Development of a gender-specific European job exposure matrix (EuroJEM) for physical workload and its validation against musculoskeletal pain.

Objectives: The aim was to develop a gender-specific European job exposure matrix (EuroJEM) for occupational physical workload and study its predictive validity for musculoskeletal pain in four European cohorts.

Methods: National, gender-specific JEM from Finland, France, Norway and Sweden, based on self-reported exposure information, were evaluated for similarities in exposures, exposure definitions, and occupational coding. The EuroJEM harmonized five exposures: heavy lifting, faster breathing due to heavy workload, kneeling/squatting, forward bent posture, and working with hands above shoulder level.

What have we learned about risk assessment and interventions to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders and support work participation?

Objective: The Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health (SJWEH) was established half a century ago. This paper provides an overview of research on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) published over these 50 years. Three themes are described: risk assessment, interventions to prevent work-related MSD, and interventions to support work participation.

Labour market trajectories after part-time sickness absence: a nationwide cohort study from Finland.

Objectives: The use of part-time sickness absence (pSA) enables return to part-time work from full sickness absence. However, subsequent labour market outcomes of pSA users depend on various individual and work-related characteristics. We investigated labour market paths of private and public sector employees after having a pSA spell.

Contribution of compositional changes in the workforce to sickness absence trends in Finland.

In this study, we assessed whether the long-term decrease in sickness absences in Finland is explained by observed and unobserved compositional changes in the workforce. Utilizing register-based panel data on Finnish wage earners aged 30-62, we examined the annual onset of compensated sickness absence (granted after 10 weekdays) in the period 2005-2016. We applied random effects models adjusting for changes in the observed sociodemographic and occupational characteristics of the study population.

Does previous sickness absence affect work participation after vocational labour market training? A difference-in-differences propensity score matching approach.

Background: Reduced work ability is relatively common among job seekers and it can hinder future labour market attachment. A commonly used measure to increase employability is the use of active labour market programmes. While vocational labour market training (LMT) has been shown to be an effective way to increase work participation among job seekers, there is still uncertainty about how LMT works in different population groups, for example, among persons with a work disability history.

Utilizing a Nordic Crosswalk for Occupational Coding in an Analysis on Occupation-Specific Prolonged Sickness Absence among 7 Million Employees in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

We identified occupations with a high incidence of prolonged sickness absence (SA) in Nordic employees and explored similarities and differences between the countries. Utilizing data from national registers on 25-59-year-old wage-earners from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, we estimated the gender- and occupation-specific age-adjusted cumulative incidence of SA due to any cause, musculoskeletal diseases and mental disorders. To increase the comparability of occupations between the countries, we developed a Nordic crosswalk for occupational codes.

Working life expectancy and working years lost among users of part- and full-time sickness absence in Finland.

Objectives: The use of part-time sickness absence (pSA) instead of full-time sickness absence (fSA) is known to increase work participation. Yet, its effect on the total length of working lives remains unclear. We carried out a quasi-experiment to assess the impact of using pSA versus fSA on the length of working lives.

Has the share of the working life expectancy that is spent receiving a partial or full disability pension changed in Finland over the period 2005-2018? A longitudinal register-based study.

Objectives: The share of the overall working careers that is spent receiving disability benefits is unclear. We examined trends in full-time equivalent working life expectancy (FTE-WLE) among those with and without receiving a permanent full or partial disability pension in Finland, where certain amounts of work are allowed while receiving these pensions.

Design: Longitudinal register-based study.

Associations of employment sector and occupational exposures with full and part-time sickness absence: random and fixed effects analyses on panel data.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the influence of unobserved individual characteristics in explaining the effects of work-related factors on full (fSA) and part-time sickness absence (pSA).

Methods: We used register-based panel data for the period 2005-2016 on a 70% random sample of the Finnish working-age population. The relationships between employment sector and occupational exposures (% exposed to physically heavy work and job control score based on job exposure matrices) and the annual onset of fSA and pSA were investigated among men and women.

Does Work Disability Contribute to Trajectories of Work Participation before and after Vocational Labour Market Training for Job Seekers?

The contribution of ill-health to labour market participation in relation to vocational training is unclear. Using nationally representative Finnish register data on 42,691 vocational labour market trainees in 2008-2010, we constructed latent trajectory groups of work participation in the open labour market three years before and after training, identifying groups called "High-High", "High-Low", "Low-High", and "Low-Low". We plotted further patterns of labour market participation within these trajectory groups and, using multinomial logistic regression, examined assignment to these groups focusing on previous work disability status.

The influence of occupational class and physical workload on working life expectancy among older employees.

Objective This study investigates the impact of physical workload factors and occupational class on working life expectancy (WLE) and working years lost (WYL) in a sample of older Finnish workers. Methods A 70% random sample of Finns in 2004 was linked to a job exposure matrix for physical workload factors and register information on occupational class and labor market status until 2014. Transitions between being at work, time-restricted work disability, unemployment, economic inactivity, disability retirement, retirement and death were estimated.

To what extent is severe osteoarthritis preventable? Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for knee and hip osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To explore the relative contribution of cumulative physical workload, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, as well as prior injury to hospitalization due to knee and hip OA.

Methods: We examined a nationally representative sample of persons aged 30-59 years, who participated in a comprehensive health examination (the Health 2000 Study). A total of 4642 participants were followed from mid-2000 to end-2015 for the first hospitalization due to knee or hip OA using the National Hospital Discharge Register.

Occupational differences in disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion: do work-related factors matter?

Objective: To identify occupations with a high risk of disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion and to examine the effect of physical and psychosocial work-related factors on occupational differences in disability retirement.

Methods: We followed Finnish wage earners aged 30-59 years (n = 1,135,654) from 2005 to 2014 for full disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion. The work-related exposures were assessed with job exposure matrices.

Occupational and non-occupational risk factors of sickness absence due to a shoulder lesion.

Objectives: To determine the associations of lifestyle factors and cumulative physical workload exposures with sickness absence (SA) due to a shoulder lesion and to calculate their population attributable fractions (PAF).

Methods: Our nationally representative cohort consisted of 4344 individuals aged 30-62 years who participated in the Finnish Health 2000 Survey. Education, smoking, chronic diseases and work exposures were assessed during interviews and leisure time physical activity with a questionnaire.

Physical and psychosocial work exposures as risk factors for disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion.

Objective: To assess the longitudinal associations of physical and psychosocial exposures with disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion.

Methods: In a nationwide register-based study, we followed 1 135 654 wage earners aged 30-59 years for the occurrence of disability retirement due to a shoulder lesion. The occupational exposures were assessed with job exposure matrices.

Exposure to heavy physical work from early to later adulthood and primary healthcare visits due to musculoskeletal diseases in midlife: a register linked study.

Objectives: To examine whether exposure to heavy physical work from early to later adulthood is associated with primary healthcare visits due to cause-specific musculoskeletal diseases in midlife.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Nationally representative Young Finns Study cohort, Finland.

Physical heaviness of work and sitting at work as predictors of mortality: a 26-year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Objectives: To examine the relationships of late-career physical heaviness of work and sitting at work with mortality. A national-level job exposure matrix was used to determine the occupation-specific level of physical heaviness and sitting.

Design: Prospective cohort study between years 1990 and 2015.

Controlling for Structural Changes in the Workforce Influenced Occupational Class Differences in Disability Retirement Trends.

We explored occupational class differences in disability retirement trends accounting for structural changes in the workforce induced by the recent economic crisis and the following economic stagnation. Using nationwide register data on the general Finnish population aged 30-59 years, we examined trends in disability retirement due to all causes, musculoskeletal diseases, and mental disorders in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Applying propensity score (PS) matching to control for bias induced by structural changes in the workforce over time, we obtained 885,807 matched triplets.

Effect of Osteoarthritis on Work Participation and Loss of Working Life-years.

Objective: To examine to what extent disabling osteoarthritis (OA), leading to a prolonged sickness absence (SA), interferes with work participation and shortens working life-years.

Methods: A total of 4704 wage earners aged 30 to 59 years, whose SA due to OA started in 2006, were followed until October 31, 2014. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to plot sustained (at least 28 consecutive days) return-to-work curves.

The effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation on work participation: a propensity score matched analysis using nationwide register data.

Objective Research on the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation has focused on small and selected groups, lacked proper controls, or not captured dynamic changes in work participation. Using rich nationwide data on vocational rehabilitees and matched controls, long-term changes in work participation before and after vocational rehabilitation were examined to assess its effectiveness. Methods Representative Finnish register data were used to examine 3199 recently employed individuals aged 30-55 years with histories of musculoskeletal- and mental-related work disability starting vocational rehabilitation in 2008-2010 (intervention group), and 3199 propensity score matched non-rehabilitees (control group).

Work participation and working life expectancy after a disabling shoulder lesion.

Objective: To examine the impact of a disabling non-traumatic shoulder lesion on work participation and working life expectancy.

Methods: From a 70% random sample of the Finnish population, we selected 30-59-year-old wage earners with prolonged sickness absence due to a shoulder lesion (n=7644). We followed the persons from 2006 to 2014 and calculated the proportion of time a person spent in different work participation statuses.

To what extent do education and physical work load factors explain occupational differences in disability retirement due to knee OA? A nationwide register-based study in Finland.

Objectives: To examine the association of education and physical work load factors on the occupational differences in disability retirement due to knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: Longitudinal study.

Setting: Linkage of several nationwide registers and a job exposure matrix in Finland.

Do individual and work-related factors differentiate work participation trajectories before and after vocational rehabilitation?

Background: Understanding diverse labor market trajectories around vocational rehabilitation provides important insight into potential effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts. We examined factors associated with work participation trajectories before and after vocational rehabilitation.

Methods: Using nationwide Finnish register data of 7180 vocational rehabilitees, we constructed latent trajectory groups of work participation two years before and two years after their rehabilitation episode starting in 2008-2010.

Early part-time sick leave results in considerable savings in social security costs at national level: an analysis based on a quasi-experiment in Finland.

Objectives We analyzed social security costs based on an earlier quasi-experiment that compared work participation between partial sickness beneficiaries and a matched group of full sickness beneficiaries. Methods Utilizing a population-based 70% representative sample, 1878 persons with part-time sick leave (intervention group) due to musculoskeletal diseases or mental disorders at an early stage of work disability and their propensity-score-matched controls with full-time sick leave were followed for two years. The outcome was the difference (absolute and relative) in social security costs between the intervention and control groups during follow-up.