The Role of Occupational Health Services in Psychosocial Risk Management and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being at Work

Effort-reward imbalance and well-being among psychiatric nurses: the mediating role of burnout and decent work

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric nurses face additional challenges due to negative perceptions, workplace violence, and a lack of respect, impacting their well-being and job satisfaction, which are crucial for improving psychiatric care and patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the relationship between effort-reward imbalance, well-being, burnout, and decent work among psychiatric nurses.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a convenience sampling method in February 2024 from 397 psychiatric nurses at two psychiatric hospitals in Hangzhou and Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. The Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale, Decent Work Perception Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, and General Well-Being Schedule Scale were used for data collection. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS macro.

RESULTS

The study found that effort-reward imbalance among psychiatric nurses was negatively correlated with decent work (r = -0.564, p < 0.001) and well-being (r = -0.541, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with burnout (r = 0.603, p < 0.001). Burnout mediated the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and well-being (95% CI [-0.386, -0.257]), while decent work also served as a mediator (95% CI [-0.100, -0.012]). Additionally, burnout and decent work were found to mediate the relationship between effort-reward imbalance and well-being (95% CI [-0.050, -0.006]).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the impact of effort-reward imbalance on well-being, confirming that burnout and decent work serve as mediators. Enhancing support, fair compensation, reasonable work schedules, and professional development can promote psychiatric nurses' perception of decent work and improve their well-being.

Perceived mental health skills and competence among occupational health physicians

BACKGROUND

Mental-health-based consultations in occupational health (OH) are increasing due to ongoing changes in working life.

AIMS

We studied the self-assessed mental health competence of trainees and trainers in OH specialist physician training.

METHODS

We conducted an online survey from June to August 2022. We analysed how trainees and trainers in OH assessed their own competence in mental health practice with N (%) and means (standard deviation [SD]). We analysed the underlying assumptions about competences specific to OH using an explanatory factor analysis. We applied the Kruskal-Wallis test to determine differences between trainees and trainers using the variables in the factor analysis.

RESULTS

Respondents' perceptions of mental health competence were more positive among trainers (mean 3.97, SD 0.72) than trainees (mean 3.66, SD 1.08, P = 0.2123). Based on trainee physicians' own assessments, more experience increases competence, until after 7 years, when the perceived competence seems to decrease. The trainer physicians' self-assessed mental health competence decreased over time. With factor analyses, we identified five competence factors: general mental health, workplace risks and resources, rehabilitation, promotion and prevention, and special skills. In our results, individual-level mental health competences such as work ability evaluation and to manage return-to-work processes were evaluated better than community-based proactive processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians in OH specialist physician training self-assessed their mental health competence better at the employee level than at the workplace level. Based on our results, we need to develop the curriculum of OH specialist physician training to meet the needs of working life in support of mental health.

Assessing personal protective equipment usage and its correlation with knowledge, attitudes, performance, and safety culture among workers in small and medium-sized enterprises

BACKGROUND

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be a culture of a workplace, and deeply rooted in worker behavior and attitude during their practice. According to the recent studies only 64% of the workers use PPE properly. The present study aims to investigate the utilization of PPE among workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and its relationship with knowledge, attitude, performance, and safety culture among workers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire tool across SMEs in Kashan city in year 2023. The used tool included three questionnaires: demographic, safety culture, and knowledge, attitude and performance. Study papulation was 529 SMEs. Totally, the sample size was 369 persons and questionnaires were distributed among the workers of SMEs. Finally, SPSS software was used for statistical analysis and structural equation modeling. Various statistical tests including T-Test, ANOVA, RMSEA, CFI, TLI, and the chi-square ratio were employed.

RESULTS

The mean values (standard deviation) of age and work experience were 35.19 (12.33), and 15.60 (1.69) years, respectively. Among the 369 participants, 267 participants (72.4%) indicated that they use some PPE, although not all types. However, 102 individuals (27.7%) do not employ any PPE. The lowest score for safety culture dimension was attributed to safety training at 1.58. The results of the final model indicate that the assumed relationships between variables, as outlined in the study objectives, were well established, with all connections proving statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that the missing of inadequate legal supervision for small industries exists. Therefore, it can be inferred that if supervision and regulation are enhanced for safety training and implementation that may lead to increased usage of PPE.

Exploring Work Absences and Return to Work During Social Transition and Following Gender-Affirming Care, a Mixed-Methods Approach: 'Bridging Support Actors Through Literacy'

PURPOSE

Research on return to work (RTW) following transition-related gender-affirming care (GAC) is lacking. We aim to study the RTW outcomes and experiences of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people during social and medical transition to understand their needs better and provide tailored support.

METHODS

In this convergent mixed-methods study, the questionnaires of 125 employed TGD people, who took steps in transition (social and GAC), were analyzed for personal- and work characteristics, medical work absences, RTW, support at work, and health literacy. In-depth interviews were held with twenty TGD people to explore perceived facilitators and barriers to RTW.

RESULTS

One hundred and nine participants reported an average of 38 sick days after GAC. The majority (90.2%) resumed their job at the same employer. Although TGD workers felt supported, their health literacy (55.1%) was lower compared to the general population. The qualitative data analysis revealed four major themes: (1) the need and access to information; (2) having multidisciplinary TGD allies; (3) the influence of the occupational position; (4) the precarious balance between work, life, and GAC. Especially participants with a low health literacy level experienced RTW barriers by struggling: (1) to find and/or apply information; (2) to navigate (occupational) health and insurance services.

CONCLUSION

Our research has shown that RTW for TGD individuals is a multifaceted process, affected by personal factors, work-related elements, and the characteristics of the healthcare and social insurance system. Enhancing support for TGD people at work and their RTW requires a high need for centralized information and promoting health literacy while engaging relevant stakeholders, such as prevention services and employers.

An urgent call to address work-related psychosocial hazards and improve worker well-being

Work-related psychosocial hazards are on the verge of surpassing many other occupational hazards in their contribution to ill-health, injury, disability, direct and indirect costs, and impact on business and national productivity. The risks associated with exposure to psychosocial hazards at work are compounded by the increasing background prevalence of mental health disorders in the working-age population. The extensive and cumulative impacts of these exposures represent an alarming public health problem that merits immediate, increased attention. In this paper, we review the linkage between work-related psychosocial hazards and adverse effects, their economic burden, and interventions to prevent and control these hazards. We identify six crucial societal actions: (1) increase awareness of this critical issue through a comprehensive public campaign; (2) increase etiologic, intervention, and implementation research; (3) initiate or augment surveillance efforts; (4) increase translation of research findings into guidance for employers and workers; (5) increase the number and diversity of professionals skilled in preventing and addressing psychosocial hazards; and (6) develop a national regulatory or consensus standard to prevent and control work-related psychosocial hazards.

Qualitative interview study of strategies to support healthcare personnel mental health through an occupational health lens

BACKGROUND

Employee Occupational Health ('occupational health') clinicians have expansive perspectives of the experience of healthcare personnel. Integrating mental health into the purview of occupational health is a newer approach that could combat historical limitations of healthcare personnel mental health programmes, which have been isolated and underused.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to document innovation and opportunities for supporting healthcare personnel mental health through occupational health clinicians. This work was part of a national qualitative needs assessment of employee occupational health clinicians during COVID-19 who were very much at the centre of organisational responses.

DESIGN

This qualitative needs assessment included key informant interviews obtained using snowball sampling methods.

PARTICIPANTS

We interviewed 43 US Veterans Health Administration occupational health clinicians from 29 facilities.

APPROACH

This analysis focused on personnel mental health needs and opportunities, using consensus coding of interview transcripts and modified member checking.

KEY RESULTS

Three major opportunities to support mental health through occupational health involved: (1) expanded mental health needs of healthcare personnel, including opportunities to support work-related concerns (eg, traumatic deployments), home-based concerns and bereavement (eg, working with chaplains); (2) leveraging expanded roles and protocols to address healthcare personnel mental health concerns, including opportunities in expanding occupational health roles, cross-disciplinary partnerships (eg, with employee assistance programmes (EAP)) and process/protocol (eg, acute suicidal ideation pathways) and (3) need for supporting occupational health clinicians' own mental health, including opportunities to address overwork/burn-out with adequate staffing/resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational health can enact strategies to support personnel mental health: to structurally sustain attention, use social cognition tools (eg, suicidality protocols or expanded job descriptions); to leverage distributed attention, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration (eg, chaplains for bereavement support or EAP) and to equip systems with resources and allow for flexibility during crises, including increased staffing.

Workplace interventions focusing on how to plan, organize and design the work environment in hospital settings: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Occupational Health Service (OHS) is a service that should support employers and employees with their work environment. Previous research indicates the need for deeper knowledge about the effect of workplace interventions with a focus on planning, organizing and designing the workplace to improve work conditions in hospital settings.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the outcomes, workplace interventions and intervention strategies in hospital settings.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched in September 2021. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Study results are presented through a narrative synthesis. A protocol for this study was registered on the Open Science Framework.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies, published between 2010 and 2021, were included. These included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and mixed methods reports with moderate to good quality. The results support the use of workplace interventions to improve work conditions, health, and well-being in hospital settings. Combinations of different interventions, tailored to the specific organization, were used. Important intervention strategies commonly used in the start-up, evaluation, and intervention of successful workplace interventions, were identified. Using a pragmatist complexity approach in workplace interventions can improve outcomes by providing clear intervention strategies and combinations of tailored interventions, related to context specific problems.

CONCLUSION

OHS support in workplace interventions with clear intervention strategies will contribute to improve work conditions, health and well-being in hospital settings.

The role of psychosocial risks in burnout, psychosomatic disorders, and job satisfaction: lineal models vs a QCA approach in non-university teachers

This study aims to assess the effect of psychosocial risks and resources on burnout, psychosomatic disorders, and job satisfaction using Hierarchical Regression Modelling (HRM) and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA).

METHOD

The sample consisted of 9020 non-university public education teachers (Mage = 45.33 years, SD = 9.15; 72.5% women).

RESULTS

Demands variables (Workload, Emotional labour, Imbalance, and Interpersonal conflict) were better predictors than resources variables (Job autonomy, Social support, and Resources at work). Resources also significantly improved the model's predictive capacity, except in the case of Indolence. In the QCA results, none of the conditions seems to be necessary. Regarding sufficiency, the combination of the different conditions explains between 44-49% of high levels of Burnout and between 40-47% of low levels of Burnout; between 44-47% of high levels of Psychosomatic disorders and 40-47% of low levels of Psychosomatic disorders; 49% of high Job satisfaction levels and 45-56% of low Job satisfaction levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that QCA models have better explanatory capacity than HRM. Some variables were not significant in HRM, but they were present in combination with other QCA model variables. The findings contribute to understanding how psychosocial risks affect workers' health and job satisfaction.

A Novel Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Based Model for Mental Health in Occupational Health Implemented on Smartphone and Web-Based Platforms: Development Study With Results From an Epidemiologic Survey

BACKGROUND

While the importance of mental health is well-recognized in the field of occupational health, implementation of effective strategies in the workplace has been limited by gaps in infrastructure, program comprehensiveness, coverage, and adherence. The authors developed a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model based occupational mental health intervention, and implemented in a web-based format with a smartphone application.

METHODS

The SBIRT-based intervention was developed by a multidisciplinary team, including occupational health physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, and software developers. The following mental health areas were included, based on outcomes of an epidemiological survey conducted: insomnia, depression, anxiety, problematic alcohol use, and suicidal risk. The viability of the two-step evaluation process utilizing a combination of the brief version and the full-length version of the questionnaire was examined using responses from the survey. The intervention was adjusted according to the survey results and expert opinions.

RESULTS

The epidemiological survey included 346 employees who completed the long-form version of mental health scales. These data were the used to confirm the diagnostic value of using a combination of short-form and long-form version of the scales for screening in the SBIRT model. The model uses a smartphone application for screening, provision of psychoeducation, and for surveillance. The universal methods of the model ensure it can be implemented by all occupational managers, regardless of their specialization in mental health. In addition to the two-step screening procedure to identify employees at-risk for mental health problems, the model includes a stepped care approach, based on risk stratification, to promote mental health education, management, and follow-up for continuous care.

CONCLUSION

The SBIRT model-based intervention provides an easy-to-implement approach for the management of mental health in the workplace. Further studies are required to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of the model.

Enterprise-Based Participatory Action Research in the Development of a Basic Occupational Health Service Model in Thailand

Various basic occupational health services (BOHS) are provided, particularly in-plant BOHS; however, it might be necessary to start expanding BOHS. The current study focuses on BOHS model development using participatory action research (PAR) at a large-sized enterprise in northeastern Thailand. The PAR began with a situation analysis using ILO Convention C161, problem and cause analysis, the development of an action plan, observation and action, evaluation, and replanning. The research tools included interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and participant observations. The participants included managers, human resource staff, safety officers, and workers. Both inductive and deductive thematic analyses were undertaken. The results showed that (1) education and learning experience led to the workers detecting work-related diseases early by themselves and the implementation of medical surveillance programs; (2) the workers' occupational health needs led to return-to-work assessments and first aid room system development; (3) the employer's experience led to appropriate fit-for-work examinations and emergency preparedness; and (4) the feedback from BOHS providers led to a hospital-to-in-plant return-to-work conversion. The study concluded that the enterprise could develop fit-for-work and return-to-work assessments as per the ILO Convention C161 under the policy; however, medical surveillance and the first aid room system need to be developed through counseling at the hospital's occupational medicine clinic.

Relationship among work-treatment balance, job stress, and work engagement in Japan: a cross-sectional study

There is a drive to support workers in Japan undergoing medical treatment who wish to continue working, known as the work-treatment balance. This support for the work-treatment balance is expected to boost their mental health. This study examines the relationship among the work-treatment balance, job stress, and work engagement. This study was conducted in December 2020 in Japan, with 27,036 participants. We divided the participants into three groups by the receipt state of support for work-treatment balance: control group (do not need support), unsupported group, and supported group. The scores on the parameters of the job content questionnaire and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-3) were compared among groups using a multilevel regression with age-sex or multivariate-adjusted models. In the two models, the job control score of the unsupported group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The two social support scores of the supported group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The scores on the UWES-3 of the unsupported group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The support of work-treatment balance for workers could have a positive impact on their mental health.

The psychological responses of British amateur point-to-point jockeys to personal injury

Previous research has reported significant psychological consequences of injury on rehabilitation success, performance, and wellbeing in athletes, although little is known within horse-based sports. There is a high prevalence of injury reported in point-to-point (P2P) jockeys, but despite this, comparatively little research exists examining the psychological implications resulting from physical trauma within horseracing. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological responses to personal injury in British amateur P2P jockeys. Five amateur P2P jockeys (two male, three female, x- age 25 years old) were interviewed about their experiences post an injury sustained during racing in the preceding 12 months. Interview questions explored their pre-injury career, the rehabilitation phase, pre-return to racing phase issues and coping strategies used by jockeys. Thematic analysis revealed three higher order themes: emotional responses, coping strategies, and factors affecting recovery. Subjects universally cited negative emotional responses following injury, including grief, a sense of loss, and frustration, and all experienced denial at the onset of injury. Typical coping strategies included strong support networks of family, friends and racing staff, and goal setting. Fear of reinjury was identified by all athletes, particularly on return to the saddle, and the attitudes towards injury management, such as denial, seen in this study may provide opportunities to develop targeted education campaigns for P2P jockeys on injury services. Targeted marketing for P2P jockeys on available injury support is recommended, such as seen for professional jockeys, as well as the creation of career development resources to offer alternative routes for P2P jockeys following injury.

Occupational Well-Being of Multidisciplinary PHC Teams: Barriers/Facilitators and Negotiations to Improve Working Conditions

Well-being at work is one of the factors determining healthy work conditions and is perceived by workers as a positive psychological state. In this study, the concept of well-being at work was used together with occupational functionality (i.e., current health state, current work environment, and barriers/facilitators to implementing well-being at work), occupational risk perception, and proactivity/negotiations held by workers to improve working conditions. In this context, the objectives were to identify the socio-demographic and occupational characteristics independently associated with levels of well-being at work of the multidisciplinary PHC health team; detect barriers or facilitators resulting from the attitudes of colleagues, community members, and managers that influence the well-being at work of the multidisciplinary health team; and identify with whom and what reasons led health workers to become proactive and negotiate improved working conditions. This cross-sectional study addressed 338 health workers from the multidisciplinary teams of PHC outpatient services in the extreme south of Brazil. Multivariate linear regression models were adopted to analyze data. The results show various independent associations with levels of well-being at work. Nursing workers (technicians and nurses) more frequently expressed job commitment and job satisfaction. Difficulties in solving problems and performing work routines, and co-workers' attitudes directly influence the well-being of the PHC team members. Risk perception (physical and chemical) also influences well-being. Negotiations in which PHC managers engaged to improve working conditions appeared as a significant predictor of job commitment, job satisfaction, and job involvement. The results reveal that well-being at work is an important indicator of the potential of workers' proactivity in negotiating improved working conditions.

Study Protocol and Preliminary Results of the Impact of Occupational Health Workers' Activities on Their Health: Nationwide Prospective Internet-Based Survey

Background

Owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, work environments and systems, as well as occupational health measures or activities that fall within our research field, are constantly changing. It is necessary to assess the impact of these changes on the physical and mental health of workers.

Objective

To assess how occupational health measures affect the health of workers, we conducted a baseline, longitudinal internet-based survey among Japanese workers in October 2021 and additionally scheduled 2 follow-up surveys for 2022 and 2023. We describe the details of the protocol of the work systems and health internet research (WSHIR) study, provide an overview of the results of the baseline survey, and discuss the study procedures and data used in the study.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted online among internet monitors. The baseline survey was conducted from October 1 to 7, 2021. This study targeted those who were working and between the ages of 20 and 69 years. A total of 5111 respondents who passed the screening survey and proceeded to the main survey were enrolled according to collection units organized by sex and age. For the screening and main surveys, the questionnaire consisted of 9 and 33 items with 9 and 55 questions, respectively. Consistency and completeness checks were performed after the questionnaires were submitted. We compared basic characteristics, such as sex, age group, educational background, and marital status, among all participants, including those who withdrew from the analysis.

Results

Of the 5111 initial survey respondents, 571 (11.2%) were considered fraudulent. The data of the remaining 4540 (88.8%) participants (2273, 50.1%, males; 2267, 49.9%, females) included in the analysis were well balanced across participant sex and age groups according to the sampling plan because there was no significant difference by sex and age group using the chi-square test for checking the distribution bias of the participants (P=.84). Compared to female participants, male participants tended to be more likely to be managers and supervisors (323, 14.2%, males; 86, 3.8%, females), to work in a secondary industry (742, 32.6%, males; 357, 15.7%, females), and to have an annual income of ≥5 million yen (976, 42.9%, males; 429, 18.9%, females). For the evaluation of a psychological indicator, Kessler 6 (K6) score, by sex and age group, the characteristics of the score distribution of the included participants were similar to those reported in previous studies.

Conclusions

This study presents a protocol and overview of the results of an internet-based occupational health survey of workers. Using the results of this survey, we hope to evaluate the changes in occupational health activities and their impact on workers' health while controlling for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applying ethics to AI in the workplace: the design of a scorecard for Australian workplace health and safety

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking centre stage in economic growth and business operations alike. Public discourse about the practical and ethical implications of AI has mainly focussed on the societal level. There is an emerging knowledge base on AI risks to human rights around data security and privacy concerns. A separate strand of work has highlighted the stresses of working in the gig economy. This prevailing focus on human rights and gig impacts has been at the expense of a closer look at how AI may be reshaping traditional workplace relations and, more specifically, workplace health and safety. To address this gap, we outline a conceptual model for developing an AI Work Health and Safety (WHS) Scorecard as a tool to assess and manage the potential risks and hazards to workers resulting from AI use in a workplace. A qualitative, practice-led research study of AI adopters was used to generate and test a novel list of potential AI risks to worker health and safety. Risks were identified after cross-referencing Australian AI Ethics Principles and Principles of Good Work Design with AI ideation, design and implementation stages captured by the AI Canvas, a framework otherwise used for assessing the commercial potential of AI to a business. The unique contribution of this research is the development of a novel matrix itemising currently known or anticipated risks to the WHS and ethical aspects at each AI adoption stage.

Do Leadership, Organizational Communication, and Work Environment Impact Employees' Psychosocial Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry?

Workplace hazards can have a significant influence on a worker's physical and mental health, reducing an organization's effectiveness in terms of safety. However, psychosocial hazards are being recognized as a crucial component that must be addressed for the individual's and organization's safety. The purpose of this research was to propose and statistically evaluate a brief theoretical framework based on leadership, organizational communication, work environment, and psychosocial hazards in Malaysia's upstream oil and gas sector. The framework was tested on 380 Malaysian upstream oil and gas workers. The collected data were analyzed using partial least squares and structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The study's findings revealed that in the Malaysian oil and gas industry, leadership, communication, and work environment negatively influenced the psychosocial hazards. This negative association between predictors and psychosocial hazards, particularly job expectations, control, role, and relationships, indicates new grounds for research. It is discussed how the findings could be used to track employees' well-being over time and generate focused treatments.

Evaluation of a guidelines implementation intervention to reduce work disability and sick leaves related to chronic musculoskeletal pain: a theory-informed qualitative study in occupational health care

Background

Guidelines for pain management and sick leave prescription were formulated and implemented in an occupational health services (OHS) in Finland to reduce work disability and sick leaves related to musculoskeletal pain. We investigated how the guidelines implementation intervention may have produced its effects, how the number of prescribed sick leave days varied before and after the launch of the guidelines, and which factors beyond physician behaviour were seen to influence sick leaves.

Methods

Seventeen physicians, two occupational physiotherapists and one occupational health care nurse were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis using both inductive and deductive approaches was performed, informed by Behaviour Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework. Employees’ sick leave days related to musculoskeletal disorders in 2015–2019 were drawn from the employer’s register.

Results

Physicians’ guidelines adherence was facilitated by psychological capability (e.g., having relevant knowledge, remembering to engage in recommended behaviours), reflective motivation (e.g., guidelines-related behaviours regarded as central part of one’s professional role; beliefs in the positive consequences of recommended behaviours to employees and employers), and physical and social opportunities (e.g., adequate physical resources, culture of social support). Some physicians also described barriers to recommended behaviours (e.g., lack of knowledge or non-pharmacological pain treatment tools). The guidelines had served as sources of new knowledge, reminders of recommended practices and means of self-assessment. Considerable declining trend of prescribed sick leave days was detected, especially during the first years after the intervention, levelling off somewhat thereafter. OHS policies and structures were seen to enable professionals’ focusing on preventing pain-related disability and prolonged sick leaves. The decline of sickness absences was also attributed to the municipal client organization’s commitment and the employees’ positive attitudes towards the alternatives to full-time sick leave.

Conclusions

The guidelines implementation intervention was found successful. The study showed the importance of social and organizational environment supporting physicians’ engagement in recommended practices.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05234-8.

Is Injury an Occupational Hazard for Horseracing Staff?

Occupational health is a key priority for the horseracing industry, yet little research on occupational injuries exists. This study investigated the prevalence and the effect of injury in British horseracing staff during a 12-month period. An online retrospective survey was answered by 352 participants, identifying self-reported injury prevalence, injury management practices and attitudes towards workplace injury reporting. Chi Squared tests for independence were undertaken. A total of 310 (88.1%) staff reported injuries; risk factors for injury type included self-perceived job security, working hours, and perceived job control. Physical limitations, loss of confidence, workplace changes, and lifestyle implications were reported as consequences of injury. A total of 75.3% (n = 134) of staff were likely to seek time-off following fractures, but only 48.6% (n = 86) would take time-off for concussion. Attitudes towards injury management were influenced by financial circumstances, perceived staff shortages, previous injury experiences, and perceived employer expectations. The high self-reported injury prevalence could result in decreased workforce efficiency, poor physical health, and negative implications on retention and career longevity. The perception of invisible injuries, i.e., concussion, and subsequent management, should be of immediate concern to racing organizations. This paper identifies recommendations to enhance the safety and wellbeing of horseracing staff.

All Normal Occupations are Sunny and Joyful: Qualitative Analysis of Thai Ladyboys' Occupational Wellbeing

Background

As the modern social division of labour is becoming increasingly specified, various occupations have emerged. Ladyboy, as a special occupation, is receiving a surging amount of attention from society and academia. Ladyboy is an individual who is engaged in performing with female psychology but still retains male sexual characteristics, and this special characteristic has an impact on their occupational identity and occupational satisfaction.

Methods

This study investigated the current situation of ladyboys’ occupational wellbeing through interviews, and analyzed and coded the interview texts via Nvivo 11.0 guided by Grounded Theory.

Results

Through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, the study found that ladyboys’ occupational wellbeing was generally high, and they were still full of love and confidence in their occupation even in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Conclusion

Concurrently, the study also found that for the profession of ladyboy, there are still many areas for improvement in society, such as the lack of supporting facilities, absence of supportive and protective policies, and unemployment livelihood security, etc. Feasible measures were then proposed for these specific problems.