Life satisfaction of workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil: associations with symptoms, functional limitation and coping

Trajectories of Self-Rated Health Among Industrially Disabled Individuals: A Latent Class Growth Analysis

BACKGROUND

Understanding the self-rated health of industrially disabled individuals is an important variable that significantly affects their quality of life, satisfaction, and return to work after an industrial accident. Since the health of people with industrial disabilities is affected by various environments and variables, interventions and policies that are suitable for their characteristics are needed.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify changes in self-rated health among industrially disabled individuals, distinguish between different latent classes, and verify predictive factors for each latent class.

METHODS

Four time-point datasets from the 2018-2021 panel study of Korean workers' compensation insurance were used. Using the latent growth curve model, an overall trajectory of self-rated health of industrially disabled individuals was confirmed, and the number and characteristics of different trajectories were identified using the latent class growth model. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictive factors for each class.

RESULTS

Four classes of self-rated health trajectories were identified: low-decreasing (21.7%), moderate-increasing (15.7%), high-decreasing (56.1%), and low-stable (6.5%) classes. A multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that significant determinants (age, capacity, type of industrial accident, grade of disability, mental activity, outdoor activity, and social relationships) were different for each latent class. Capacity level affected all potential class classifications.

CONCLUSIONS

To improve the self-rated health of industrially disabled individuals, it is necessary to develop an appropriate strategy that considers the characteristics of the latent class.

Distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho: o perfil dos trabalhadores em benefício previdenciário em Diamantina (MG, Brasil)

O objetivo foi identificar o perfil de trabalhadores que receberam benefício temporário ou permanente por DORT entre 2002 e 2005 na Agência de Previdência Social (APS) Diamantina e comparar a prevalência dessa população. A amostra foi obtida através de bancos de dados contendo variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. O perfil foi semelhante ao longo dos anos. As características mais prevalentes foram trabalhadores residentes em Diamantina, entre 40 e 59 anos, nível de escolaridade no ensino fundamental, sem diferenças quanto ao gênero. A maioria estava empregado no setor de serviços, com renda abaixo de um salário mínimo. O benefício mais concedido foi auxílio-doença previdenciário. O diagnóstico mais comum foi Dorsalgia, com tempo médio do benefício de 10 meses. Observou-se tendência crescente de acometimento por DORT e evolução dos afastamentos para aposentadoria por invalidez ao longo dos anos. O presente estudo possibilitou conhecer o perfil do trabalhador afastado por DORT nessa APS. Observou-se tendência de crescimento dos índices de afastamento refletindo a tendência mundial. Assim, sugere-se implementação de políticas de prevenção, promoção e reabilitação da saúde desta população.

Disability associated with pain--a clinical approximation of the mediating effect of belief and attitudes

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that pain beliefs are mediators of disability in a population of workers with chronic pain. A cross-sectional study composed of 115 workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) whose symptoms appeared 6 months before the beginning of the study was conducted. Outcome measures included questionnaires on pain, pain beliefs, physical disability, and depression. Almost half of the sample (42%) reported moderate pain; the mean disability score was 11.5. Assessment of pain beliefs revealed that only the emotion domain was "more adaptive." Thirty-eight workers presented depressive symptoms (33%), with a mean score of 18. A multiple linear regression analysis identified the best predictors associated with disability in sample. The variables that remained in the model were intensity of pain, domains solicitude, and disability from the survey of pain attitudes, physical disability, and depression. Results showed that pain beliefs are partial mediators of the relation between chronic pain and disability. When depression was added to the model, there was a significant increase in the explanation of disability variance, indicating that this variable is an important factor associated with functional limitation. Disability associated with chronic pain is a multidimensional experience, affected by the interaction of social and psychological factors.

[Human functioning and disability: exploring the scope of the World Health Organization's international classification]

The theoretical discussion on disability is dichotomized according to the medical and social perspectives. The biomedical model focuses on impairment, disease, or physical abnormality and how these factors produce disability. The social approach suggests that the meaning of disability and impairment emerges from specific social and cultural contexts. The WHO created the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), with a classification system and theoretical model based on the combination of the medical and social models and using a biopsychosocial approach to integrate the health dimensions. Despite the importance and immediacy of the ICF, some concepts were insufficiently detailed and justified and could lead to distinct interpretations. This essay proposes to describe the ICF model and analyze the scope of the biopsychosocial theory for exploring the relational nature of the 'disability' and 'impairment' categories, as well as the universal nature of the WHO proposal. One of the most positive aspects of the ICF is to highlight the interactive nature of disability and the division of the phenomenon into three dimensions, thus demonstrating the degree of complexity in the process of human functioning and disability.

Recent research in stress, coping and women's health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To highlight recent publications in the area of stress and coping, with specific reference to women's physical health status.

RECENT FINDINGS

The transactional model of stress and coping continues to be the mainstay of research in this area. Several longitudinal studies have demonstrated that stress appraisal and resultant coping responses affect health outcome and health-related quality of life in women. In addition to problem-focused coping, women often use distraction methods, seeking social support and faith or religious coping. Psychological interventions in chronic medical conditions need to move beyond education and incorporate more cognitive behavioral components, at the same time addressing women's specific needs.

SUMMARY

Coping behaviors in response to the negative threat appraisal of a chronic or severe medical illness serve to reduce psychological distress. However, it is still not clear how they impact at the physiological level. In addition, coping responses, which enhance positive effects and promote health-related quality of life, merit greater attention from researchers. There is a need for more gender comparative research to improve health outcomes in men and women.

Incapacidade funcional associada à lombalgia em cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral grave

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a contribuição de variáveis físicas, psicossociais e sociodemográficas para a ocorrência de incapacidade funcional associada à dor lombar entre cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral grave. A amostra foi composta de 45 cuidadores com lombalgia crônica. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e aplicados instrumentos sobre intensidade da dor, satisfação com a vida e incapacidade funcional. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente e o nível de significância fixado em p<0,05. As variáveis que apresentaram correlação significativa com incapacidade (p<0,05) foram inseridas no modelo de regressão linear múltipla. A média de intensidade da dor foi 5,67±2,23; os escores médios de satisfação com a vida foram de 18,9±6,64 e de incapacidade, 9±5,35. Apenas a correlação entre intensidade de dor e incapacidade foi significativa (r=0,34; p=0,021). A análise de regressão linear múltipla confirmou a intensidade da dor como o maior preditor de incapacidade e explicou 11% da incapacidade (r=0,36; p<0,05). A intensidade da dor lombar é pois um preditor moderado de incapacidade, mas não foi encontrada interferência das variáveis sociodemográficas e satisfação com a vida no grau de incapacidade funcional dos cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral.