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International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2021Given the extent of workaholism identified in the literature, it seems essential to consider effective preventive measures. The purpose of this article is to summarize... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Given the extent of workaholism identified in the literature, it seems essential to consider effective preventive measures. The purpose of this article is to summarize literature data on possible collective and individual preventive measures against workaholism, especially in occupational medicine.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic literature review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
155 articles were retrieved in March 2019, but only 15 well-designed studies providing concrete measures to prevent workaholism were included. The various measures were classified using the traditional distinction between three levels of prevention. At the first level of prevention, workaholism can be avoided by implementing a protective organizational culture. The second level of prevention rather focuses on individual training and counselling to address the negative consequences of workaholism. Finally, the third level of prevention combines cognitive and behavioral interventions that enable professional and social reintegration of workaholics.
DISCUSSION
This literature review confirms the multifactorial origin of workaholism and the involvement of organizational factors, supporting the necessary contribution of companies in its prevention. This review also reinforces the growing perception of workaholism as a behavioral addiction. Occupational physicians play a key role in this preventive approach as they can influence both working conditions and individual care. The highlighted preventive measures seem to be not only favorable to workaholics, but also to companies.
CONCLUSION
This review provides field tools that can be used at the various levels of workaholism prevention. Nevertheless, intervention studies are required to confirm the effectiveness of the measures presented.
Topics: Behavior, Addictive; Occupational Medicine; Occupations
PubMed: 34281048
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137109 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Jan 2024Molecular pathways found to be important in pulmonary fibrosis are also involved in cancer pathogenesis, suggesting common pathways in the development of pulmonary... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Molecular pathways found to be important in pulmonary fibrosis are also involved in cancer pathogenesis, suggesting common pathways in the development of pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Is pulmonary fibrosis from exposure to occupational carcinogens an independent risk factor for lung cancer?
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane databases with over 100 search terms regarding occupational hazards causing pulmonary fibrosis was conducted. After screening and extraction, quality of evidence and eligibility criteria for meta-analysis were assessed. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
52 studies were identified for systematic review. Meta-analysis of subgroups identified silicosis as a risk factor for lung cancer when investigating odds ratios for silicosis in autopsy studies (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13-1.90) and for lung cancer mortality in patients with silicosis (OR 3.21, 95% CI 2.67-3.87). Only considering studies with an adjustment for smoking as a confounder identified a significant increase in lung cancer risk (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.34-1.87). However, due to a lack of studies including cumulative exposure, no adjustments could be included. In a qualitative review, no definitive conclusion could be reached for asbestosis and silicosis as independent risk factors for lung cancer, partly because the studies did not take cumulative exposure into account.
INTERPRETATION
This systematic review confirms the current knowledge regarding asbestosis and silicosis, indicating a higher risk of lung cancer in exposed individuals compared to exposed workers without fibrosis. These individuals should be monitored for lung cancer, especially when asbestosis or silicosis is present.
Topics: Humans; Silicon Dioxide; Lung Neoplasms; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Asbestosis; Silicosis; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 38355151
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0224-2023 -
Cureus Nov 2023Occupational back pain has emerged as a significant public health concern. Despite several efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of occupational back pain, this issue... (Review)
Review
Occupational back pain has emerged as a significant public health concern. Despite several efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of occupational back pain, this issue still persists across the globe. This systematic review summarizes the preventive and therapeutic options available for managing occupational back pain. A systemic search was carried out in various databases including PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL Ultimate, and Scopus to identify relevant literature. The search was also extended to Google Scholar to identify more relevant studies. A combination of keywords was used during the search. Studies were included if they focused on occupational back pain, investigated preventive and treatment options, and were published in English. A total of 20 relevant studies, including 62,176 participants, were included in this systemic review. Out of these 20 studies, 10 were randomized control trials, four were cross-sectional studies, two were longitudinal studies, one was a single-blinded clinical study, two were prospective studies, and the remaining one was a pilot study. This systemic review identified various interventions to improve occupational back pain. The common therapeutic strategies included educational programs, physio and rehab interventions, acupuncture, mixed treatment strategies, reflexology, massage, yoga, active physical therapy, and real-time occupational internet-based interventions. Some studies also reported the effectiveness of opioid therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for managing back pain. Findings indicated that these therapies effectively reduced occupational back pain and improved quality of life. However, opioid therapy uses also raised safety concerns. The findings of this systemic review highlight the importance of adopting evidence-based strategies to address occupational back pain effectively.
PubMed: 38094529
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48744 -
Public Health Reviews 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the evidence on the relationship between physical occupational risks (high physical workload, long working...
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the evidence on the relationship between physical occupational risks (high physical workload, long working hours, shift work, whole-body vibrations, prolonged standing, and heavy lifting) and preterm birth. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted across six databases to investigate the relationship between physical occupational risks and preterm birth. A comprehensive analysis of 37 studies with varying sample sizes found moderate evidence of positive associations between high physical workload, long working hours, shift work, whole-body vibration, and preterm birth. Meta-analysis showed a 44% higher risk (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.25-1.66) for preterm birth with long working hours and a 63% higher risk (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.03-2.58) with shift work. Pregnant women in physically demanding jobs, those working long hours or on shifts, and those exposed to whole-body vibration have an increased risk of preterm birth. Employers should establish supportive workplaces, policymakers implement protective measures, healthcare providers conduct screenings, and pregnant women must stay informed and mitigate these job-related risks. : [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], Identifier [CRD42022357045].
PubMed: 37937117
DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2023.1606085 -
GeoHealth Jun 2023Noise is a common harmful factor in our work and the environment. Most studies have investigated the auditory effects of noise exposure; however, few studies have... (Review)
Review
Noise is a common harmful factor in our work and the environment. Most studies have investigated the auditory effects of noise exposure; however, few studies have focused on the extra-auditory effects of exposure to occupational or environmental noise. This study aimed to systematically review published studies on the extra-auditory effects of noise exposure. We reviewed literature from PubMed and Google Scholar databases up to July 2022, using the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome criteria and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies that reported extra-auditory effects of occupational or environmental noise exposure. Studies were evaluated utilizing validated reporting tools (CONSORT, STROBE) appropriate to study design. A total of 263 articles were identified, of which 36 were finally selected and reviewed. Upon conducting a review of the articles, exposure to noise can elicit a variety of extra-auditory effects on humans. These effects include circulatory effects linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease and decreased endothelial function, nervous system effects correlated with sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and mental health problems, immunological and endocrinal effects connected to increased physiological stress response and metabolic disorders, oncological and respiratory effects associated with an elevated risk of acoustic neuroma and respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal effects linked to an increased risk of gastric or duodenal ulcer, and obstetric effects connected to the risk of preterm birth. Our review suggests that there are numerous extra-auditory effects of noise exposure on human, and further investigations are needed to fully understand these effects.
PubMed: 37303697
DOI: 10.1029/2023GH000805 -
The British Journal of Dermatology Feb 2021Individual studies have suggested that the association between occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and the development of keratinocyte cancers... (Review)
Review
Individual studies have suggested that the association between occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and the development of keratinocyte cancers (KCs) may only be valid in populations of European ancestry living in certain geographical regions. Comparative global data are scarce and so this review aimed to summarize current evidence on the association between occupational exposure to solar UVR and the development of KCs, with a specific focus on geographical location and skin colour. Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for potentially relevant records. Extracted data were summarized by study, country and region. We included one prospective cohort study and 18 case-control studies (n = 15 233) from 12 countries in regions where the majority of the population is white skinned (Americas, Europe and Oceania). Eighteen of the 19 studies reported effect estimates suggesting an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and/or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among outdoor workers. Only 11 studies found a significantly increased risk and many had imprecise estimates. There was a significantly increased risk of BCC and SCC in individual studies in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe and Southern Europe, but not across regions or countries. Overall, 95% of studies reported higher risks among outdoor workers, although the increases in risk were statistically significant in just over half of the studies. Well-designed and sufficiently powered occupational case-control and cohort studies with adequate adjustment for confounding factors and other risk factors are required to provide more accurate risk estimates for occupational KC.
Topics: Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Caribbean Region; Europe; Humans; Keratinocytes; North America; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms; Sunlight; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 32320481
DOI: 10.1111/bjd.19152 -
Systematic Reviews Aug 2021Sarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors originating from mesenchymal or connective tissue. They represent less than 1% of all adult cancers. The etiology... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Sarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors originating from mesenchymal or connective tissue. They represent less than 1% of all adult cancers. The etiology and epidemiology of sarcomas remain understudied and poorly understood. The main objective of our study was to systematically assess the association between various occupational exposures and risk of sarcomas.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to identify relevant cohort and case-control studies. A meta-analysis method was applied on the incidence and mortality outcomes where the estimate with 95% confidence interval (CI) was obtained.
RESULTS
We included a total of 50 publications in our systematic review and 35 in meta-analysis. For exposures to phenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols, the pooled odds ratio (OR) for sarcoma was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.82), based on 16 studies with 2254 participants, while the pooled standardized mortality ratio was 40.93 (95% CI 2.19, 765.90), based on 4 cohort studies with 59,289 participants. For exposure to vinyl chloride monomers the pooled risk ratios for angiosarcoma of the liver and other STS were 19.23 (95% CI 2.03, 182.46) and 2.23 (95 CI 1.55, 3.22) respectively based on 3 cohort studies with 12,816 participants. Exposure to dioxins was associated with an increased STS mortality; the pooled standardized mortality ratio was 2.56 (95% CI 1.60, 4.10) based on 4 cohort studies with 30,797 participants. Finally, woodworking occupation was associated with an increased risk of STS with the pooled OR of 2.16 (95% CI 1.39, 3.36).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest a positive association between higher exposure to dioxins and increased mortality from STS, between cumulative exposure to vinyl chloride monomers and increased mortality from angiosarcoma of the liver and STS, and between woodworking occupation and STS incidence. These findings were all statistically significant.
Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Humans; Incidence; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Sarcoma
PubMed: 34389054
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01769-4 -
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England) Oct 2021Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is caused by a variety of antigens and low-molecular-weight chemicals, often through occupational exposure. Making a diagnosis of HP...
BACKGROUND
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is caused by a variety of antigens and low-molecular-weight chemicals, often through occupational exposure. Making a diagnosis of HP and identifying a cause are challenging. Cryptogenic cases are frequently reported, and missing or incomplete exposure histories can cause misclassification.
AIMS
To provide an evidence-based compendium of sources of exposure and causes of HP for the clinician, through systematic review of medical literature.
METHODS
Articles related to HP causative agents and occupational exposure were searched from the databases OVID Medline (1946 to October 2020) and EMBASE (1974 to October 2020). Abstracts and full texts of articles were screened by two reviewers. Data on causative antigens, occupational source of exposure and any associated eponymous name were extracted and grouped according to source of exposure.
RESULTS
A total of 1790 articles were identified, from which 305 articles met the inclusion criteria. An additional 22 articles were identified from citation lists of the selected review articles. Sources of exposure identified for HP were sorted into 14 categories of work (agricultural, plant matter processing, wood, animal-related, foodstuff, food processing, metal processing, polymers, other manufacturing, chemicals, aerosolized water, service, waste and sewage and wind instruments).
CONCLUSIONS
This work is a comprehensive list of occupational causative agents and exposures causing HP. Cases are grouped by source of exposure, allowing an immediately accessible compendium of causes for use during occupational exposure assessment, which could also form the basis for a clinical questionnaire.
Topics: Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 34370035
DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqab082 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Lyme disease (LD) can have significant consequences for the health of workers. The frequency of infection can be estimated by using prevalence and incidence data on... (Review)
Review
Lyme disease (LD) can have significant consequences for the health of workers. The frequency of infection can be estimated by using prevalence and incidence data on antibodies against Borrelia Burgdoferi (BB). A systematic search of studies published in English between 2002 and 2021 and a meta-analysis were conducted in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Out of a total of 1125 studies retrieved, 35 articles were included in the systematic review. Overall, in these studies, outdoor workers showed a 20.5% BB seroprevalence rate. Meta-analysis, performed on 15 studies (3932 subjects), revealed a significantly increased risk in outdoor activities (OR 1.93 95%CI 1.15-3.23), with medium-level heterogeneity (I = 69.2%), and non-significant publication bias. The estimated OR in forestry and agricultural workers was 2.36 (CI95% 1.28; 4.34) in comparison with the controls, while a non-significant increase in risk (OR = 1.05, CI95% 0.28; 3.88) was found in the remaining categories of workers (veterinarians, animal breeders, soldiers). The estimated pooled risk was significantly higher in the studies published until 2010 (OR 3.03 95%CI 1.39-6.61), while in more recent studies the odds became non-significant (OR 1.08 95% CI 0.63-1.85). The promotion of awareness campaigns targeting outdoor workers in endemic areas, and the implementation of local programs aimed at controlling range expansion of vectors, are key strategies for protecting workers.
PubMed: 35204387
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12020296 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2021We aimed to review occupational burnout predictors, considering their type, effect size and role (protective versus harmful), and the overall evidence of their... (Review)
Review
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.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Burnout, Professional; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Longitudinal Studies
PubMed: 34501782
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179188