فهرست مطالب

Occupational and Environmental Medicine - Volume:11 Issue: 3, Jul 2020

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume:11 Issue: 3, Jul 2020

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1399/05/06
  • تعداد عناوین: 7
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  • Farrokh Habibzadeh* Pages 117-118
  • Carolyn S Dewa, Jaap Van Weeghel, Margot CW Joosen*, Evelien PM Brouwers Pages 119-127
    Background

    Stigma can be a barrier for workers experiencing a mental illness to access accommodations at work. However, work accommodations may be necessary to maintain a worker's ability to work. Therefore, it may be important to develop effective interventions to address workplace stigma.

    Objective

    To determine (1) what proportion of workers would probably disclose their mental health issue to their manager, (2) what are the motivating factors for the decision of whether or not to disclose, and (3) what would potentially change the disclosure decision?

    Methods

    A link to a Web-based questionnaire was sent to a nationally representative sample of 1671 Dutch adults over 18 years of age. The response rate was 74%. We focused on the 892 respondents who indicated they were either employed for pay or looking for employment, not in management positions, and never experienced a mental health issue. This group comprised 73% of the total sample. They were asked if they would disclose their mental health issue to their manager. For what reasons would they disclose/not disclose the issue? And, what could change their decision?

    Results

    We found that almost 75% of workers would disclose to their managers. The perceived relationship with their managers and feelings of responsibility to their workplaces were important contributors to the decision. A large minority of workers would not tell, preferring to deal with their issues alone. In addition, a significant proportion of workers would choose not to disclose fearing negative consequences.

    Conclusion

    Our results indicate that the majority of these Dutch workers would disclose a mental health issue to their managers. The relationship with the manager plays a central role. The advice from a trusted individual and the experiences of colleagues are also significant factors in the disclosure decision.

    Keywords: Social stigma, Mental health, Mental disorders, Disclosure, Workplaces, Occupational groups
  • Rajni Rai, Sonia El-Zaemey, Nidup Dorji, Lin Fritschi* Pages 128-139
    Background

    Collection of reliable and valid occupational history data is of utmost importance to assess work-related exposures and their health effects. Few standardized questionnaires are available for the collection of occupational history data in low-and-middle income countries.

    Objective

    To adapt and test a validated questionnaire developed in the United States by the National Institute of Safety and Health, in order to assess occupational chemical exposures among health care workers in Bhutan.

    Methods

    The questionnaire was first adapted to suit the Bhutanese context with the advice of an expert review committee. 30 health care workers then completed the questionnaire at baseline and 10–14 days later. Test-retest reliability was assessed by calculating Cohen's κ and percentage agreement.

    Results

    The questionnaire had high test-retest reliability. Cohen's κ ranged from 0.61 to 1.00, and percentage agreement ranged from 86.7% to 100%. Further adaptations included omitting questions on chemicals not available in Bhutan.

    Conclusion

    The adapted questionnaire is appropriate for assessing occupational chemical exposures among health care workers in Bhutan.

    Keywords: Occupational exposure, Health personnel, Surveys, questionnaires, Advisory committees, Developing countries, Bhutan
  • Kalahasthi Ravibabu*, Tapu Barman, Bhavani Shankara Bagepally Pages 140-147
    Background

    The major portion of lead in the body resides in skeletal system. The bone turnover affects the release of lead into the circulation from bones. The bone turnover biomarkers (BTM) in lead-battery workers with long-term exposure to lead have not been explored yet.

    Objective

    To evaluate the BTM (formation and resorption) in lead-battery workers with long-term exposure to lead in lead-battery manufacturing plant.

    Methods

    176 male lead-exposed workers and 80 matched comparison group were studied. All participants were examined for blood lead levels (BLLs), bone formation biomarkers—serum osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP)—and bone resorption biomarkers—serum pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypyridinoline (DPYD), tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b), and urinary hydroxyproline (UHYP).

    Results

    We found a significantly higher bone formation biomarkers such as BALP (p=0.007) and bone resorption biomarkers, eg, PYD (p=0.048), TRCAP-5b (p=0.001), and UHYP (p=0.001) in lead-exposed workers. A significant (p=0.041) negative correlation (ρ -0.128) was noted between BLLs and OC. A significant positive correlation was noted between BLLs and TRACP-5b (ρ 0.176, p=0.005) and UHYP (ρ 0.258, p=0.004). Serum OC (p=0.040) and UHYP (p=0.015) levels changed significantly with BLL level. Bone resorption biomarkers levels—PYD, TRACP-5b, and BALP—were higher among those with higher BLLs levels. The duration of exposure was significantly associated with BALP (p=0.037), DPYD (p=0.016), TRACP5b (p=0.001), and UHYP (p=0.002) levels.

    Conclusion

    Long-term lead exposure affects the bone turnover.

    Keywords: Osteocalcin, Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, Alkaline phosphatase, Pyridinoline, Lead, Hydroxyproline, Deoxypyridinoline, Bone resorption
  • Luigi Santacroce*, Lucrezia Bottalico, Ioannis Alexandros Charitos Pages 151-152
  • Pages 153-154