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Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases
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Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 36005

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Henk F van der Molen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: signaling and assessment of occupational diseases; prevention of occupational diseases; occupational epidemiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sanja Kezic

E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: occupational skin diseases; skin barrier; skin cancer; contact dermatitis
Dr. Sietske J Tamminga

E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: signaling and assessment of occupational diseases; prevention of occupational diseases; occupational epidemiology; prevention of work disability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The burden of work-related diseases—including occupational diseases—is high for the affected worker and for society at large. In 2016, worldwide, an estimated of 76.1 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributable to occupational risk factors, accounting for around 3% of DALYs [GBD 2016 Occupational risk Factors collaborators. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:133–141].

A work-related disease is caused or worsened by work activities and/or working conditions. Exposure to hazardous substances, noise, as well as psychological and physical demands are the most common examples of occupational risk factors. In principle, the development of work-related diseases can largely be avoided by means of control measures at worksites. Knowledge on the work-related risk factors and their association with the exposure is essential for the development of preventive interventions and strategies. Thorough assessment of the efficacy of prevention programs and their successive implementation will enable the creation of a healthy work environment and the prevention of occupational diseases.

The present Special Issue aims to increase insight into occupational and individual risk factors, preventive interventions, and implementation strategies across different types of work-related diseases. The studies will mainly, although not exclusively, focus on musculoskeletal disorders, stress-related disorders, as well as respiratory and skin diseases. A special emphasis within this Special Issue will be placed on existing knowledge gaps such as the pathogenesis of work-related diseases and the implementation of preventive measures in various jobs and industries.

Dr. Henk F van der Molen
Dr. Sietske J Tamminga
Dr. Sanja Kezic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Occupational disease
  • Etiology
  • Intervention
  • Prevention
  • Implementation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 691 KiB  
Article
New Avenues for Prevention of Work-Related Diseases Linked to Psychosocial Risks
by Michel P. Guillemin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111354 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2939
Abstract
The epidemic of psychosocial risks continues to increase and the COVID-19 pandemic has even worsened this threat on workers’ health. This inexorable and evidence-based rise seems to be impervious to the preventive strategies proposed for more than 40 years. Hypotheses are proposed to [...] Read more.
The epidemic of psychosocial risks continues to increase and the COVID-19 pandemic has even worsened this threat on workers’ health. This inexorable and evidence-based rise seems to be impervious to the preventive strategies proposed for more than 40 years. Hypotheses are proposed to explain this serious problem that drastically impacts public health and the economy. The objectives of this paper are to present, in this broad context of societal and cultural changes, how the present shift in management paradigms may represent opportunities to reduce work-related diseases. In the first part of this paper, we will summarize the situation on three main issues and their relation with psychosocial risks: (1) evolution of the occupational safety and health field, (2) change in the nature of work, and (3) emerging models of governance. In the second part, we will describe, through a few examples (among many others), how emerging models of corporate governance may reduce and prevent stress and burnout. Work is changing fundamentally, and this impacts workers’ (and managers’) health and well-being; that is why approaches in line with these changes are necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced major changes in work organization. This may offer promising opportunities to reanalyze working conditions for a better control of occupational diseases and stress with all the benefits these improvements will bring for society and for individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases)
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15 pages, 499 KiB  
Article
Supporting Occupational Physicians in the Implementation of Workers’ Health Surveillance: Development of an Intervention Using the Behavior Change Wheel Framework
by Felicia S. Los, Henk F. van der Molen, Carel T. J. Hulshof and Angela G. E. M. de Boer
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1939; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041939 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3068
Abstract
Workers’ health surveillance (WHS) is an important preventive activity aimed at prevention of work-related diseases. However, WHS is not regularly implemented in some EU-countries. As occupational physicians (OPs) have to play an important role in implementation of WHS, this study aimed to develop [...] Read more.
Workers’ health surveillance (WHS) is an important preventive activity aimed at prevention of work-related diseases. However, WHS is not regularly implemented in some EU-countries. As occupational physicians (OPs) have to play an important role in implementation of WHS, this study aimed to develop an intervention to support OPs in implementation of WHS. The behavior change wheel framework (BCW) was used to develop the intervention. First, the problem was defined, and target behavior was selected by using results from a survey study among OPs. Subsequently, change objectives in target behavior were specified. Finally, appropriate intervention functions, behavior change techniques, and modes of delivery were identified to develop the intervention. Target behaviors were (1) OPs initiate WHS, and (2) OPs conduct preventive consultations with workers. OPs’ capabilities, and experienced opportunities were identified as change objectives. Intervention functions (education, training, enablement) and behavior change techniques (information about consequences, demonstration, instructions, behavioral practice, feedback on behavior, goal setting, action planning, reviewing goals) were selected to develop the intervention, delivered by face-to-face group training and e-learning. The proposed intervention consists of training and e-learning to support OPs in implementing WHS. Feasibility and effect of the intervention will be evaluated in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases)
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48 pages, 2027 KiB  
Systematic Review
Determinants of Burnout among Teachers: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
by Dragan Mijakoski, Dumitru Cheptea, Sandy Carla Marca, Yara Shoman, Cigdem Caglayan, Merete Drevvatne Bugge, Marco Gnesi, Lode Godderis, Sibel Kiran, Damien M. McElvenny, Zakia Mediouni, Olivia Mesot, Jordan Minov, Evangelia Nena, Marina Otelea, Nurka Pranjic, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Henk F. van der Molen and Irina Guseva Canu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095776 - 9 May 2022
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 13038
Abstract
We aimed to review the determinants of burnout onset in teachers. The study was conducted according to the PROSPERO protocol CRD42018105901, with a focus on teachers. We performed a literature search from 1990 to 2021 in three databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase. We [...] Read more.
We aimed to review the determinants of burnout onset in teachers. The study was conducted according to the PROSPERO protocol CRD42018105901, with a focus on teachers. We performed a literature search from 1990 to 2021 in three databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase. We included longitudinal studies assessing burnout as a dependent variable, with a sample of at least 50 teachers. We summarized studies by the types of determinant and used the MEVORECH tool for a risk of bias assessment (RBA). The quantitative synthesis focused on emotional exhaustion. We standardized the reported regression coefficients and their standard errors and plotted them using R software to distinguish between detrimental and protective determinants. A qualitative analysis of the included studies (n = 33) identified 61 burnout determinants. The RBA showed that most studies had external and internal validity issues. Most studies implemented two waves (W) of data collection with 6–12 months between W1 and W2. Four types of determinants were summarized quantitatively, namely support, conflict, organizational context, and individual characteristics, based on six studies. This systematic review identified detrimental determinants of teacher exhaustion, including job satisfaction, work climate or pressure, teacher self-efficacy, neuroticism, perceived collective exhaustion, and classroom disruption. We recommend that authors consider using harmonized methods and protocols such as those developed in OMEGA-NET and other research consortia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases)
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17 pages, 1695 KiB  
Systematic Review
Predictors of Occupational Burnout: A Systematic Review
by Yara Shoman, Emna El May, Sandy Carla Marca, Pascal Wild, Renzo Bianchi, Merete Drevvatne Bugge, Cigdem Caglayan, Dimitru Cheptea, Marco Gnesi, Lode Godderis, Sibel Kiran, Damien M. McElvenny, Zakia Mediouni, Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Dragan Mijakoski, Jordan Minov, Henk F. van der Molen, Evangelia Nena, Marina Otelea and Irina Guseva Canu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179188 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 62 | Viewed by 12143
Abstract
We aimed to review occupational burnout predictors, considering their type, effect size and role (protective versus harmful), and the overall evidence of their importance. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched from January 1990 to August 2018 for longitudinal studies examining any predictor of [...] Read more.
We aimed to review occupational burnout predictors, considering their type, effect size and role (protective versus harmful), and the overall evidence of their importance. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched from January 1990 to August 2018 for longitudinal studies examining any predictor of occupational burnout among workers. We arranged predictors in four families and 13 subfamilies of homogenous constructs. The plots of z-scores per predictor type enabled graphical discrimination of the effects. The vote-counting and binomial test enabled discrimination of the effect direction. The size of the effect was estimated using Cohen’s formula. The risk of bias and the overall evidence were assessed using the MEVORECH and GRADE methods, respectively. Eighty-five studies examining 261 predictors were included. We found a moderate quality of evidence for the harmful effects of the job demands subfamily (six predictors), and negative job attitudes, with effect sizes from small to medium. We also found a moderate quality of evidence for the protective effect of adaptive coping (small effect sizes) and leisure (small to medium effect sizes). Preventive interventions for occupational burnout might benefit from intervening on the established predictors regarding reducing job demands and negative job attitudes and promoting adaptive coping and leisure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases)
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8 pages, 512 KiB  
Case Report
Work Disabling Nerve Injury at Both Elbows Due to Laptop Use at Flexible Workplaces inside an Office: Case-Report of a Bilateral Ulnar Neuropathy
by P. Paul F. M. Kuijer, Joris van der Pas and Henk F. van der Molen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249529 - 19 Dec 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3521
Abstract
Background: This case report describes whether a female civil servant who developed bilateral ulnar neuropathy can be classified as having an occupational disease. Methods: The Dutch six-step protocol for the assessment and prevention of occupational diseases is used. Results: Based on the six-step [...] Read more.
Background: This case report describes whether a female civil servant who developed bilateral ulnar neuropathy can be classified as having an occupational disease. Methods: The Dutch six-step protocol for the assessment and prevention of occupational diseases is used. Results: Based on the six-step protocol, we propose that pressure on the ulnar nerve in the elbow region precipitated the neuropathy for this employee while working prolonged periods in elbow flexion with a laptop. Conclusion: Despite the low incidence laptop use might be a risk factor for the occurrence of ulnar neuropathy due to prolonged pressure on the elbow. Employers and workers need to be educated about this disabling occupational injury due to laptop use and about protective work practices such as support for the upper arm and elbow. This seems especially relevant given the trend of more flexible workspaces inside and outside offices, and given the seemingly safe appearance of laptop use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Etiology and Preventive Measures to Reduce Work Related Diseases)
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