A Combined Telemedicine and Ambulatory Wound Care Team Intervention for Improving Cross-Sector Outpatient Chronic Wound Management: Protocol for the Mixed Methods TELE-AMBUS Research Project.

Background: There is a growing prevalence of nonhealing wounds and chronic diseases in society, and there is an associated need for wound management solutions that include the use of telemedicine. A broad spectrum of factors influences the planning and execution of interventions within telemedicine in chronic wound management, spanning organizations, technologies, and individuals, including professionals and patients. The Telemedicine and Ambulatory Wound Care Team (TELE-AMBUS) project applies a whole-system research approach to account for this spectrum of factors.

A cross-sector systematic review and synthesis of knowledge on telemedicine interventions in chronic wound management-Implications from a system perspective.

Based on initially identified needs for further telemedicine (TM) and chronic wound management research, the objective of this article is twofold: to conduct a systematic review of existing knowledge on TM interventions in chronic wound management-including barriers and opportunities-across the specialist and primary care sectors, and to incorporate the review findings into a system framework that can be further developed and validated through empirical data. We conclude that there is a pressing need for broader and more comprehensive empirical explorations into quality improvement and integration of TM in chronic wound management, including using system frameworks that can capture cross-sector system perspectives and associated implications. Of practical consideration, we suggest that the design and execution of TM improvement interventions and associated research projects should be conducted in close cooperation with managers and practitioners knowledgeable about barriers and opportunities that can influence the implementation of important interventions within chronic wound management.

Occupational health and safety in agriculture - a brief report on organization, legislation and support in selected European countries.

Introduction And Objective: Agriculture and forestry are among the most dangerous professions in Europe, with a high level of accidents affecting the sustainability and viability of the sector. International conventions, EU directives and national legislation build the fundamental basis for prevention. The aim of the study is to describe and categorize national mechanisms of occupational safety and health (OSH) for agricultural workers in Europe, to assess the extent of implementing safety regulation, the body in charge, and to give examples of health and safety initiatives.

Occupational injury rates among Norwegian farmers: A sociotechnical perspective.

Introduction: This study addressed relative injury risk among Norwegian farmers, who are mostly self-employed and run small farm enterprises. The aim was to explore the relative importance of individual, enterprise, and work environment risks for occupational injury and to discuss the latent conditions for injuries using sociotechnical system theory.

Method: Injury report and risk factors were collected through a survey among Norwegian farm owners in November 2012.

Occupational Safety and Health Among Young Workers in the Nordic Countries: A Systematic Literature Review.

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers.

Exploring multiple working arrangements in Norwegian engineering, procurement, and construction industry from a middle manager and supervisor perspective: A sociotechnical system perspective.

With a scarcity of research on multiple working arrangements, the aim of the paper is to contribute empirical data from a Norwegian engineering, procurement, and construction enterprise that shed light on the challenges and benefits of a 14-21 working arrangement in itself and in relation to other working arrangements. We combine a sociotechnical system perspective with systematic content analysis using QSR NVivo, which reveals organizational complexity comprised of indirect, direct, positive, negative, and mutual interplays between various aspects of the enterprise, including processes and outcomes. We find that the 14-21 working arrangement, in combination with other factors of the work system, sets the premises for work processes and outcome factors that are both beneficial and challenging to individuals and the organization.

An active transition from offshore work to family life: Activities that may impact recovery.

Background: Night shift workers, particularly those working offshore, take a long time to recover from their shifts. The activities that shift workers, such as offshore employees, pursue during their leisure time can influence the process of recovery from work-related fatigue, but little is known about these leisure time activities.

Objective: To explore what leisure time activities are pursued that may be relevant to recovery for offshore employees.

Self-Reported Recovery from 2-Week 12-Hour Shift Work Schedules: A 14-Day Follow-Up.

Background: Recovery from fatigue is important in maintaining night workers' health. This study compared the course of self-reported recovery after 2-week 12-hour schedules consisting of either night shifts or swing shifts (i.e.

Nonstandard working schedules and health: the systematic search for a comprehensive model.

Background: Theoretical models on shift work fall short of describing relevant health-related pathways associated with the broader concept of nonstandard working schedules. Shift work models neither combine relevant working time characteristics applicable to nonstandard schedules nor include the role of rest periods and recovery in the development of health complaints. Therefore, this paper aimed to develop a comprehensive model on nonstandard working schedules to address these shortcomings.

Neuroendocrine recovery after 2-week 12-h day and night shifts: an 11-day follow-up.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the course and duration of neuroendocrine recovery after 2-week 12-h day and night shift working periods and to study whether there were differences in recovery between the shift groups.

Methods: Twenty-nine male offshore employees working 2-week 12-h shift tours participated in the study; 15 participated after a day shift tour and 14 after a night shift tour. Salivary cortisol was assessed at awakening, 30 min after awakening, and before bedtime on the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 11th day of the free period, with a reference day prior to the offshore tour.

The association between shift work and sick leave: a systematic review.

Shift work is associated with a number of negative health outcomes, although it is not known whether it is associated with sick leave. This systematic review therefore aimed to determine whether an association exists between shift work and sick leave. A systematic literature search was conducted in six databases on observational studies.

Young workers in the construction industry and initial OSH-training when entering work life.

Studies have found that young workers are at risk for injuries. The risk for accidents is high within construction, indicating that young workers may be especially vulnerable in this industry. In Norway, it is possible to enter the construction industry as a full time worker at the age of 18.

On long term sick leave due to musculoskeletal diseases and disorders. Experiences of work demands.

Objective: The rate of sick leave is higher in the public sector than in the private sector in several countries, making it essential to thoroughly investigate employees in the public sector. The following research question was investigated: How do employees on long-term sick leave (> 8 weeks) due to musculoskeletal disorders or diseases describe their work demands?

Methods: This paper is from the larger Rogaland RTW case study. The informants were female employees (n=8) in the first-line public sector with different types of musculoskeletal diseases or disorders.

Workplace interventions for neck pain in workers.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in many industrial countries. Recurrent and chronic pain accounts for a substantial portion of workers' absenteeism. Neck pain seems to be more prominent in the general population than previously known.

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.

Loss of health certificates among offshore petroleum workers on the Norwegian Continental Shelf 2002-2010.

Background: A health certificate is required to work on the offshore petroleum installations of the Norwegian Shelf. Loss of health certificate (loss of licence, LOL) may cause economic problems for the individual worker. A private compensation system (OSO) was established for Norwegian offshore workers in 2002, comprising 8000-11,000 individual members of workers organisations: approximately one third of the population offshore.

Exploring perceived tension as a response to psychosocial work stress.

Unlabelled: This study extends the concept of tension, in part by observing changes in tension during the workday, to identify episodes causing elevated tension and relate them to bodily responses. Methods Both questionnaires and qualitative interviews were used to describe the tension concept. Tension was scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) every hour, and trapezius muscle activity and heart rate were recorded.

Further studies of shoulder and neck pain and exposures in customer service work with low biomechanical demands.

The aim of the study was to establish insight into work exposures that cause shoulder and neck pain among occupational groups that have low biomechanical exposure and experience work stress from client/customer contact, among other exposures. Four occupational groups were studied, in health care (n = 20), retail (n = 22), banking (n = 26), and university secretaries (n = 26), a total of 94 volunteers. Thirty-nine were classified as pain-afflicted in the shoulder and neck, while 55 were pain-free.

Daytime trapezius muscle activity and shoulder-neck pain of service workers with work stress and low biomechanical exposure.

Aim: The study aims to look for an association between trapezius muscle activity and shoulder-neck pain in work situations characterized by work stress and low biomechanical exposure.

Methods: Female subjects (n = 93) were recruited from four occupational groups: health care, shop assistants, banking, and university secretaries. Thirty-eight workers were interviewed and classified as pain-afflicted by their shoulder-neck pain score in the last 6 months; 55 were pain-free.