosocial impairment in everyday ...life. Recently non-motor symptoms have been reported to occur in CD substantially affecting the quality of life.
Methods/patients
We studied comorbidities of patients with primary focal CD in Finland based on ICD-10 codes obtained from the care registry and patient records of 937 confirmed adult isolated focal CD patients between the years 2007–2016. The retirement months and diagnosis of retirement were calculated from pension registry information. The results were compared with 3746 age and gender-matched controls.
Results
Most prominent comorbidities with primary focal CD were depression (14%), anxiety (7%), and back pain (11%). The retirement age was significantly younger in CD patients compared to control group controls (59.0 years, 95% CI 58.5–59.5 vs. 61.7 years, 95% CI 61.6–61.9) years,
p
< 0.001). For dystonia patients the most common diagnoses for retirement due to sickness were dystonia (51%), depression (14%), and anxiety (8%). Patients with anxiety and depression retired earlier than other dystonia patients.
Discussion
Cervical dystonia considerably reduces working ability and leads to earlier retirement. Anxiety and depression are most notable comorbidities and their co-occurrence further reduces working ability. Our results suggest that more health care resources should be administered in treatment of CD to longer maintain working ability of CD patients. Further, psychiatric comorbidities should be taken into consideration in CD treatment.
Job burnout is increasingly common among occupational groups, and it is evolving into a new occupationally harmful phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of job burnout ...and its influence on the working ability of copper-nickel miners in Xinjiang, China, and to provide a theoretical basis for alleviating job burnout and improving the working ability of copper and nickel miners.
A cross-sectional survey was carried out in June 2017 to September 2018 in Hami City, Xinjiang Autonomous Uygur Region, China. According to the main production process stratification of copper-nickel ore (mining unit, beneficiation unit, smelting unit), a self-administered questionnaire survey on the general situation of miners was conducted on the basis of the Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory and Work Ability Index Questionnaire among 1400 miners registered in the human resources department of copper and nickel mines by stratified cluster sampling.
There were 1014 miners with different degrees of burnout, accounting for 80.86% of the total: 432 people reported mild burnout (34.45%), 516 reported moderate burnout (41.15%), and 66 reported high burnout (5.26%). There were significant differences in the degree of burnout according to sex, age, education level, monthly income, and work unit (p < 0.05). The level of male burnout was higher than that of females. Miners aged 35-40 years, with a high-school education, a monthly income of less than 2500 yuan, and who belonged to the smelting unit had the highest job burnout.There were significant differences in working ability among miners with different burnout level (p < 0.01). Partial correlation analysis showed that work ability was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of achievement, and total burnout score (p < 0.001). Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that the education level, professional title,work units and job burnout level had a pronounced impact on the working ability of miners (p < 0.001); The reduced level of education, primary title, smelting unit, and the increase in job burnout are risk factors for the reduction of working ability.
Our results indicate that job burnout is common among copper and nickel miners. Furthermore, working ability decreases with an increase in job burnout, and reducing job burnout can improve the working ability of copper and nickel miners.
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