Comparison Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Gender-Specific, Non-gendered Job-Exposure Matrix and Self-reported Exposures in CONSTANCES.

Purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common worldwide and gender differences exist in terms of prevalence and disability. MSDs are a leading cause of sick leave and physical work exposures. To assess the association between physical exposures assessed by the gender-specific CONSTANCES Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM) and musculoskeletal pain in six areas: neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow/arm pain, hand/wrist pain, low back pain, knee/leg pain; and to compare the results with those obtained using the non-gendered CONSTANCES JEM and with individual self-report exposures.

Development and evaluation of the gender-specific CONSTANCES job exposure matrix for physical risk factors in France.

Objectives: This study aimed to construct and evaluate a gender-specific job exposure matrix (JEM) for 27 physical work exposures, based on self-report.

Methods: We constructed a JEM using questionnaire data on current physical exposures from 29 381 male and 35 900 female asymptomatic workers aged 18-69 years in the French CONSTANCES cohort study. We excluded workers with musculoskeletal pain to reduce potential reporting bias.

Impacts of a Workplace-Based Weight-Control Intervention on Objective and Perceived Physical Activity among a Subgroup of Workers.

Physical activity (PA) has many benefits; however, groups facing barriers to health-promoting behaviors are less likely to be physically active. This may be addressed through workplace interventions. The current study employs objective (accelerometry) and perceived (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]) measures of PA among a subset of participants from the "Working for You" study, which tests a multi-level (work group and individual) workplace intervention targeted at workers with low-incomes.

Occupational demands associated with rotator cuff disease surgery in the UK Biobank.

Objectives: Physically-demanding occupations may increase rotator cuff disease (RCD) risk and need for surgery. We linked a job-exposure matrix (JEM) to the UK Biobank cohort study to measure physical occupational exposures and estimate associations with RCD surgery.

Methods: Jobs and UK Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes were recorded during the UK Biobank verbal interview.

Occupational characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK Biobank during August-November 2020: a cohort study.

Background: Occupational exposures may play a key role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection risk. We used a job-exposure matrix linked to the UK Biobank to measure occupational characteristics and estimate associations with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test.

Methods: People reporting job titles at their baseline interview in England who were < 65 years of age in 2020 were included.

Reliability of O*NET physical exposures between Italian and US databases.

Background: Comparison between cross-national job-exposure matrices (JEMs) may provide indications of their reliability, particularly if created using the same items. This study evaluated concordance between two JEMs created from United States (US) and Italian O*NET data, using job codes linked through international job codes.

Methods: Twenty-one physical exposures were obtained from the US and Italian O*NET databases.

Flow-down of safety from general contractors to subcontractors working on commercial construction projects.

Small and medium construction firms have high injury rates but lack resources to establish and maintain effective safety programs. General contractors with exemplary safety programs may serve as intermediaries to support development of smaller firm's safety programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the flow-down influence of general contractors' safety programs on the safety climate and safety behaviors among workers employed by small and medium sized subcontractors.

Association Between Workplace Absenteeism and Alcohol Use Disorder From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019.

Importance: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is common and associated with increased morbidity. The degree to which AUD currently factors into workplace absenteeism needs further characterization in the US.

Objective: To examine the association between AUD and workplace absenteeism in a nationally representative sample.

Work Organization Factors Associated with Health and Work Outcomes among Apprentice Construction Workers: Comparison between the Residential and Commercial Sectors.

There are substantial differences in work organization between residential and commercial construction sectors. This paper examined differences in work factors between construction sectors and examined the association between sector and health behaviors, health outcomes, and work outcomes. We surveyed 929 male construction apprentices (44% residential and 56% commercial) and found that residential apprentices reported fewer workplace safety policies, higher frequency of heavy lifting, and greater likelihood of reporting musculoskeletal pain compared to apprentices in commercial work.

Correction: Work-Related and Personal Factors Associated With Mental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Response: Survey of Health Care and Other Workers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/21366.].

Relevance of Diagnosed Depression and Antidepressants to PROMIS Depression Scores Among Hand Surgical Patients.

Purpose: We aimed to test the utility of screening for depressive symptoms in the hand surgical office focusing on chances of heightened depressive symptoms in patients with no history of diagnosed depression and by quantifying ongoing depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with depression accounting for antidepressant use. The clinical importance of this study was predicated on the documented negative association between depressive symptoms and hand surgical outcomes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 351 patients presenting to a tertiary hand center between April 21, 2016, and November 22, 2017.

The relationship between depression, anxiety, and pain interference with therapy referral and utilization among patients with hand conditions.

Introduction: Patients with upper extremity conditions may also experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain that limit functional recovery.

Purpose Of The Study: This study examined the impact of mental health and pain symptoms on referral rates to therapy and utilization of therapy services to achieve functional recovery among patients with common hand conditions.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients from one orthopedic center.

Predictors of long-term opioid use and opioid use disorder among construction workers: Analysis of claims data.

Background: Construction workers have high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which lead to frequent opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD). This paper quantified the incidence of opioid use and OUD among construction workers with and without musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using union health claims from January 2015 to June 2018 from 19,909 construction workers.

The association between subcontractor safety management programs and worker perceived safety climate in commercial construction projects.

Problem: Safety management programs (SMPs) are designed to mitigate risk of workplace injuries and create a safe working climate. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the relationship between contractors' SMPs and workers' perceived safety climate and safety behaviors among small and medium-sized construction subcontractors.

Methods: Subcontractor SMP scores on 18 organizational and project-level safety items were coded from subcontractors' written safety programs and interviews.

Association between physical limitations and working life exposure to carrying heavy loads assessed using a job-exposure matrix: CONSTANCES cohort.

Introduction: Decline in physical performance with age varies among workers. We studied the association between lifetime exposure to carrying heavy loads and limitations in climbing stairs.

Methods: We used data from the French CONSTANCES study.

Work-Related and Personal Factors Associated With Mental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Response: Survey of Health Care and Other Workers.

Background: The response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created an unprecedented disruption in work conditions. This study describes the mental health and well-being of workers both with and without clinical exposure to patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Objective: The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, work exhaustion, burnout, and decreased well-being among faculty and staff at a university and academic medical center during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and describe work-related and personal factors associated with their mental health and well-being.

Not just a research method: If used with caution, can job-exposure matrices be a useful tool in the practice of occupational medicine and public health?

The recent editorial by Dr Susan Peters "Although a valuable method in occupational epidemiology, job-exposure matrices are no magic fix" ably describes the strengths and limitations of job-exposure matrix (JEM) approaches in occupational epidemiology research (1). In addition to their use in research, we would like to add that JEM may also be of use in compensation and surveillance efforts in occupational health. JEM could assist the compensation process by supporting the assessment of relevant exposures related to specific health conditions (2).

Pilot test of an interactive obesity treatment approach among employed adults in a university medical billing office.

Background: There is a need for workplace programs promoting healthy eating and activity that reach low-wage employees and are scalable beyond the study site. Interventions designed with dissemination in mind aim to utilize minimal resources and to fit within existing systems. Technology-based interventions have the potential to promote healthy behaviors and to be sustainable as well as scalable.

Risk factors for surgery due to rotator cuff disease in a population-based cohort.

Aims: Few risk factors for rotator cuff disease (RCD) and corresponding treatment have been firmly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between numerous risk factors and the incidence of surgery for RCD in a large cohort.

Methods: A population-based cohort of people aged between 40 and 69 years in the UK (the UK Biobank) was studied.

Comparison Between a Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM) Score and Self-Reported Exposures for Carrying Heavy Loads Over the Working Lifetime in the CONSTANCES Cohort.

Objectives: Job-exposure matrices (JEMs) were developed to allow assessment of past work exposure for large population-based studies where better exposures data are unavailable. Few studies have directly compared biomechanical JEMs to self-administered questionnaires. We compared assessments of cumulative exposure to carrying heavy loads based on 'JEM Constances' to individually self-reported (SR) exposures.

Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with workplace physical exposures estimated by a job exposure matrix and by self-report.

Background: A job-exposure matrix (JEM) is an efficient method to assign physical workplace exposures based on job titles. JEMs offer the possibility of linking work exposures to outcome data from national health registers that contain job titles. The French CONSTANCES JEM was constructed from self-reported physical work exposures of asymptomatic workers participating in a large general population study.

Applying two general population job exposure matrices to predict incident carpal tunnel syndrome: A cross-national approach to improve estimation of workplace physical exposures.

Objectives A job exposure matrix (JEM) is a tool to estimate workers' exposure to occupational physical risk factors. We evaluated the performance of two general population JEM (CONSTANCES and O*NET) to detect known exposure-disease relationships in an American prospective cohort study. We compared exposure estimates from three data sources and explored whether combining exposures from these two JEM, or combining exposure from each JEM with individual-level measures, improved prediction of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Modeling the Effect of the 2018 Revised ACGIH Hand Activity Threshold Limit Value (TLV) at Reducing Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Recent studies have shown the 2001 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Hand Activity was not sufficiently protective for workers at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). These studies led to a revision of the TLV and Action Limit. This study compares the effect of applying the 2018 TLV vs.