Prevalence of overweight and weight gain in relation to night work in a nurses' cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between exposure to night work and prevalence of overweight and weight gain. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SUBJECTS: 469 nurses (age: 21-58 y). MEASUREMENTS: Body Mass Index, exposure to night work, age, parity, smoking and sports activities in 1980, 1985 and 1990. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight was associated with exposure to night work in 1980 and weight gains (especially those exceeding 7 kg) were more frequent among nurses on night work than on daytime work between 1985 and 1990. CONCLUSION: Exposure to night work can lead to weight gain and overweight.

[Working conditions, living conditions and physical health problems declared among penitentiary administration personnel in France]. / Conditions de travail, conditions de vie et problèmes de santé physique déclarés par le personnel de l'administration pénitentiaire en France.

A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted among prison staff in France to investigate the relationships between working conditions and health. The sample included men and women 20 to 64 years old belonging to all categories of prison personnel: prison guards, administrative staff, socioeducational workers, technicians, health care workers, and managers (n = 4587, response rate 45.7%). A mailed self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, and physical and mental disorders. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the effects of working conditions and social relationships on health of prison staff. However, the results reported here only concern 17 health disorders: body mass index, sick leave, medication use, accidents, digestive disorders, lower extremities and back disorders, hypertension, hemorrhoids, arthritis, skin disorders, urinary infections, chronic bronchitis, cholesterol, gastric ulcer, respiratory infections, ocular disorders. The living non professional conditions mostly associated with health disorders were financial difficulties (OR: 1.9 for digestive disorders, 1.8 for gastric ulcer, 1.7 for medication use) and irregularity of meals (OR = 1.5 for digestive disorders, and hypertension). In the occupational environment, the factors most associated with health disorders are seniority (OR = 4.2 for arthritis, 2.3 for cholesterol) and constraints (OR = 1.7 for lower extremities disorders). In spite of some limits associated to this kind of study, relationships between occupational and non occupational factors and physical health conditions were observed; the results also pointed out the protective role of the social relationships for health conditions.

Psychotropic drug use and shift work among French nurses (1980-1990).

Use of minor tranquilizers and hypnotics and the association with shift work was examined in a sample of French nurses interviewed in 1980, 1985 and 1990. Permanent night schedule was related to a higher use of hypnotics/tranquillizers, the relation begin significant in 1990. At each follow-up date, the use of drugs increased with sleep disorders, symptoms of psychological disorders reported by the nurses themselves, an impaired health and fatigue. Age was linked to the use of hypnotics/tranquillizers; the older the nurses were, the more likely they were to take the drugs. Using a logistic analysis, the following variables were significant: time schedules, self-assessment of health, fatigue, age and marital status. Time schedules involving night work, especially permanent night schedule, were related to a higher proportion of drug use. These findings confirmed the general patterns of psychotropic drug use (age, sleep disorders, physical health and martial status) among women and emphasized the relation between time schedules involving night work and the use of hypnotics/tranquillizers.

Effects of shift work on sleep among French nurses. A longitudinal study.

In industrialized countries, the proportion of shift workers is currently estimated to be approximately 20% of the working population. The problem of sleep may be one of the major consequences of shift work. To study the relation between shift work and sleep quality in a female population, 469 nurses at 6 public hospitals in various French regions were interviewed about their working conditions and health in 1980. They were followed up and interviewed again in 1985 and 1990. First, the results showed that nurses had more sleep disorders on alternating schedule including night work at the beginning of the study in 1980, and there was no more association between shift work and sleep quality after 1980. Second, sleep disorders predicted transfer from shift work to day work between 1980 and 1985 and sleep disorders decreased strongly after such transfer. The absence of relation between time schedules and sleep in 1985 and 1990 can be explained by the fact that the follow-up sample was selected, ie, the nurses who continued to work on shift work were able to adapt to it.

Back pain and associated factors in French nurses.

The aim of this study was to assess, in a prospective cohort of nurses, the risk factors associated with six back pain indicators: back pain (BP), chronic or recurring BP (occurring often or lasting for more than 3 months), cervical (CP), dorsal (DP) and lumbar (LP) pain and medical treatment for BP. In 1980, a sample of 469 nurses was randomly selected from six public sector hospitals. They were followed up and interviewed in 1980, 1985 and 1990. BP indicators were assessed on the basis of the nurses' self-reports during the 12 months before questionnaire administration in 1990. The data collected were subjected to cross-sectional analysis in 1990, to study the associations between the six BP indicators and the risk factors. In a longitudinal analysis, the 1990 BP indicators were analysed in relation to the risk factors present in 1985 among the 210 nurses who were still working in hospitals in 1990 and had not suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) between 1980 and 1985. Of the 310 nurses still working in hospitals in 1990, 57.9% had suffered from BP within the previous 12 months, 23.6% of them from CP, 23.0% from DP and 41.1% from LP, 40.5% had suffered from chronic or recurring BP, 31.1% had undergone treatment and 7.4% had taken sick leave for BP. In 1990, BP accounted for 35.8% of the total number of days of sick leave.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A 10-year incidence survey of respiratory cancer and a case-control study within a cohort of nickel mining and refining workers in New Caledonia.

The incidence of lung, pleural, nasal, larynx, and pharynx cancer in relation to work in the nickel mining and refining industry was studied from 1978 to 1987 in the male population of the French territory of New Caledonia in the South Pacific. The results showed no greater risk in the population of nickel workers than in the general male population. The incidence of respiratory cancer in New Caledonia was found to be comparable to that of industrialized countries, except for pleural cancer for which there was an excess risk in New Caledonia. A case-control study within the cohort of nickel industry workers comprised 80 lung cancer, 12 larynx cancer, 20 pharynx cancer cases, and 298 controls, and took account of 18 substances to which workers were exposed, five of them nickel compounds. None of the substances, or any other occupational variable, was shown to increase the risk of respiratory cancer, except for cancer of the larynx in relation to level and duration of exposure to dust and engine exhaust fumes on mining sites (odds ratios ranged from five to 5.4 and were significant). These results provide no evidence that exposures specific to the nickel industry in New Caledonia increase the risk of respiratory cancer. This might be due to the involvement of less airborne nickel than the amount observed in positive studies elsewhere. The high incidence of respiratory cancer in New Caledonia, compared with other South Pacific islands, might be attributable to an environmental risk connected with the presence of mineral fibers in the geologic strata, as well as to tobacco and alcohol consumption levels similar to those prevailing in France.

[Working conditions of nurses at public hospitals 1980 to 1990]. / Evolution des conditions de travail des infirmières des hôpitaux publics de 1980 à 1990.

The 1988 and 1991 strikes among nurses were motivated by claims concerning the status of the nursing profession, wages and working conditions. A study of working conditions was carried out from two samples: 1) a cohort of nurses (N = 571) recruited in 7 hospitals and followed up in 1980 (follow up rate: 85%) and in 1990 (follow up rate: 69%); 2) a sample of nurses who began to work in the same settings between 1985 and 1989 (N = 108). The results indicate no improvement in the organisation of shiftwork on the 10 years period. Working conditions deteriorated during the last 5 years. These findings are discussed in the light of the global evolution of hospital and of the specific problems of the nursing profession.

Hospital care for drug users with AIDS or HIV infection in France.

Health care workers in three AIDS hospital units in the Paris region were interviewed to analyse the issues related to the care of addicted HIV patients in the light of principles and practices regarding drug abuse treatment in France. Health care workers report a large variety of disruptive incidents involving some addicted in-patients. To deal with these difficulties, physicians advocate the separation of drug abuse treatment and HIV disease treatment. However, practices differ between the three settings regarding the management of patients. In two units, a contract is made with the patient covering general and specific rules of hospital stay and sanctions should the contract be broken. In the third unit, the use of such a contract is considered to be a continuation of drug abusers' stigmatization and an obstacle to the adoption of the 'sick role' by the addicted patient.

Incidence of pleural mesothelioma in New Caledonia: a 10-year survey (1978-1987).

All cases of primary pleural cancers that were reported during a 10-y period (i.e., 1978-1987) in New Caledonia were recorded and compared with five cancer registers. There was an excess of primary pleural cancers in the area of New Caledonia, and it was particularly evident among the Melanesian ethnic group. Neither geographical nor occupational factors accounted for these results, but an environmental factor could not be excluded.

[Sinonasal cancer and occupation: a multicenter case-control study]. / Cancers naso-sinusiens et profession: une étude cas-témoins multicentrique.

A case-control study was conducted to examine occupational risk factors for sinonasal cancer. 207 cases and 409 controls (323 cancer hospital controls and 86 controls selected from lists provided by the cases) were included in the study. All cases and controls were interviewed by specially trained physicians. Detailed information on occupational history was collected, in addition to other potential risk factors for nasal cancer. Results are presented for two histologic types: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Among males, the risk of adenocarcinoma was significantly elevated for carpenter and joiners (OR = 17.7) and other woodworkers (OR = 26.9). A significant increase in risk of squamous cell cancer (OR = 2.5) and a moderate increase in risk of adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.7; NS) were noted for construction workers. Among females, an excess risk of squamous cell carcinoma was associated with employment in textile industry (OR = 2.9). Elevated risks of squamous cell cancer were observed for farm workers of both sexes (males: OR = 2.2; females OR = 4.9).

[Can an improvement in pulmonary function be demonstrated in children under 10 years sent to winter sport classes?]. / Peut-on mettre en évidence une amélioration de la fonction pulmonaire chez des enfants de moins de 10 ans partis en classe de neige?

The purpose of this research was to appreciate the benefit of a Winter sport class for young children. The study was carried out, in the Northern suburb of Paris, among girls and boys, aged 8.4 on average. Among them, 91 went to the mountains and 65 (controls) stayed in town. A spirometry and a flow-volume curve were measured: before starting, on coming back home and 2 years later. The parents filled in questionnaires about children's respiratory symptoms and history. Morphometric data were recorded. Reference values of this population were obtained by taking height into account. No difference in respiratory symptoms and history was observed between the groups at the beginning of the survey. However, the children who went to the mountains had lower age, weight and height than the others. Nevertheless, 2 years later, these children had a more important increase of F.E.F.1 and F.E.F.25-75. They had also a more important increase of their flows.

Eosinophils, smoking, and lung function. An epidemiologic survey among 912 working men.

The relationship of eosinophilia with smoking habits and with baseline lung function measurements has been studied in a working population of 912 men in the Paris area. Absolute numbers of eosinophils were related significantly to a history of asthma and eczema in childhood as well as to current tobacco consumption, whereas the percentage of eosinophils was related only to the occurrence of asthma and eczema. Forced expiratory volume in one second adjusted for smoking was significantly related to asthma, the presence of a common cold on the day of examination among those with a history of wheezing, and the percentage of eosinophils. The association between FEV and eosinophils was restricted to never smokers. Among never smokers without a history of asthma, eczema, wheezing, or a common cold on the day of examination, eosinophil percentages and counts were significantly associated with the level of FEV; eosinophil percentages explained 4.4% of the variance of FEV. These results suggest that eosinophilia might be a risk factor for chronic air-flow limitation among adult nonsmokers.