The impact of non-response weighting in health surveys for estimates on primary health care utilization.

Background: Low response rates in health surveys may affect the representativeness and generalizability of results if non-response is systematically related to the indicator of interest. To account for such potential bias, weighting procedures are widely used with an overall aim to obtain less biased estimates. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of applying calibrated weights on prevalence estimates of primary health care utilization among respondents compared to the entire sample of a representative Danish survey of adults aged ≥16 years.

Sickness absence associated with shared and open-plan offices--a national cross sectional questionnaire survey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether shared and open-plan offices are associated with more days of sickness absence than cellular offices.

Methods: The analysis was based on a national survey of Danish inhabitants between 18-59 years of age (response rate 62%), and the study population consisted of the 2403 employees that reported working in offices. The different types of offices were characterized according to self-reported number of occupants in the space.

The attribution of work environment in explaining gender differences in long-term sickness absence: results from the prospective DREAM study.

Objectives: To identify differences in risk of long-term sickness absence between female and male employees in Denmark and to examine to what extent differences could be explained by work environment factors.

Methods: A cohort of 5026 employees (49.1% women, mean age 40.

Industrial differences in female fertility treatment rates--a new approach to assess differences related to occupation?

Aims: Infertility is highly prevalent and 16-26% of women trying to achieve a pregnancy experience infertility in one or more periods. Several exposures in the work environment have been hypothesized to affect female reproduction. This study aimed to estimate relative rates (RR) of female fertility treatment in the 57 industrial groups in Denmark.

Protocol for work place adjusted intelligent physical exercise reducing musculoskeletal pain in shoulder and neck (VIMS): a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Neck and shoulder complaints are common among employees in sedentary occupations characterized by intensive computer use. Specific strength training is a promising type of physical exercise for relieving neck and shoulder pain in office workers. However, the optimal combination of frequency and exercise duration, as well as the importance of exercise supervision, is unknown.

The impact of self-reported exposure to whole-body-vibrations on the risk of disability pension among men: a 15 year prospective study.

Background: Whole-body-vibrations are often associated with adverse health effect but the long term effects are less known. This study investigates the association between occupational exposures to whole-body vibrations, and subsequent transition to disability pension.

Methods: A total of 4215 male employees were followed up for subsequent disability pension retirement.

The impact of ergonomic work environment exposures on the risk of disability pension: Prospective results from DWECS/DREAM.

The objectives were to identify the impact of ergonomic work environment exposures on the risk of disability pension. A representative sample of 8475 employees of the total working population in Denmark were interviewed regarding work environment exposures and followed in a national register with data on granted disability pension. For women, approximately 34% of the disability pension cases were attributable to ergonomic work environment exposures.

The impact of job satisfaction on the risk of disability pension. A 15-year prospective study.

Objectives: To identify the impact of job satisfaction on the risk of disability pension.

Methods: A total of 8,338 employees were sampled from the total working population in Denmark. They were interviewed regarding age, gender, job satisfaction and health behaviour.

Increased incidence of infertility treatment among women working in the plastics industry.

Several plastic chemicals adversely affect reproductive ability. This study examined the possible association between employment in the plastics industry and infertility. Dynamic cohorts of economically active women and men were followed for hospital contacts due to infertility in the Danish Occupational Hospitalisation Register, from 1995 to 2005.

Work injuries and disability.

Problem: This study estimated the hazard ratio for disability pension retirement (DPR) for persons who have experienced a work injury causing absence lasting at least one day after the accidental injury occurred and to estimate the fraction of DPR attributable to work injuries.

Methods: A total of 4,217 male and 4,105 female employees from a national survey were followed up for subsequent DPR.

Results And Impact On Industry And Government: Having had a work injury was a strong predictor of DPR among men.

Self-reported occupational skin contact with cleaning agents and the risk of disability pension.

Background: Occupational skin diseases often affect the hands and can lead to consequences at both the individual and the social level.

Objectives: To investigate and quantify the association between self-reported occupational skin contact with cleaning agents and subsequent transition to disability pension.

Methods: A sample of 8337 employees between 18 and 59 years of age participated in the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study in 1990, 1995, or 2000.

Infertility among women working in horticulture. A follow-up study in the Danish Occupational Hospitalization Register.

The possible association between employment in horticulture with potential exposure to pesticides and female infertility was examined by identification of women with hospital contact due to infertility and working in horticulture through the Danish Occupational Hospitalization Register. This follow-up study gave a standardized incidence ratio of 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.

Prevalence of workplace bullying and risk groups: a representative population study.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of bullying and to identify risk groups in a representative population sample.

Methods: The data for this study was taken from the second Danish Psychosocial Work Environment Study (DPWES). The sample consisted of 3,429 employees between 20 and 59-years.

The impact of psychosocial work environment factors on the risk of disability pension in Denmark.

This study quantifies the impact of psychosocial work environment factors on the risk of disability pension. Differences in risk of disability pension were estimated in a representative sample of Danish employees followed for a total of 118 117 person-years of risk time. After control for smoking, BMI and ergonomic work environment, low decision authority and low variation in work showed a statistically significant association with disability pension.

A randomized trial of mailed questionnaires versus telephone interviews: response patterns in a survey.

Background: Data for health surveys are often collected using either mailed questionnaires, telephone interviews or a combination. Mode of data collection can affect the propensity to refuse to respond and result in different patterns of responses. The objective of this paper is to examine and quantify effects of mode of data collection in health surveys.

Quantifying inequality in health in the absence of a natural reference group.

When quantifying inequality in health, the excess fraction (i.e. the proportional reduction in the outcome in question that would occur if all groups had the same, lowest, risk rate) is an appealing measure.

Risk factors for neck-shoulder and wrist-hand symptoms in a 5-year follow-up study of 3,990 employees in Denmark.

Objectives: A prospective follow-up study of employees in Denmark was analyzed in order to investigate the association between physical and psychosocial exposures and musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck-shoulder and wrist-hand regions.

Methods: Data were derived from a 5-year follow-up questionnaire study of a sample of employees in Denmark, aged between 18 and 59 years. Occupational and individual background factors were assessed in 1990, and the associations with symptoms in 1995 were analyzed using logistic regression.