Occupational Health Services Have a Relevant Role in Protecting the Health and Safety of Paramedics.

In this Letter to the Editor, the authors point out occupational health and safety risks for paramedics, and highlight the relevant role carried out by multidisciplinary occupational health services in the prevention of occupational risks and the promotion of physical and mental well-being of these workers.

Dans cette lettre à l'éditeur, nous insistons sur les risques de sécurité et de santé encourrus par les personnels non médicaux ainsi que sur le rôle des services de santé au travail dans la prévention de ces risques et dans la promotion de leur santé physique et mentale.

Examining the quality of work-life of paramedics in northern Ontario, Canada: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Paramedics are exposed to multiple stressors in the workplace. They are more likely to develop occupational-related stress conditions compared to other occupations. This study focused on understanding the factors affecting QoWL of paramedics in northern Ontario, Canada; a particular focus was on understanding the personal and organizational factors, such as practicing community paramedicine (CP), which may be associated with Quality of Work Life (QoWL). METHODS: Paramedic QoWL was assessed using an online survey that was distributed to approximately 879 paramedics across northern Ontario. The survey included the 23-Item Work- Related Quality of Work Life Scale. Data analysis involved linear regressions with nine predictor variables deemed to be related to QoWL for paramedics with QoWL and its six subscales as dependent variables. Multiple linear regressions were used to assess the personal and organizational factors, such as practicing of CP, which predicted QoWL. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-seven paramedics completed the questionnaire. Overall, the mean QoWL score of all paramedic participants was 73.99, and this average compared to relevant published norms for other occupations. Factors that were most associated with higher QoWL were, experience practicing CP (p < 0.05), number of sick days/year (p < 0.01), and higher self- rated mental health (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher paramedic QoWL appears to be associated with many factors such as number of sick days per year, self-rated mental health, and participation in CP. EMS organizations should consider establishing necessary workplace health promotion strategies that are targeted at improving QoWL for paramedics.

Meta-analysis of nursing-related organizational and psychosocial predictors of sickness absence.

BACKGROUND: Nursing is a stressful occupation with high rates of sickness absence. To date, there are no meta-analyses that statistically determined the correlates of sickness absence in this population. AIMS: This meta-analysis examined organizational and psychosocial predictors of sickness absence among nursing staff. METHODS: As a registered systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42017071040), which followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, five databases (CINAHL, PROQuest Allied, PROQuest database theses, PsycINFO, PubMed) were reviewed to examine predictors of sickness absence in nurses and nursing assistants between 1990 and 2019. The Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome tool was used to support our searches. Effect sizes were analysed using random-effects model. RESULTS: Following critical appraisals using (i) National Institutes of Health's Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and (ii) Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, 21 studies were included. Nursing assistants had greater odds of sickness absence than nurses. Working night shifts, in paediatrics or psychiatric units, experiencing poor mental health, and fatigue, also increased the odds of sickness absence. There was no evidence that job satisfaction or job strain influenced sickness absence; however, job demand increased the likelihood. Finally, work support reduced the odds of lost-time. CONCLUSIONS: We synthesized three decades of research where several factors influenced sickness absence. Due to limited recent research, the results should be interpreted with caution as some practices may have changed overtime or between countries. Nevertheless, these findings could help in applying preventative strategies to mitigate lost-time in a vulnerable working population.

Critical methodological considerations in recruiting and engaging non-native English speaking workers with a head injury: a Canadian perspective.

OBJECTIVE: Non-native English speaking workers with a mild work-related traumatic brain and/or head injury are a vulnerable and underrepresented population in research studies. The researchers present their experiences with recruiting and performing qualitative interviews with non-native English speaking individuals with a work-related mild traumatic brain injury, and provide recommendations on how to better include this vulnerable population in future research studies. This paper presents considerations regarding ethics, recruitment challenges, interview preparation and debriefing, sex & gender and language and cultural issues must be made when working with this vulnerable population. RESULTS: The researchers discuss critical issues and provide recommendations in recruiting and engaging with non-native English language workers including ethics, recruitment challenges, interview preparation and debriefing, sex & gender and language, and cultural considerations that must be made when working with this population. The study recommendations advise investigators to spend more time to learn about the non-native English participants in the mild wrTBI context, to be familiar with the vulnerabilities and specific circumstances that these workers experience. By increasing their awareness of the challenging facing this vulnerable population, the intention is to provide better care and treatment options through evidence-based research and practice.

Trend of the burden of chronic illnesses: using the Canadian Community Health Survey.

OBJECTIVES: Burden of illnesses has been described in the literature using the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with chronic conditions. However, the studies reporting trends of burden are sparse. The aim of this study was to explore the trends of burden of chronic illness from the perspective of HRQoL. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of administrative database. METHODS: Seven data sets of the Canadian Community Health Survey from 2001 to 2014 were obtained for the analysis. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used on each data set to assess the burden of illness on the Health Utilities Index Mark III (HUI3), life satisfaction (LS), and perceived health (PH). RESULTS: People with the effect of stroke constantly had low scores on the HUI3, LS, and PH. Regression analyses revealed that arthritis, back problem, and mood disorder have greater impact on the HUI3 score. Effect of stroke, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder stably had the largest negative impact on LS, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), effect of stroke, and cancer had the largest effect on PH. CONCLUSION: This study identified that arthritis, back pain, mood disorder, effect of stroke, and COPD constantly have high burden on health outcomes compared with other chronic condition over the past decade.

Predictors to Private Practice Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Opportunities in Canada: New Evidence suggests New Solutions.

The study examined predictors to increasing and enhancing fieldwork education opportunities provided by occupational therapists working in private practice. A cross-sectional design that used a self-administered questionnaire was provided to Canadian occupational therapists in private practice. Participants receiving funding from the workers' compensation sector, those with between 11 and 20 years of work experience, and therapists working full-time hours were more likely to accept a student in fieldwork placement. Respondents who indicated that physical space and resources were not barriers to taking students on placement were more likely to accept students. Therapists more comfortable with the criteria and methods for appropriate and effective student teaching and supervision were also more likely to accept a student for fieldwork placement. The study findings can inform academic programs on how best to support preceptorship and guide university fieldwork coordinators' strategies for outreach and education for private practitioners.

Systematic review: Lost-time injuries in the US mining industry.

BACKGROUND: The mining industry is associated with high levels of accidents, injuries and illnesses. Lost-time injuries are useful measures of health and safety in mines, and the effectiveness of its safety programmes. AIMS: To identify the type of lost-time injuries in the US mining workforce and to examine predictors of these occupational injuries. METHODS: Primary papers on lost-time injuries in the US mining sector were identified through a literature search in eight health, geology and mining databases, using a systematic review protocol tailored to each database. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), Framework of Quality Assurance for Administrative Data Source and the Cochrane Collaboration 'Risk of bias' assessment tools were used to assess study quality. RESULTS: A total of 1736 articles were retrieved before duplicates were removed. Fifteen articles were ultimately included with a CASP mean score of 6.33 (SD 0.62) out of 10. Predictors of lost-time injuries included slips and falls, electric injuries, use of mining equipment, working in underground mining, worker's age and occupational experience. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review of lost-time injuries in the US mining sector. The results support the need for further research on factors that contribute to workplace lost-time injuries as there is limited literature on the topic. Safety analytics should also be applied to uncover new trends and predict the likelihood of future incidents before they occur. New insights will allow employers to prevent injuries and foster a safer workplace environment by implementing successful occupational health and safety programmes.