Exploring risk factors for developing occupational ill health - departing from an occupational perspective

Occupational balance and associated factors among students during higher education within healthcare and social work in Sweden: a multicentre repeated cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore whether occupational balance is associated with health, health-promoting resources, healthy lifestyle and social study factors among students during higher education within healthcare and social work.

DESIGN

The study has a multicentre repeated cross-sectional design. Data were collected via a self-reported, web-based questionnaire based on the validated instruments: the 11-item Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11), the Sense of Coherence (SOC) Scale, the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS) and five questions from the General Nordic Questionnaire (QPS Nordic) together with questions about general health and lifestyle factors.

SETTING

Students at six universities in western Sweden at one of the following healthcare or social work programmes: biomedical scientists, dental hygienists, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiology nurses and social workers.

PARTICIPANTS

Of 2283 students, 851 (37.3%) participated.

RESULTS

The students experienced that occupational balance increased during education. The total OBQ11 score was higher among students in semesters 4 and 6/7, compared with semester 1 students. Students with higher OBQ11 also reported higher SOC throughout their education, while health seemed to decrease. Students who reported higher levels of OBQ11 reported lower levels of health and well-being in semesters 4 and 6/7, compared with semester 1. There was an opposite pattern for students reporting lower levels of OBQ11.

CONCLUSIONS

The association between higher levels of OBQ11 and lower levels of health and well-being is remarkable. There is a need for more research on this contradiction and what it means for students' health and well-being in the long run.

Occupational therapy and stress-related exhaustion - a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Sick leave due to long-term stress is increasing in Finland and other Western countries. Occupational therapists might contribute to the prevention of and/or recovery from stress-related exhaustion.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

To describe what is known about occupational therapy for stress-related exhaustion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A five-step scoping review included papers published in six databases from 2000 to 2022. Extracted data was summarized to show the occupational therapy contribution within the literature.

RESULTS

There were 29 papers meeting the inclusion criteria, of which a limited number described preventive interventions. Most articles described recovery-oriented occupational therapy with group interventions. The occupational therapists contributed with prevention measures, mostly targeting recovery in multi-professional interventions in terms of stress reduction or return-to-work.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational therapy involving stress management both prevents stress and supports recovery from stress-related exhaustion. Occupational therapists internationally use craft, nature activities or gardening as stress management measures.

SIGNIFICANCE

Occupational therapy appears to be a potential treatment option for stress-related exhaustion internationally in conditions that could also work in Finland, for example in occupational healthcare.

The Spanish version of Occupational Balance Questionnaire: psychometric properties and normative data in a representative sample of adults

BACKGROUND

The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) is an instrument that assesses occupational balance (OB). It has been transculturality adapted and validated in different countries, showing adequate psychometric properties. To date, no general population-based cut-off points for OB have been developed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the psychometric proprieties of the Spanish version OBQ (OBQ-E) and to estimate reference norms and the cut-off for OBQ-E in a representative sample of Spanish adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 797 adults were included in this validity study. Internal consistency, intra and test-retest reliability of OBQ-E were examined. To obtain the convergent validity and the divergent validity, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) were used respectively, compared with OBQ-E. To determine extreme and moderate disturbed OB stratified by age, sex, and educational level were used the 5 and 15% percentiles of OBQ-E.

RESULTS

The OBQ-E showed good internal consistency (α-Cronbach = 0.87), intraclass reliability (ICC = 0.87), and test-retest reliability (rho = 0.83). Convergent (SLS) and divergent (HAD) validity were moderate (rho = 0.39 and rho = -0.46, respectively). The lowest extreme disturbed OB cut-off point in men (17.2) and in women (24) appeared at the primary education level, under 40 years of age (men) and 40-65 years of age (women).

CONCLUSIONS

The OBQ-E presents adequate psychometric properties, and its normative data can be used as a reference to assess and monitor the occupational balance in the general Spanish population.KEY MESSAGESThe 'Occupational Balance Questionnaire' (OBQ), stands out as a specific measure of the concept of Occupational Balance, considered as satisfaction with the number and variation of occupations in which the person participates.The OBQ is a short and simple instrument that can be a useful tool for use in population-based and epidemiological studies to monitor OB and explore the associated factors or implications of disturbed OB.The Spanish version of the OBQ (OBQ-E) seems to be a reliable and valid questionnaire to assess the perception of balance between occupations, related to health and well-being in the Spanish adult population.

Experiences of Health-Promoting Activities among Individuals with Knee Pain: The Halland Osteoarthritis Cohort

Knee pain is an early sign of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and a risk factor for chronic widespread pain (CWP). Early prevention is vital, and more research is needed to understand health-promoting activities for individuals with knee pain from a patient perspective. This study aimed to explore how individuals with knee pain experienced health-promoting activities. Explorative qualitative design with inductive approach was applied to explore the experiences of 22 individuals (13 women, 9 men; median age: 52). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using latent qualitative content analysis. The results revealed health-promoting activities in individuals with knee pain and were interpreted in the overall theme, striving for balance in everyday life. Two categories explored the content in health-promoting activities: (1) Caring for the body-being physically active, having a healthy diet, and utilising support; and (2) Managing life stressors-allowing for recovery, promoting vitality, and safeguarding healthy relationships. In conclusion, individuals with knee pain described various health-promoting activities. They strived for balance in everyday life by caring for the body and managing life stressors. We suggest that a broader approach to everyday life can be helpful in treatment plans and health promotion to manage and prevent KOA and CWP, while striving for a healthy lifestyle.