Non-medical interventions to enhance return to work for people with cancer.

Background: People with cancer are 1.4 times more likely to be unemployed than people without a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether programmes to enhance the return-to-work (RTW) process for people who have been diagnosed with cancer are effective.

Individual-level interventions for reducing occupational stress in healthcare workers.

Background: Healthcare workers can suffer from work-related stress as a result of an imbalance of demands, skills and social support at work. This may lead to stress, burnout and psychosomatic problems, and deterioration of service provision. This is an update of a Cochrane Review that was last updated in 2015, which has been split into this review and a review on organisational-level interventions.

Heavyweight Mesh Is Superior to Lightweight Mesh in Laparo-endoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: This meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis aims to provide an update on the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and recommendations on using lightweight mesh (LWM) or heavyweight mesh (HWM) in laparo-endoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Background: LWM might reduce chronic pain through improved mesh flexibility and less fibrosis formation. However, in laparo-endoscopic repair chronic pain is already rare and LWM raise concerns of higher recurrence rates.

Lightweight mesh is recommended in open inguinal (Lichtenstein) hernia repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The use of lightweight mesh for inguinal hernia repair has been suggested to be preferable compared with heavyweight mesh. Nevertheless, surgeons do not use lightweight mesh routinely, possibly owing to the higher price and lack of confidence in evaluation of previous evidence. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to update the available randomized controlled trials and provide a recommendation on the use of lightweight mesh or heavyweight mesh in open inguinal hernia repair.

Within-person fluctuations in wellbeing and task-specific work ability.

Purpose: To research within-person fluctuations in occupational health, work ability and wellbeing, we need new measurement strategies. We studied absolute agreement for weekly measurements of task-specific work ability and relationships between wellbeing, work demands and personal factors and task-specific work ability over time.

Methods: Forty-eight Dutch academic researchers answered questions during 12 consecutive weeks.

When is job rotation perceived useful and easy to use to prevent work-related musculoskeletal complaints?

Job rotation is often recommended to optimize physical work demands and prevent work-related musculoskeletal complaints, but little is known about possible facilitators and barriers to its usefulness and ease of use. Following a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews with employers (n = 12) and workers (n = 11) from the construction industry were conducted. Organizational climate, job autonomy, job characteristics and work processes were mentioned as either facilitators or barriers on an organizational level.

Use of Ergonomic Measures Related to Musculoskeletal Complaints among Construction Workers: A 2-year Follow-up Study.

Background: The physical work demands of construction work can be reduced using ergonomic measures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ergonomic measures related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among construction workers.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent at baseline and 2 years later to 1,130 construction workers.

Reproducibility and validity of the myotest for measuring step frequency and ground contact time in recreational runners.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility (test-retest reliability and agreement) and concurrent validity of the Myotest for measuring step frequency (SF) and ground contact time (GCT) in recreational runners. Based on a within-subjects design (test and retest), SF and GCT of 14 participants (11 males, 3 females) were measured at three different running speeds with the Myotest during two test sessions. SF and GCT were also assessed with a foot-mounted accelerometer (Gold Standard, previously validated by comparing to force plate data) during the first test session.

Effects of job rotation on musculoskeletal complaints and related work exposures: a systematic literature review.

The aim of this systematic review was to summarise evidence on the effects of job rotation on musculoskeletal complaints, exposures related to musculoskeletal complaints and sustainable working life parameters. A total of 16 studies were included. No studies on sustainable working life parameters were found.

Improving occupational health care for construction workers: a process evaluation.

Background: To evaluate the process of a job-specific workers' health surveillance (WHS) in improving occupational health care for construction workers.

Methods: From January to July 2012 were 899 bricklayers and supervisors invited for the job-specific WHS at three locations of one occupational health service throughout the Netherlands. The intervention aimed at detecting signs of work-related health problems, reduced work capacity and/or reduced work functioning.

Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are an important cause of functional impairments and disability among construction workers. An improved understanding of MSDs in different construction occupations is likely to be of value for selecting preventive measures. This study aimed to survey the prevalence of symptoms of MSDs, the work-relatedness of the symptoms and the problems experienced during work among two construction occupations: bricklayers and supervisors.

A trial of a job-specific workers' health surveillance program for construction workers: study protocol.

Background: Dutch construction workers are offered periodic health examinations. This care can be improved by tailoring this workers health surveillance (WHS) to the demands of the job and adjust the preventive actions to the specific health risks of a worker in a particular job. To improve the quality of the WHS for construction workers and stimulate relevant job-specific preventive actions by the occupational physician, we have developed a job-specific WHS.

Occupational demands and health effects for bricklayers and construction supervisors: A systematic review.

Background: knowledge was gathered on occupational demands and health effects of two occupations in the construction industry, bricklayers and supervisors, in order to design a job-specific workers' health surveillance (WHS) for construction workers.

Methods: we systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, HSELINE, NIOSHTIC-2, and Picarta up to December 2008.

Results: a total of 60 articles were included.