Presenteeism and noise perception at work: a cross-sectional study using association analysis

BACKGROUND

Presenteeism refers to the presence of a worker at work with reduced performance due to illness, and it is a common public health problem. Exposure to noise during production processes brings risk to workers' health.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the health profile of workers in the automotive industry and identify the association between noise perception and presenteeism among workers in the Brazilian automotive industry.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a cross-sectional study utilizing a case study design analyzing the automotive industry in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil.

METHODS

This study included 306 workers using the Presenteeism Work Limitations Questionnaire protocol. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Male workers with reports of headache, tension, and limited well-being at work, having perceived that noise exposure interferes with productivity, showed a positive association with the occurrence of presenteeism. Physical demand had the highest score in terms of interfering with the presenteeism index.

CONCLUSION

Workers' perceptions of noise were associated with presenteeism.

[Impact of disabling chronic pain: results of a cross-sectional population study with face-to-face interview]

Objetivo

Conocer el impacto del dolor crónico discapacitante (DCD) en la calidad de vida, el trabajo, el consumo de medicamentos y la utilización de servicios sanitarios.

Diseño

Estudio poblacional transversal con entrevista cara a cara y diseño muestral complejo.

Emplazamiento

Encuesta Andaluza de Salud (edición 2011).

Participantes

Un total de 6.507 personas ≥ 16 años (p = q = 0,5; nivel confianza = 95%; error muestral = 1,49; efecto diseño = 1,52).

Intervenciones

Se trata de un estudio observacional, por lo que no se realizó intervención alguna.

Mediciones principales

Variable dependiente: DCD, definido como población que afirmó verse limitada en su actividad por alguno de los dolores crónicos (DC) recogidos en el estudio. Variables independientes: calidad de vida, consumo de medicamentos, utilización de servicios sanitarios y ausencia laboral.

Resultados

Comparado con la población sin dolor crónico (nDC), la población con DCD tiene 6 puntos menos en calidad de vida mental y 12 en la física, consume el triple de medicamentos, utiliza casi el doble los servicios sanitarios, y su ausencia laboral prolongada es el triple. Además, la población con DC no discapacitante (DCnD) no difiere significativamente de aquella nDC en cuanto a las variables de estudio.

Conclusiones

Hemos considerado DCD como otra categoría del DC por su gran impacto en las variables de estudio. Por el contrario, la población con DCnD no obtiene diferencias de impacto significativas con respecto a la población nDC. Así pues, creemos que Atención Primaria y Salud Pública deberían liderar diferentes estrategias de prevención para el DCD así como la identificación de la población con DCnD para disminuir su posible deterioro hacia el DCD.

Describing patients with a duration of sick leave over and under one year in Norway

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the somatic, social, psychological, and work-related factors that characterize participants with a duration of sick leave over and under one year.

METHODS

During 2012, 181 patients on long-term sick leave were consecutively recruited and asked to answer an extensive survey. Several outcomes were reported, addressing work-related factors and somatic, psychological, and social symptoms. In cross-sectional analyses, sick leave duration was dichotomized as > or < one year, based on Norwegian legislation. Linear and logistic regressions were used to estimate population probabilities and means.

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression was overall high. There was a tendency towards a higher prevalence of fatigue, anxiety, and depression in those with sick leave duration less than one year, with the exception of sleep problems, which was more frequent in the population with longer duration. Relationship with friends, family, co-workers, and the last workplace were worse in the population with longer duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Cross-sectional analyses indicated that social and work-related problems are more adverse in patients with longer duration of sick leave, while psychological and somatic symptoms appear less adverse. This is one of the first studies quantitatively demonstrating these differences through comprehensive, simultaneously measured self-report questionnaires.