Work Days (work + day)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


On-the-job leisure as a cause of asymmetric observed-effort distributions

MANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 6 2006
David L. DickinsonArticle first published online: 18 SEP 200
When employers observe imperfect measures of worker effort, theorists typically assume that observed effort is unimodal and symmetrically distributed. Though observable effort may be distributed in different ways within a work day, for example, available field data on these effort distributions are rare. The symmetry assumption is largely untestable as a result. This paper presents empirical data from two experimental work environments that question the validity of such assumptions. For these piece-rate work environments the author finds that observed effort is significantly negatively-skew (i.e. modal>mean effort). The author's hypothesis is that on-the-job leisure causes this skewness in observed effort distributions. There are both theoretical and practical implications of this asymmetry. Some implications from the theoretical agency literature that we discuss include: self-selection into rank-order tournaments, optimal wage spreads in rank-order tournaments, and optimal wage contracts with asymmetric information. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Pain interference impacts response to treatment for anxiety disorders

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2009
Carrie Farmer Teh PhD
Abstract Background: Anxiety disorders and pain are commonly comorbid, though little is known about the effect of pain on the course and treatment of anxiety. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial for anxiety treatment in primary care. Participants with panic disorder (PD) and/or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (N=191; 81% female, mean age 44) were randomized to either their primary-care physician's usual care or a 12-month course of telephone-based collaborative care. Anxiety severity, pain interference, health-related quality of life, health services use, and employment status were assessed at baseline, and at 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-month follow-up. We defined response to anxiety treatment as a 40% or greater improvement from baseline on anxiety severity scales at 12-month follow-up. Results: The 39% who reported high pain interference at baseline had more severe anxiety (mean SIGH-A score: 21.8 versus 18.0, P<.001), greater limitations in activities of daily living, and more work days missed in the previous month (5.8 versus 4.0 days, P=.01) than those with low pain interference. At 12-month follow-up, high pain interference was associated with a lower likelihood of responding to anxiety treatment (OR=.28; 95% CI=.12,.63) and higher health services use (26.1% with ,1 hospitalization versus 12.0%, P<.001). Conclusions: Pain that interferes with daily activities is prevalent among primary care patients with PD/GAD and associated with more severe anxiety, worse daily functioning, higher health services use, and a lower likelihood of responding to treatment for PD/GAD. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The impact of diabetes on employment: genetic IVs in a bivariate probit

HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 5 2005
H. Shelton Brown III
Abstract Diabetes has been shown to have a detrimental impact on employment and labor market productivity, which results in lost work days and higher mortality/disability. This study utilizes data from the Border Epidemiologic Study on Aging to analyze the endogeneity of diabetes in an employment model. We use family history of diabetes as genetic instrumental variables. We show that assuming that diabetes is an exogenous variable results in an overestimate (underestimate) of the negative impact of diabetes on female (male) employment. Our results are particularly relevant in the case of populations where genetic predisposition has an important role in the etiology of diabetes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Swedish pre-school children's UVR exposure , a comparison between two outdoor environments

PHOTODERMATOLOGY, PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY & PHOTOMEDICINE, Issue 1 2004
C. Boldeman
Background: Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in childhood is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Shady environments are recommended as one method of protection. Methods: Environmental exposure to UVR and environmental protection were assessed by dosimeter measurements on 64 children aged 1,6 years at two geographically close and topographically similar pre-schools outside Stockholm. Outdoor play constructions of site 1 (34 children) were mainly exposed to the sun, and those of site 2 (30 children) were mainly shaded. Dosimetry was carried out during 11 work days in May,June 2002 under clear weather conditions. The reliability of dosimeters was tested with meteorologically modelled data from SMHI, and with stationary dosimeters exposed to free sky, and compared with other UV instruments. The differences between children's outdoor stays were adjusted for. Results: The children's average daily exposures were approximately 200 JCIE/m2 erythemally effective UVR. The average relative UVR exposure (% total available UVR 08:30,18:30) was 6.4% (7.0% at site 1, 5.7% at site 2). Fractions of available UVR during outdoor stay were 14.4% (both sites), 15.3% (site 1), and 13.3% (site 2). In terms of relative differences, 5,6-year-old children at site 2 were exposed to 41% less UVR, and 1,4-year-old children 6% less than those at site 1. Conclusion: The difference can be explained by the children's outdoor pre-school environments, and the behaviors linked to these environments. It is recommended to consider the attractiveness of shady environments in the design of children's pre-school playgrounds, particularly if these are extremely exposed to the sun. [source]


Specific and non-specific upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder syndromes in automobile manufacturing workers

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009
Judith E. Gold ScD
Abstract Objective A longitudinal cohort of automobile manufacturing workers (n,=,1,214) was examined for: (1) prevalence and persistence of specific upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) such as lateral epicondylitis and de Quervain's disease, and non-specific disorders (NSDs) defined in symptomatic individuals without any specific disorder, and (2) disorder prognoses based on symptom characteristics and other factors. Methods Eight specific disorders were identified through case definitions based on upper extremity physical examinations and symptom surveys administered on three occasions over 6 years. Results At baseline, 41% of the cohort reported upper extremity symptoms; 18% (n,=,214) of these had NSDs. In each survey, tendon-related conditions accounted for over half of the specific morbidity. Twenty-five percent had UEMSDs in multiple anatomical sites, and most with hand/wrist disorders had two or more hand/wrist UEMSDs. Persistence for all specific disorders decreased with length of follow-up. Specific UEMSDs were characterized by greater pain severity and functional impairment, and more lost work days than NSDs. Conclusions Upper extremity symptoms and diagnoses vary over time. NSDs may be the early stages of conditions that will eventually become more specific. NSDs and overlapping specific UEMSDs should be taken into account in UEMSD classification. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:124,132, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (WR-CTS) in Massachusetts, 1992,1997: Source of WR-CTS, outcomes, and employer intervention practices,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2004
Helen Wellman MS
Abstract Background The Massachusetts Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (MASS SENSOR) receives reports of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (WR-CTS) cases from (1) workers' compensation (WC) disability claims for 5 or more lost work days; and (2) physician reports (PR). Methods From 1992 through 1997, 1,330 WC cases and 571 PR cases completed follow-back surveys to provide information on industry, occupation, attributed source of WR-CTS, outcomes, and employer intervention practices. Results Sixty-four percent of the respondents had bilateral CTS and 61% had surgery, both of which were proportionally more frequent among WC cases. Office and business machinery was the leading source of WR-CTS (42% of classifiable sources) in every economic sector except construction, followed by hand tools (20%). Managers and professional specialty workers were the most likely to report employers' interventions and were up to four times more likely to report equipment or work environment changes than higher risk groups. Conclusions State-based surveillance data on the source of WR-CTS provided valuable information on how and where to implement interventions. New occurrences of WR-CTS are likely, especially in the highest risk industries where very few cases reported primary prevention measures (e.g., changes to equipment or work environment) implemented by their employers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:139,152, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Influence of local geomagnetic storms on arterial blood pressure

BIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 6 2004
S. Dimitrova
Abstract This study attempts to assess the influence of local geomagnetic storms at middle latitudes on some human physiological parameters. The blood pressure (bp), heart rate and general well-being of 86 volunteers were measured, the latter by means of a standardised questionnaire, on work days in autumn, 2001 (1 Oct to 9 Nov), and in spring, 2002 (8 April to 28 May). These timespans were chosen as periods of maximal expected geomagnetic activity (GMA). Altogether, 2799 recordings were obtained and analysed. A four factor analysis of variance (MANOVA) was employed to check the significance of the influence of four factors (local GMA level; sequence of the days of measurements covering up to 3 days before and after geomagnetic storms; sex and the presence of medication) on the physiological parameters under consideration. Post hoc analysis was performed to elicit the significance of differences in the factors' levels. Arterial bp was found to increase with the increase of the GMA level, and systolic and diastolic bp were found to increase significantly from the day before till the second day after the geomagnetic storm. These effects were present irrespective of sex and medication. Bioelectromagnetics 25:408,414, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]