Relationship between objective cognitive functioning and work performance among Japanese workers

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to explore the relationship between objective cognitive functioning and work performance among Japanese workers.

METHODS

From February to November 2019, this cross-sectional study enrolled workers aged 18-65 years from 10 companies located in a metropolitan area of Japan. We emailed invitations to participate to employees of companies that had agreed to cooperate with the study. We measured work performance with the question, "How would you rate your performance (compared with your optimum performance) over the past 4 weeks?" Responses were made via a visual analog scale (range: 0-100). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it®). THINC-it® is a brief, objective computerized cognitive assessment battery. Associations between work performance and cognitive functioning tests were examined using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 353 individuals provided e-consent to participate, of whom 276 were included in the analysis (after omitting those with missing values). The median work performance was used to divide participants into high- (scoring ≥ 80%) and low- (scoring < 80%) performing groups. The P-values for trends indicated that association between cognitive domains, such as attention, executive functioning and working memory was significant (P < .05). Work performance was significantly associated with cognitive function for the two tests that assess attention, executive functioning, and working memory in general workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that objective cognitive functioning may be related to work performance. Longitudinal investigations may allow for the establishment of causality.

Upskilling the Primary Care Workforce in Cancer Survivorship

Introduction/background: There is a rapidly increasing population of people living with and beyond cancer due to ageing and improvements in detection and treatment. This has impacted on the complexity of the primary care practitioners' role in managing cancer survivorship. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was developed to address this need for a sustainable education model. Aim/Objectives: The Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners program aims to enhance the knowledge and skills in the transition of survivors from oncology treatment into shared care. The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre's (VCCC) goal was to develop a freely accessible, relevant, flexible, evidence based and sustainable resource for a global audience. Methods: Aimed at primary healthcare practitioners including general practitioners, nurses (general practice nurses, community nurses and nurse practitioners) and allied health professionals; the program was developed to adhere to best practice survivorship care in the areas of: survivorship fundamentals; communication and coordination of care; promoting self-management, psychosocial and community-based support; surveillance, long term and late effects; and new and emergent technologies. The MOOC is contextualised in the narrative of a patient story and includes a series of real patient stories, interactive presentations, interviews, readings, online discussions, quizzes and peer reviewed assessments. Alumni from the program will contribute to a growing community of practice and contribute to the teaching and quality improvement of the program. An online survey will be distributed to all participants before and after their completion of the program. Paired tests will be conducted and compared for the participant craft groups that attend the MOOC. We will measure the effect of participation in either the MOOC and/or workshop on confidence, knowledge and intention to change practice. Results: A description of the sustainable MOOC delivery model and evaluation results from the first cohort will be presented. Conclusion: The program will deliver an innovative and sustainable professional development opportunity for PCPs in response to the evolving population health landscape. Alumni from the program will contribute to a growing community of practice and contribute to the teaching and quality improvement of the program.

Effect of brief sleep hygiene education for workers of an information technology company

To investigate the effects of sleep hygiene education for workers of an information technology (IT) company, we conducted a controlled clinical trial providing 581 workers one-hour sleep hygiene education. The contents of the sleep hygiene education program were a review of sleep habits, provide sleep hygiene education, and the establishment of sleep habit goals. A self-report questionnaire was used to measure outcomes including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), Checklist Individual Strength (CIS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression (CES-D), and mean sleep duration on weekdays before and 4 wk after the intervention. A total of 391 participants were included in the analysis, with 214 participants in the sleep hygiene education group and 177 in the waiting list group. KSS score at 2 P.M. decreased by 0.42 points in the sleep hygiene education group, but increased by 0.08 points in the waiting list group, showing a significant effect size of 0.50 (95%CI, -0.97 to -0.04, p<0.05). PSQI score also improved, but the inter-group difference was not statically significant. The present study provides preliminary evidence that brief sleep hygiene education may improve afternoon sleepiness at work, but not sleep at night for IT workers.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy training using brief e-mail sessions in the workplace: a controlled clinical trial

In the present study, we conducted a clinical controlled trial to evaluate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) training in improving depression and self-esteem in workers. A total of 261 workers were assigned to either an intervention group (n=137) or a waiting-list group (n=124). The intervention group was offered participation in a group session with CBT specialists and three e-mail sessions with occupational health care staff. Between-group differences in the change in Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Self-Esteem Scale from baseline to three months after the end of training were assessed by analysis of covariance. All subjects in the intervention group completed the group session and 114 (83%) completed the three e-mail sessions. CES-D score decreased by 2.21 points in the intervention group but increased by 0.12 points in the control group, a significant difference of -2.33 points (95% confidence interval: -3.89 to-0.77; p<0.001). The between-group difference in change of self-esteem scores was not significant. Results of the present study suggest that CBT training cooperatively provided by CBT specialists and occupational health care staff using brief e-mail is effective in improving feelings of depression in workers.

Development and validity of the Japanese version of the organizational justice scale

Organizational justice has recently attracted attention as a predictor of employee mental and physical health. However, the lack of a Japanese translation of the original English-language organizational justice scale (OJS) has precluded its application in Japan. The present study aimed to develop Japanese version of the measure of organizational justice. We translated the original questionnaire, which is comprised of 20 items, from English to Japanese. The OJS is made up of four distinct dimensions: procedural, distributive, interpersonal and information justice. A total of 229 employees responded to the Japanese version of the OJS (OJS-J), the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). To assess construct validity, we recorded job satisfaction using the visual analog scale (VAS). Our exploratory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure model of OJS-J. Correlation coefficients between the OJS-J and ERI, K10 and VAS were statistically significant, indicating a reasonable degree of construct validity. Obtained internal consistency was markedly high (Cronbach's alpha was 0.96), and test-retest reliability as analyzed with an intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91. These results suggest that the OJS-J is a reliable and valid measure that may be suitable for use as a predictor of employee health in the Japanese work place.

Sleep-disordered breathing and hypertension in Japanese steel workers

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is the major determinants of hypertension. Recent studies indicated sleep duration, in addition to shift work, were also associated with hypertension. But very little attention has been paid to these two factors when looking at the effects of SDB on blood pressure. We conducted the present study to evaluate the relationship between SDB and hypertension adjusting for sleep duration and shift work in a sample of Japanese steel workers. In this cross-sectional study, we measured blood pressure and oxygen desaturations index (ODI) by nocturnal pulse oximetry of 249 male workers aged 20 to 65 yr. SDB was defined by 3%ODI level of 15 or more events per hour. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations of SDB with hypertension after adjustment for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking, usual sleep duration, shift work, and occupation. The prevalence of SDB was 18.1%. The adjusted odds ratio of hypertension for high (> or =15) vs. low (<15) category of 3%ODI level was 2.86 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-6.66). The significant association between SDB and hypertension suggests that screening for SDB among steel workers is useful for prevention of hypertension.

Eating habits and intensity of medication in elderly hypertensive outpatients

Several dietary factors have been shown to lower blood pressure in elderly patients in clinical trials, but it is not known how eating habits affect blood pressure control in outpatients treated with antihypertensive drugs. We obtained data on dietary information regarding food groups rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium by submitting a questionnaire to 190 elderly outpatients. Blood pressure levels and the intensity and cost of antihypertensive treatment were obtained from clinical records. The mean age and blood pressure were 72.3 +/- 9.3 years and 138.7 +/- 15.2/74.6 +/- 8.8 mmHg, respectively. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the intensity of medication: the LS group (n=52), treated with a low dose of a single drug; the HS group (n=95), treated with a high dose of a single drug; and the M group (n=43), treated with multiple drugs. Average age, body mass index, blood pressure levels, and extent of target organ damage were similar among the three groups. Intake frequency (rarely, once or twice per week, 3 to 6 times per week, or every day) of the food groups was compared among the three groups. The LS group ate fruit (p < 0.05) and seaweed (p < 0.01) with significant frequency compared with the other groups, whereas milk and dairy products were taken with similar frequency by all groups. The monthly cost of antihypertensive medications averaged 17,218 +/- 620 yen in the LS group, 17,746 +/- 375 yen in the HS group, and 20,066 +/- 1,364 yen in the M group. These data suggest that habitual intake of foods rich in potassium and magnesium are associated with reduced intensity and cost of medication and with preservation of blood pressure control in elderly hypertensive outpatients.