Why does the adverse effect of inappropriate MRI for LBP vary by geographic location? An exploratory analysis.

Background: Early magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) for nonspecific low back pain (LBP) not adherent to clinical guidelines is linked with prolonged work disability. Although the prevalence of eMRI for occupational LBP varies substantially among states, it is unknown whether the risk of prolonged disability associated with eMRI varies according to individual and area-level characteristics. The aim was to explore whether the known risk of increased length of disability (LOD) associated with eMRI scanning not adherent to guidelines for occupational LBP varies according to patient and area-level characteristics, and the potential reasons for any observed variations.

Employee acceptance of wearable technology in the workplace.

Wearable technology has many industrial applications. Optimal use adherence and outcomes largely depend on employee acceptance of the technology. This study determined factors that predict employee acceptance of wearables.

Circumstances of fall-related injuries by age and gender among community-dwelling adults in the United States.

Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of injury in almost all age-strata in the U.S. However, fall-related injuries (FI) and their circumstances are under-studied at the population level, particularly among young and middle-aged adults.

Regional socioeconomic disparities in outcomes for workers with low back pain in the United States.

Background: Although regional socioeconomic (SE) factors have been associated with worse health outcomes, prior studies have not addressed important confounders or work disability.

Methods: A national sample of 59 360 workers' compensation (WC) cases to evaluate impact of regional SE factors on medical costs and length of disability (LOD) in occupational low back pain (LBP).

Results: Lower neighborhood median household incomes (MHI) and higher state unemployment rates were associated with longer LOD.

Working multiple jobs over a day or a week: Short-term effects on sleep duration.

Approximately 10% of the employed population in the United States works in multiple jobs. They are more likely to work long hours and in nonstandard work schedules, factors known to impact sleep duration and quality, and increase the risk of injury. In this study we used multivariate regression models to compare the duration of sleep in a 24-hour period between workers working in multiple jobs (MJHs) with single job holders (SJHs) controlling for other work schedule and demographic factors.

Combining statistics from two national complex surveys to estimate injury rates per hour exposed and variance by activity in the USA.

Background: A common issue in descriptive injury epidemiology is that in order to calculate injury rates that account for the time spent in an activity, both injury cases and exposure time of specific activities need to be collected. In reality, few national surveys have this capacity. To address this issue, we combined statistics from two different national complex surveys as inputs for the numerator and denominator to estimate injury rate, accounting for the time spent in specific activities and included a procedure to estimate variance using the combined surveys.

Falls and Fall-Related Injuries among Community-Dwelling Adults in the United States.

Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries in the U.S.; however, national estimates for all community-dwelling adults are lacking.

Length of Disability and Medical Costs in Low Back Pain: Do State Workers' Compensation Policies Make a Difference?

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of state workers' compensation (WC) policies regarding wage replacement and medical benefits on medical costs and length of disability (LOD) in workers with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of LBP claims from 49 states (n = 59,360) filed between 2002 and 2008, extracted from a large WC administrative database.

Results: Longer retroactive periods and state WC laws allowing treating provider choice were associated with higher medical costs and longer LOD.

Differences in time use and activity patterns when adding a second job: implications for health and safety in the United States.

Objectives: We compared work and lifestyle activities for workers who work in 1 job with those who work in multiple jobs during a 1-week period.

Methods: We used information from the 2003-2011 American Time Use Survey to classify workers into 6 work groups based on whether they were a single (SJH) or multiple (MJH) job holder and whether they worked their primary, other, multiple, or no job on the diary day.

Results: The MJHs often worked 2 part-time jobs (20%), long weekly hours (27% worked 60+ hours), and on weekends.

Work in multiple jobs and the risk of injury in the US working population.

Objectives: We compared the risk of injury for multiple job holders (MJHs) with that for single job holders (SJHs).

Methods: We used information from the National Health Interview Survey for the years 1997 through 2011 to estimate the rate of multiple job holding in the United States and compared characteristics and rates of self-reported injury (work and nonwork) for SJHs versus MJHs.

Results: Approximately 8.

A structural equation modeling approach to fatigue-related risk factors for occupational injury.

Occupational injury is associated with numerous individual and work-related risk factors, including long working hours and short sleep duration; however, the complex mechanisms causing such injuries are not yet fully understood. The authors used structural equation modeling (SEM) as a novel approach to examine fatigue-related direct and indirect potential risk factors for occupational injury. The study sample contained 89,366 employed workers from the National Health Interview Survey (pooled across 6 years, 2004-2009), an annual survey of a representative cross-sectional sample of the US population.

The utility of injury narratives for prioritising future prevention activities in small and medium enterprises in rural Vietnam.

Objectives: Injuries are a leading cause of work-related disability and death in rapidly developing countries such as Vietnam. The authors' objective was to demonstrate the utility of detailed injury narratives, derived from a household survey, in providing information on the determinants of work-related injuries to inform potential intervention targets.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey administered to 2615 households of a rapidly developing community of Vietnam where many workers engage in both agriculture and industrial work, the authors collected information about self-reported work-related injuries, annual hours worked in each industry and narrative text describing the circumstances of each injury.

Independent effects of sleep duration and body mass index on the risk of a work-related injury: evidence from the US National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010).

Fatigue has been linked to adverse safety outcomes, and poor quality or decreased sleep has been associated with obesity (higher body mass index, BMI). Additionally, higher BMI is related to an increased risk for injury; however, it is unclear whether BMI modifies the effect of short sleep or has an independent effect on work-related injury risk. To answer this question, the authors examined the risk of a work-related injury as a function of total daily sleep time and BMI using the US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Gender differences in the effect of weekly working hours on occupational injury risk in the United States working population.

Objectives: Long working hours can lead to an accumulation in fatigue that may increase worker's risk of injury. However, it is not known if this association is different for men and women. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate gender differences in the effect of weekly working hours on occupational injury risk.

Occupational injuries in a commune in rural Vietnam transitioning from agriculture to new industries.

Objectives: We explored the impact on work-related injuries of workers splitting time between industry and agriculture, a common situation in developing countries.

Methods: In 2005, we administered a cross-sectional survey to 2615 households of Xuan Tien, a developing rural community of Vietnam, regarding self-reported injuries and hours worked for 1 year. We defined groups as working in industry, agriculture, or a mix of both.

Daily sleep, weekly working hours, and risk of work-related injury: US National Health Interview Survey (2004-2008).

The impact on health and safety of the combination of chronic sleep deficits and extended working hours has received worldwide attention. Using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an in-person household survey using a multistage, stratified, clustered sample design representing the US civilian, non-institutionalized population, the authors estimated the effect of total daily self-reported sleep time and weekly working hours on the risk of a work-related injury. During the survey period 2004-2008, 177,576 persons (ages 18-74) sampled within households reported that they worked at a paid job the previous week and reported their total weekly work hours.

The work-related burden of injury in a rapidly industrialising commune in Viet Nam.

Background: Health and injury surveillance data of the highest achievable quality are needed in order to appropriately allocate scarce resources at the local and national levels.

Methods: This is the first reported surveillance study of injury using a complete community sample in Viet Nam. Workplaces in Xuan Tien Commune most likely to benefit from intervention were identified and ranked by the magnitude of the problem (or highest injury count), the risk (highest incidence rates) and the burden (the effect of injuries on the livelihoods of workers).