The effect on ambulatory blood pressure of working under favourably and unfavourably perceived supervisors. (41/595)

AIMS: To investigate the role played by employees' perceptions of their supervisors' interactional styles as a possible source of workplace stress that may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates from cardiovascular disorders in workers in the lower strata of organisational hierarchies. METHODS: A controlled, quasi-experimental, field study of female healthcare assistants. Allocation to the experimental and control groups was based on participants' responses to a supervisor interactional style questionnaire. Experimental participants (n = 13) reported working under two divergently perceived supervisors at the same workplace, on different days. The control group (n = 15) worked either under one supervisor, or two similarly perceived supervisors. Ambulatory blood pressure was recorded every 30 minutes, over a 12 hour period for three days. RESULTS: The control group showed a 3 mm Hg difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a non-significant difference in diastolic blood pressure (DBP; mean difference 1 mm Hg) between the two supervisor conditions. The experimental group showed significantly higher SBP (15 mm Hg) and DBP (7 mm Hg) when working under a less favoured compared to a favoured supervisor. The degree of divergence in perceptions of supervisors shows a significant positive relation with the difference in blood pressure between the two workdays. Divergence in perceptions of interpersonal fairness is the strongest predictor of difference in blood pressure. CONCLUSION: An unfavourably perceived supervisor is a potent workplace stressor, which might have a clinically significant impact on supervisees' cardiovascular functioning.  (+info)

An experimental study of search in global social networks. (42/595)

We report on a global social-search experiment in which more than 60,000 e-mail users attempted to reach one of 18 target persons in 13 countries by forwarding messages to acquaintances. We find that successful social search is conducted primarily through intermediate to weak strength ties, does not require highly connected "hubs" to succeed, and, in contrast to unsuccessful social search, disproportionately relies on professional relationships. By accounting for the attrition of message chains, we estimate that social searches can reach their targets in a median of five to seven steps, depending on the separation of source and target, although small variations in chain lengths and participation rates generate large differences in target reachability. We conclude that although global social networks are, in principle, searchable, actual success depends sensitively on individual incentives.  (+info)

Physical working capacity of old workers and physiological background for work tests and work evaluations. (43/595)

The worker's fitness for different jobs will be determined by a number of functions of which many are influenced by age. The physical working capacity has undoubtedly a maximum between 20 and 35 years of age. The decline after 35 years will be different in every individual, but certain average figures can be given. The reduction is mainly due to a decrease in the maximal values for circulation and respiration rate, that is, in the oxygen-transport system. Also the muscular strength will be reduced in the higher age-groups. The problem in work rationalization is to determine the maximum rate of work that man can carry on continuously and still retain vigour to an advanced age.The result of several work-analyses shows that actually in manual labour the workmen often utilize up to 50% of their aerobic capacity but avoid exceeding this percentage. As the aerobic capacity decreases with age it is important to know the upper limits and the safety margin for the different age-groups. For that reason one has to determine the working capacity of the man and the physiological stress of the job. It is also important to determine to what degree skill and experience can compensate for age-changes. A superior individual will, even in old age, exceed the average of the young. Age differences may often be of less importance than individual differences.It is still not known what physiological qualifications the different jobs demand, or what age-changes in the physiological functions are of importance for these jobs. The gradual increase in the average age of the population makes investigations in this field important.  (+info)

Ultraviolet light exposure and lens opacities: the Beaver Dam Eye Study. (44/595)

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to sunlight may be a risk factor for the development of cataract. The relationships between exposure to sunlight and to the ultraviolet-B (UVB) component of light and the prevalence of lens opacities were examined in the Beaver Dam Eye Study. METHODS: Persons 43 to 84 years of age residing in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, were examined using standardized photographic assessments of lens opacities. A questionnaire about medical history and exposure to light was administered. RESULTS: After adjusting for other risk factors, men who had higher levels of average annual ambient UVB light were 1.36 times more likely to have more severe cortical opacities than men with lower levels. However, UVB exposure was not found to be associated with nuclear sclerosis or posterior subcapsular opacities in men. Moreover, no associations with UVB exposure were found for women, who were less likely to be exposed to UVB. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to UVB light may be associated with the severity of cortical opacities in men. However, the lack of an association in women, the group more likely to have cortical opacities, suggests that other factors may be more important in the pathogenesis of lens opacities.  (+info)

Multi-agency, multi-professional work: experiences from a drug prevention project. (45/595)

Policy documents at local, national and international level continue to call for greater multi-agency and multi-professional working. These calls are based on three arguments: (1) health and illness are created and influenced by multiple factors outside of health service policy, (2) health improvement requires collaboration between statutory, voluntary and private sector organizations, and (3) efficiency and effectiveness are aided when duplication of effect is avoided and service transition is as seamless as possible. However, there remains limited process-orientated research that has explored the difficulties and challenges faced during multi-agency and multi-professional work. This study employed qualitative methods (interviews, participant observation and documentary analysis) to understand the social construction of a multi-agency and multi-professional health promotion project orientated toward the prevention of drug-related harm. The findings illustrate the ways in which the processes involved in securing funding led to multiple and competing project aims, how changes in personnel and the internal (re)organization of agencies created disjunctions in project membership and shared understandings of key priorities, and how the social need to keep group members 'onside' and committed, competed with the imperatives of prioritization and addressing issues surrounding differentials in power between members and between agencies.  (+info)

The effects of the level of alertness during the rest period on subsequent performance. (46/595)

The aim of this study was to examine how to take an effective rest to prevent a decline in alertness at work. The relationship between alertness during the rest period and subsequent task performance were investigated. The electroencephalogram (EEG) during the rest period was classified into 3 types, and these types had a significant effect on performance after the rest period. Type 1 (increasing in theta, alpha 2, and beta 1 power) was the best one for carrying out the task, whereas performance gradually declined in Type 3 (no change in EEG activity). In the case of Type 1, the method that would relieve sleep inertia had a more positive impact on performance after the rest period.  (+info)

Work-sampling: a statistical approach to evaluation of the effect of computers on work patterns in the healthcare industry. (47/595)

An increasing number of healthcare institutions are in the process of implementing clinical computing systems. The need for an accurate assessment of the clinical, administrative, social, and financial effects of such systems has been recognized. Techniques have been developed to evaluate these effects on the work patterns of healthcare workers including: 1) time-motion analysis, 2) subjective evaluations, 3) review of departmental statistics, 4) personal activity records, and 5) work-sampling. This manuscript reviews these techniques, discusses both positive and negative aspects, and presents a step-by-step description of work-sampling.  (+info)

Patients' experiences of medication for anxiety and depression: effects on working life. (48/595)

BACKGROUND: and objectives. The prevalence of depression and anxiety has increased in recent years, leading to extensive use of medication. This study used a qualitative, in-depth approach to investigate patients' experiences of taking medication prescribed for these conditions. Sampling from a range of occupational sectors, the research explored the impact of medication on working life. METHODS: The research involved nine focus groups with sufferers of anxiety and depression to investigate the personal experiences of mental ill-health and the impact of psychotropic drugs. A further three focus groups were conducted with staff in human resources, personnel, occupational health, and health and safety departments, to explore the organizational perspectives on psychotropic medication in the workplace. Focus groups were held at Loughborough University and at workplace settings throughout the UK. Results were presented to an expert panel (comprising practitioners and researchers in health care and occupational health) to consider implications for practice. RESULTS: Physical symptoms associated with anxiety and depression included: nausea, headaches, dizziness, trembling, insomnia and lack of energy. Psychological symptoms involved: poor concentration, emotional distress and lack of motivation. Non-compliance was widespread due to side effects, lack of improvement in symptoms or because medication made patients feel worse. Patients did not feel well informed about their medication. People took less than the prescribed amount or stopped taking the medication. Concerns about dependency caused patients to cease medication prematurely. CONCLUSION: Patients felt ill informed about their medication and would have welcomed more information. Drawing on the results, the authors outline areas for improvement in the care of patients with anxiety and depression.  (+info)