Predicting long-term sickness absence among employees with frequent sickness absence.

Purpose: Frequent absentees are at risk of long-term sickness absence (SA). The aim of the study is to develop prediction models for long-term SA among frequent absentees.

Methods: Data were obtained from 53,833 workers who participated in occupational health surveys in the period 2010-2013; 4204 of them were frequent absentees (i.

Effect of an eHealth Intervention to Reduce Sickness Absence Frequency Among Employees With Frequent Sickness Absence: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Frequent sickness absence-that is, 3 or more episodes of sickness absence in 1 year-is a problem for employers and employees. Many employees who have had frequent sickness absence in a prior year also have frequent sickness absence in subsequent years: 39% in the first follow-up year and 61% within 4 years. Moreover, 19% have long-term sickness absence (≥6 weeks) in the first follow-up year and 50% within 4 years.

Posttransplant Anemia as a Prognostic Factor of Mortality in Kidney-Transplant Recipients.

Findings on the association between posttransplant anemia (PTA) and mortality in posttransplant patients are scarce. This study explored whether PTA shortly after kidney transplantation (KT) predicts mortality at up to 10 years' follow-up, stratified for chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages. PTA was divided into 3 categories according to the hemoglobin (Hb) value: severe (Hb < 10 g/dl), mild (10.

Poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis: gender differences.

Objectives: Most of the psychological and physical factors associated with poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a different prevalence in women and men, but whether or not these factors contribute differently to sleep quality in women and men with MS remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify possible gender differences in factors related to poor sleep quality in MS patients.

Material And Methods: We collected data from 153 patients with MS.

Do coping strategies mediate the association between Type D personality and quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis?

The aim of this study is to explore whether different coping strategies are able to mediate the association between Type D personality and quality of life. We collected information from 156 consecutive patients (response rate: 72.9%; 75.

Regional mortality by socioeconomic factors in Slovakia: a comparison of 15 years of changes.

Background: Like most Central European countries Slovakia has experienced a period of socioeconomic changes and at the same time a decline in the mortality rate. Therefore, the aim is to study socioeconomic factors that changed over time and simultaneously contributed to regional differences in mortality.

Methods: The associations between selected socioeconomic indicators and the standardised mortality rate in the population aged 20-64 years in the districts of the Slovak Republic in the periods 1997-1998 and 2012-2013 were analysed using linear regression models.

Is Poor Sleep Quality Associated With Greater Disability in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis?

Poor sleep is a serious burden for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study is to assess whether the association between sleep quality and disability in MS patients is direct or mediated by depression, pain, and fatigue. We collected data from 152 patients with MS who filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and one item of the Short Form-36 regarding pain.

Focus Group Study Exploring Factors Related to Frequent Sickness Absence.

Introduction: Research investigating frequent sickness absence (3 or more episodes per year) is scarce and qualitative research from the perspective of frequent absentees themselves is lacking. The aim of the current study is to explore awareness, determinants of and solutions to frequent sickness absence from the perspective of frequent absentees themselves.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study of 3 focus group discussions involving a total of 15 frequent absentees.

Self-esteem, social participation, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study is to explore whether self-esteem and social participation are associated with the physical and mental quality of life (Physical Component Summary, Mental Component Summary) and whether self-esteem can mediate the association between these variables. We collected information from 118 consecutive multiple sclerosis patients. Age, gender, disease duration, disability status, and participation were significant predictors of Physical Component Summary, explaining 55.

The Added Value of Medical Testing in Underwriting Life Insurance.

Background: In present-day life-insurance medical underwriting practice the risk assessment starts with a standard health declaration (SHD). Indication for additional medical screening depends predominantly on age and amount of insured capital. From a medical perspective it is questionable whether there is an association between the level of insured capital and medical risk in terms of mortality.

Inequalities in mortality by socioeconomic factors and Roma ethnicity in the two biggest cities in Slovakia: a multilevel analysis.

Background: The socioeconomic and ethnic composition of urban neighbourhoods may affect mortality, but evidence on Central European cities is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between socioeconomic and ethnic neighbourhood indicators and the mortality of individuals aged 20-64 years old in the two biggest cities of the Slovak Republic.

Methods: We obtained data on the characteristics of neighbourhoods and districts (educational level, unemployment, income and share of Roma) and on individual mortality of residents aged 20-64 years old, for the two largest cities in the Slovak Republic (Bratislava and Kosice) in the period 2003-2005.

Social participation in early and established rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with different levels of restriction in social participation differ in disease related as well as psychosocial variables and whether a similar pattern can be found among early and established RA patients.

Method: Two samples of RA patients with early (n = 97; age = 53 ± 12.3 years; disease duration = 2.

Impact of school-based dental program performance on the oral health-related quality of life in children.

Objective: To assess the association between the performance of school-based dental programs (SBDPs) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in school children, in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, taking into account untreated caries and sociodemographic factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered with 1906 children aged 12 and participating in SBDPs. Four SBDPs were chosen to represent good and poor performance in urban and rural areas.

Anemia has a negative impact on self-rated health in kidney transplant recipients with well-functioning grafts: findings from an 8-year follow-up study.

Purpose: Anemia is a predictor of mortality and of self-rated health (SRH). However, studies on the relationship between SRH and changes in hemoglobin (Hb) value over time stratified by chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages are lacking. The aim is to explore whether a change in Hb-value over time associates with SRH at up to 8-year follow-up, stratified for CKD stages.

Importance of an individual's evaluation of functional status for health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Quantifying the clinical impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most important determinants for optimizing individual patient care. Useful clinical measures for MS can be evaluated from different perspectives.

Objective/hypothesis: This cross-sectional study compared physical disability and functional status as assessed by a neurologist and by a patient and explored how they are associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Relationship between the non-motor items of the MDS-UPDRS and Quality of Life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

The Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is a newly developed comprehensive tool to assess Parkinson's disease (PD), which covers a wider range of non-motor PD manifestations than the original UPDRS scale. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the MDS-UPDRS and Quality of Life (QoL) and to analyze the relationship between individual MDS-UPDRS non-motor items and QoL. A total of 291 PD patients were examined in a multicenter Slovak study.

The mediating effect of coping on the association between fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Fatigue, as one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), has various adverse effects on the physical and mental health-related quality of life (PCS, MCS) of patients. The aim of this study was to explore whether coping mediates the relationship between fatigue and PCS and MCS. We collected data from 154 consecutive MS patients (76.

Risk reclassification analysis investigating the added value of fatigue to sickness absence predictions.

Background: Prognostic models including age, self-rated health and prior sickness absence (SA) have been found to predict high (≥ 30) SA days and high (≥ 3) SA episodes during 1-year follow-up. More predictors of high SA are needed to improve these SA prognostic models. The purpose of this study was to investigate fatigue as new predictor in SA prognostic models by using risk reclassification methods and measures.

Effectiveness of a problem-solving based intervention to prolong the working life of ageing workers.

Background: An ageing workforce combined with increasing health problems in ageing workers implies the importance of evidence-based interventions to enhance sustainable employability. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the 'Staying healthy at work' problem-solving based intervention compared to business as usual.

Methods: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental trial with a one-year follow-up.

The Mental Disability Military Assessment Tool: A Reliable Tool for Determining Disability in Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Purpose: An assessment tool was developed to assess disability in veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to a military mission. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability, intra-rater and inter-rater variation of the Mental Disability Military (MDM) assessment tool.

Methods: Twenty-four assessment interviews of veterans with an insurance physician were videotaped.

Factors associated with poor sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis differ by disease duration.

Background: Sleep disturbance is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) and knowledge about factors that contribute to poor sleep quality is scarce.

Objective: The aim was to explore the differences in the prevalence and determinants of poor sleep quality in a sample of patients with MS with disease duration ≤ 5 years and >5 years.

Methods: We collected data from 152 consecutive patients with MS; 66 patients (78% women, averaged 37.

Social participation and health-related quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Social participation is an integral part of everyday life in society; however, evidence about its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is lacking.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore whether social participation is associated with the Physical Component Summary of HRQoL (PCS) and Mental Component Summary of HRQoL (MCS) in people with MS, controlled for age, gender, disease severity and disease duration.

Methods: The sample consisted of 116 consecutive people with MS (response rate: 75.

Social participation after kidney transplantation as a predictor of graft loss and mortality over 10 years: a longitudinal study.

Background: Social participation is considered to be an objective parameter for evaluating the success of transplantation. This study explores the association between posttransplant factors (kidney function, perceived side effects of immunosuppressive treatment, comorbidity, physical and mental health-related quality of life [HRQoL]) and social participation in patients 3 months to 6 years after kidney transplantation (baseline) and their impact on graft loss and mortality for up to 10 years (follow-up).

Methods: At baseline, 331 patients provided their socioeconomic and medical data (comorbidity, kidney function) and completed the end-stage renal disease symptom checklist (perceived side effects), the Short Form Health Survey-36 and the Participation Scale.

Expectations from different perspectives on future work outcome of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Purpose: Expectations strongly influence future employment outcomes and social networks seem to mediate employment success of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The aim of this study is to examine the expectations of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from special needs education, their parents and their school teachers regarding future work and the extent to which these expectations predict work outcome.

Methods: Data on 341 young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, coming from special needs education, aged 17-20 years, and with an ability to work according to the Social Security Institute were examined.