Ward-level leadership quality and prospective low-back pain of eldercare workers: do resident handlings mediate the association?

Objective: We investigated the extent to which ward-level leadership quality was associated with prospective low-back pain among eldercare workers, and how this association was mediated by observed resident handlings.

Methods: 530 Danish eldercare workers, employed in 121 wards, distributed across 20 nursing homes were evaluated. At baseline, leadership quality was measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, and resident handlings [handlings per shift, handlings not using assistive devices, handlings done alone, interruptions to handlings, impediments to handlings] were assessed using observations.

Brazilian version of need for recovery scale: Assessment of structural validity, criterion validity, and internal consistency.

Background: The Need For Recovery scale (NFR) is a tool that allows early identification of work-related health risks. However, the structure of the Brazilian version of NFR scale (Br-NFR) which contains 11 items has not been evaluated.

Objectives: To evaluate the structural validity, criterion validity, and internal consistency of the Br-NFR scale in workers.

A Simple Resident Need-for-Physical-Assistance Scale in Eldercare: Validation Using 4716 Observation Sequences of Caring Activities.

Accurate and simple measures for classifying nursing home residents according to their care needs would be valuable for planning eldercare work. Our aim was to validate a developed classification scale of residents' need for physical assistance. Eldercare workers and managers in 20 Danish nursing homes classified 1456 residents into four categories (from light to complete need for physical assistance).

Pain management in eldercare employees - the role of managers in addressing musculoskeletal pain and pain-related sickness absence.

Purpose: Managers' knowledge and behaviors in addressing musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence is not well understood. We investigated the association between managers' knowledge and behaviours in relation to employees' pain and their future risk of musculoskeletal pain and associated sickness absence.

Methods: The prospective study included 535 eldercare employees, and 42 managers from 20 nursing homes.

Cost-Effectiveness and Return-on-Investment of a Participatory Ergonomics Intervention Among Childcare Workers: An Economic Evaluation in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment (ROI) of 20-week ergonomic intervention to reduce physical exertion at work compared with usual-practice among childcare workers.

Methods: One hundred ninety workers from 16 institutions were cluster-(institute)-randomized to intervention (n = 96) and usual-practice (n = 94) group. The intervention group participated in three workshops to develop/implement action plans improving ergonomic conditions.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, occupational aerobic workload and age: workplace measurements among blue-collar workers.

Background: The knowledge, from laboratory studies dating back to the 1950s on the importance of the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic workload for workers health, is fundamental for promoting sustainable healthy employability among ageing blue-collar workers today. However, the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic workload has not yet been documented during daily work, and we do not know if it applies to the normal work of blue-collar workers in different age groups. We aim to investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic workload among blue-collar workers using measurements of 24-h heart rate collected over consecutive working days.

Zero problems with compositional data of physical behaviors: a comparison of three zero replacement methods.

Background: Researchers applying compositional data analysis to time-use data (e.g., time spent in physical behaviors) often face the problem of zeros, that is, recordings of zero time spent in any of the studied behaviors.

TOPS - a randomized controlled trial of exercise and education to prevent recurrence of low back pain: statistical analysis plan.

Background: This a priori statistical analysis plan describes the methods of analysis for the Trial Of Prevention Strategies for low back pain (TOPS).

Objectives: TOPS aimed to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise and education classes compared with a minimal intervention control in preventing recurrence of low back pain (LBP) in people who have recently recovered from an episode of LBP.

Methods: TOPS is a superiority, pragmatic, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment, blinded outcome assessors, and intention-to-treat analysis.