Prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms with computer based work across occupations.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and risk factors associated with computer based work between occupations in a sample of Australian public sector employees.

Method: A cross-sectional study was completed with employees of 6 government departments. An online survey was electronically distributed to over 8,000 employees characterised by a range of occupational groups and levels of employment.

Truncated careers in nuclear medicine technology: increased job control may improve retention.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to gain understanding of why nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) leave and to compare workforce and service provision trends with diagnostic imaging professionals.

Design And Setting: A survey of all NMT professional body members in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland was conducted. This paper reports on survey findings of those no longer working as a NMT.

Behavioral and psychophysiological responses to job demands and association with musculoskeletal symptoms in computer work.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare individual behavioral and psychophysiological responses to workload demands and stressors associated with the reporting of musculoskeletal symptoms with computer work. Evidence is growing that the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms increases with longer hours of computer work and exposure to psychosocial stressors such as high workloads and unrealistic deadlines. Workstyle, or how an individual worker behaves in response to such work demands, may also be an important factor associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in computer operators.

Turnover and intent to leave among speech pathologists.

Sound, large scale and systematic research into why health professionals want to leave their jobs is needed. This study used psychometrically-sound tools and logistic regression analyses to determine why Australian speech pathologists were intending to leave their jobs or the profession. Based on data from 620 questionnaires, several variables were found to be significantly related to intent to leave.

The work environment and its effect on engagement and retention of nuclear medicine technologists: differences between public and private sector workers.

Objective: The retention of Australian nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) is poor with the future workforce size in question. As a consequence, the primary aim of this study was to determine Australian NMTs' level of work engagement and the factors influencing this to identify the issues surrounding retention.

Methods: The job demands resource model assumes that each job has its own demands and resources and the balance between these can influence the level of work engagement.

A profile of Australian nuclear medicine technologist practice.

Background: Nuclear medicine in Australia has encountered significant change over the past 30 years, with a move to privately owned practices, technological advances and the transfer of education of the nuclear medicine technologist (NMT) from technical college apprenticeships to university degrees. Currently, shortages of nuclear medicine technologists are reported in some states of Australia. It is not known whether changes in NMT practice or the type of centre in which an NMT works have an influence on retention of staff.

The impact of a computerized work environment on professional occupational groups and behavioural and physiological risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms: a literature review.

Introduction: Computers have become an essential tool for many office based professional occupations, but their use is also accompanied by change to work demands and psychosocial work environment. Whilst considerable research exists relating to the potential health risks associated with computer work amongst semi-skilled occupations, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding the impact of an increasingly computerized workplace on the physical and psychological wellbeing of professional occupations.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using OVID Medline, PsycINFO and Cinahl databases.

Health science students' time organization and management skills: a cross-disciplinary investigation.

One hundred and fifty-four final year health science undergraduates from the disciplines of Medical Radiation Sciences, Speech Pathology and Physiotherapy in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Sydney completed the Australian Time Organisation and Management Scale (ATOMS). Findings identified the strengths and weaknesses of students on the four dimensions included in this analysis. Whilst the results indicated strengths in the area of students' sense of purpose, level of focus and goal-setting ability, areas of weakness were noted, particularly with regard to the use of basic time-management devices (e.

Implications for tertiary education: managerial competencies required of beginning practitioners in the health service sector.

Five hundred and three experienced practitioners involved in management from four professional fields (medical radiation science, occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy) representing a range of health care settings participated in a survey. The survey examined the importance attached to managerial competencies for the beginning practitioner. The most important grouping related to management of future planning.