{"title":"Comparison of lung disorders following intratracheal instillation of polystyrene microplastics with different surface functional groups.","authors":"Taisuke Tomonaga, Hidenori Higashi, Hiroto Izumi, Chinatsu Nishida, Kazuma Sato, Yuiko Nakamura, Toshiki Morimoto, Yasuyuki Higashi, Takuma Kojima, Kazuo Sakurai, Kazuhiro Yatera, Yasuo Morimoto","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf006","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Microplastics have been detected in the atmosphere, raising concerns about their impact on the lungs. There have been reports on the effects of surface functional groups in evaluating the physicochemical properties of microplastics, but no reports have evaluated their chronic effects. We performed intratracheal instillation in rats to evaluate the acute and chronic effects on the lungs of microplastics with different surface functional groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Unmodified, NH2-modified, and COOH-modified polystyrene particles with a particle size of 1 μm were intratracheally instilled into the lungs of rats. Rats were dissected at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after exposure to analyze inflammatory cells and lung injury factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and to observe histopathological findings in the lungs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells in BALF was observed up to 1 week after exposure to the NH2-based modified polystyrene compared with the negative control group. A significant increase was observed 3 days after exposure, and histopathological findings in the lungs also showed an influx of inflammatory cells into the alveolar space in the acute phase, but not in the chronic phase. In in vitro studies using RAW cell lines, NH2-based modified polystyrene also induced the highest oxidative stress compared with unmodified and COOH-based modified polystyrene.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results suggest that these polystyrenes do not have high pulmonary toxicity, although there are differences in toxicity due to differences in surface functional groups only in the acute phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11894927/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rong Yan, Li Zeng, Su-Yun Li, Ya-Li Wan, Yun-Fang Liu
{"title":"Study of the risk assessment of nursing occupational exposure to major public health emergencies based on the Likelihood Exposure Consequence method.","authors":"Rong Yan, Li Zeng, Su-Yun Li, Ya-Li Wan, Yun-Fang Liu","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf022","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To develop an occupational exposure risk assessment scale for nursing staff during major public health emergencies based on the Likelihood Exposure Consequence (LEC) method. The purpose was to provide managers with a reliable tool for assessing occupational exposure risk faced by nursing staff and to serve as a reference for the formulation of occupational protection standards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The item pool of nursing occupational exposure risk factors was screened using the LEC and accident causation theory. This was achieved through a comprehensive literature review, semistructured interviews, and group discussions. The nursing occupational exposure risk assessment scale was developed in conjunction with the Delphi method. The LEC method was used to assess the risk of occupational exposure among nursing staff in hospital clinical fever settings and to determine the level of occupational exposure risk.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two rounds of expert inquiry were conducted to obtain the results. The recovery rates of the questionnaires deemed effective were 100%. The coefficients pertaining to expert authority were 0.807 and 0.835, and the coefficients associated with expert opinion coordination were 0.785 and 0.808, respectively. In the assessment of nursing occupational exposure risk in fever clinics, 9 risk factors were identified, with a Danger (D) value of ≥70 and risk level of ≥3. These risk factors encompassed personnel, technical, environmental, and management aspects. Considering the prevailing unsafe factors, it is recommended to enhance personnel management training, bolster protection skills, upgrade environmental facilities, improve the supervision system, and implement other appropriate rectification measures.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The scale is both scientifically rigorous and have the ability to present evidence in order to enhance the occupational environment for nursing personnel and guarantee their occupational safety. Additionally, it can function as a policy reference for enhancing the response mechanism of the medical and health systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12090990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144009573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elina Tulenheimo-Eklund, Annu Haapakangas, Maria Hirvonen, Virpi Ruohomäki, Kari Reijula
{"title":"Perceptions of activity-based offices are associated with employee well-being and self-reported work ability in hybrid work: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Elina Tulenheimo-Eklund, Annu Haapakangas, Maria Hirvonen, Virpi Ruohomäki, Kari Reijula","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf027","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>As digitalization has made knowledge work multilocational, the need for space-efficient, modern-design offices, including activity-based offices, has increased. However, studies of how activity-based offices are related to employee well-being, particularly in hybrid work, are rare. This study investigated whether the perceived activity-based office environment in hybrid work is associated with employee well-being and self-reported work ability.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used a cross-sectional survey of 971 employees working in activity-based offices in 5 Finnish organizations in 2022. The workplaces were observed, and the employees responded to a survey of their office environment perceptions, well-being, and work ability. The survey covered burnout risk scores, work engagement, daily recovery, self-reported work ability, insomnia, and pain symptoms. We used the regression analysis general linear model to analyze associations between the environmental perceptions and employee outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, supervisory position, and telework frequency or effort-reward imbalance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Employees' daily recovery and self-reported work ability were better when the employees' office environment perceptions (task privacy, satisfaction with work environment, person-environment fit, workspace support for interaction, ease of workspace switching) were more positive. These associations remained in the adjusted models. Additionally, work engagement increased, and burnout risk scores and insomnia symptoms decreased when workplace conditions were perceived more favorably.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>More favorable perceptions of activity-based offices are associated with better employee well-being and self-reported work ability in hybrid work. The perceived office environment seems essential for employee well-being and work ability even when psychosocial aspects (effort-reward imbalance) are taken into account.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144111080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aya Wada, Jihoon Kim, Satoru Kanamori, Takahiko Yoshimoto, Rumi Tsukinoki, Naoki Kagi, Wataru Umishio, Ryo Asaoka, Tomoko Shiomitsu, Kayo Kawamata, Natsumi Yoshioka, Kaori Yoshiba, Masahiko Gosho, Yoshio Nakata, Yuko Kai
{"title":"Multicomponent occupational lifestyle intervention to improve physical activity, musculoskeletal health, and work environment among Japanese teleworkers (TELEWORK study): protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Aya Wada, Jihoon Kim, Satoru Kanamori, Takahiko Yoshimoto, Rumi Tsukinoki, Naoki Kagi, Wataru Umishio, Ryo Asaoka, Tomoko Shiomitsu, Kayo Kawamata, Natsumi Yoshioka, Kaori Yoshiba, Masahiko Gosho, Yoshio Nakata, Yuko Kai","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Teleworking from home was widespread during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. This working practice is expected to maintain popularity among employers and employees. Compared with in-person workers, teleworkers tend to be less physically active and have more musculoskeletal pain. Interventions specific to reducing health risks among teleworkers have not been identified. This study will examine the effects of an occupational lifestyle intervention encompassing 3 components: physical activity promotion, musculoskeletal health, and work environment improvement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cluster randomized trial will have a target sample size of 500 participants. The target population is healthy adults aged 18-64 years who telework at least once per week. Randomization will be conducted on a stratified block basis for clusters of 20 to 100 individuals within the recruited companies. The intervention period will be 12 weeks and comprise individual (online lectures, feedback, and periodic email messages), sociocultural (team building through step competition), physical (poster and tabletop pop-up), and organizational (encouraging message from an executive) strategies. The intervention group will be compared with a wait-list control group. The primary outcome will be the number of steps taken, as assessed by an accelerometer, and the secondary outcomes will be musculoskeletal pain and a telecommuting environment. The study protocol was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (ID: UMIN000053861) (https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr.cgi?function=brows&action=brows&recptno=R000061478&type=summary&language=J).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Study enrollment began in March 2024, and the intervention will be completed by March 2025.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results of this study are expected to provide helpful data for promoting healthy teleworking practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11985020/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143657408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adverse effects of nanoparticles on humans.","authors":"Slamet Wardoyo","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12045709/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Haoran Li, Tao Xie, Jingya Zhang, Bin Zhu, Ning Zhang, Ying Mao
{"title":"What makes reversal: examining the moderating effect of being a state functionary on occupational status and depression among middle-aged and older people in China.","authors":"Haoran Li, Tao Xie, Jingya Zhang, Bin Zhu, Ning Zhang, Ying Mao","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study measured occupational status from the perspectives of occupational socioeconomic status, employment relationship, and class level, aiming to examine the effect of occupational status on depression among middle-aged and elderly people in China and determine whether being a state functionary plays a moderating role.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (n = 28 645) were used and the year fixed-effects model was adopted. The 2-way interaction terms \"state functionary × occupational status (the International Socioeconomic Index of Occupational Status [ISEI], the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale [SIOPS], and the Erikson and Goldthorpe class categories [EGP])\" were added to examine whether being a state functionary could moderate the relationship between occupational status and depression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Occupational status was negatively correlated with depression (ISEI: coefficient = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.02; SIOPS: coefficient = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.02 to -0.002; EGP: coefficient = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.15). The 2-way interaction terms \"state functionary × occupational status (ISEI/SIOPS/EGP)\" were significant among all middle-aged and older participants. The 2-way interaction terms were also significant in the educated and urban subgroups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Higher occupational status is a protective factor against depression among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, being a state functionary can reverse the relationship between occupational status and depression. We found that the higher the occupational status of state functionaries, the more severe their depression. We also found a moderating effect of being a state functionary in the educated and urban subgroups.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11952907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143743142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erick Messias, Enoch K Azasu, Nawar Nayeem, Ping-I Lin, Richard Grucza
{"title":"Suicide deaths by occupation skill level and educational attainment in the United States.","authors":"Erick Messias, Enoch K Azasu, Nawar Nayeem, Ping-I Lin, Richard Grucza","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiae078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To estimate the association between suicide deaths and both occupational skill level and educational attainment in the United States.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Suicide deaths, employment, education, and demographic data from the 2021 National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death Files, for ages 18-64 with a lifetime history of employment, were combined with comparable participants from the 2020-2022 Current Population Survey. Outcomes of interest were associations between suicide death and occupational skill level, assessed as a 5-level variable, and educational attainment. Logistic regression models were used to estimate these associations before and after adjusting for educational attainment, age, and sex, in each racial/ethnic subpopulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found a significant gradient in suicide death across occupational skill levels, with lower-skill occupations associated with higher suicide rates than higher-skill occupations. This gradient was more pronounced among non-Hispanic White (NHW) people and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) people than Hispanic people. However, upon controlling for educational attainment, this association was attenuated, indicating that the initial link was likely confounded by education.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that educational attainment is a more robust predictor of suicide risk than occupational skill level. Targeted interventions addressing educational and ethnic disparities within higher-risk occupational groups can mitigate suicide risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11827085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142895459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Albin Stjernbrandt, Ingrid Liljelind, Eva Tekavec, Hans Pettersson
{"title":"The diagnostic test performance of clinical point-of-care testing in relation to quantitative sensory testing for neurosensory injury among workers exposed to hand-arm vibration.","authors":"Albin Stjernbrandt, Ingrid Liljelind, Eva Tekavec, Hans Pettersson","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf034","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Early detection of neurosensory injury among workers exposed to hand-arm vibration is crucial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic test performance of clinical point-of-care testing using a tuning fork and temperature rollers in relation to vibrotactile and thermal quantitative sensory testing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited 225 vibration-exposed workers who underwent clinical point-of-care testing using a Rydel Seiffer tuning fork and temperature rollers (25°C and 40°C) applied to the distal phalanges of the index and little fingers bilaterally. Quantitative sensory testing was conducted at the same locations. Sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of diagnostic test performance were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study sample consisted of 208 men and 17 women with a median (IQR) age of 38 (26) years, and with a median (IQR) hand-arm vibration exposure duration of 12 (21) years. Using vibrotactile quantitative sensory testing as the reference method, the sensitivity for the Rydel Seiffer tuning fork to detect reduced perception of vibration ranged from 30.0% to 61.1%, depending on the tested finger. The corresponding values for specificity were 91.1% to 94.4%. The sensitivity of temperature roller discrimination in relation to warm detection thresholds ranged from 31.6% to 48.2%, and the specificity from 82.7% to 87.5%. The corresponding sensitivity of temperature roller discrimination in relation to cold detection thresholds ranged from 28.9% to 42.5%, and the specificity from 86.0% to 94.7%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The sensitivity of clinical point-of-care testing was rather low, indicating that quantitative sensory testing adds value to the diagnostic procedure.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12234121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144284983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kana Sato, Keiko Ishii, Satoko Nagai, Yasuko Ogata
{"title":"Factors related to nurses' posttraumatic growth during the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a scoping review.","authors":"Kana Sato, Keiko Ishii, Satoko Nagai, Yasuko Ogata","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf030","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to identify the factors influencing nurses' posttraumatic growth (PTG) during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted in February 2023 across databases, including Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, for articles published between January 2020 and February 2023 related to PTG in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria were English-language articles, original research on nurses' PTG, and studies conducted after January 2020. Of 1089 identified articles, 142 were screened, and 27 were selected for final analysis. Data extracted from the articles included the author(s) name(s), the study's geographic location, publication year, study purpose, study design, participants, methods, measurement scales, results, and notes. PTG factors were extracted and grouped into 4 broad categories: COVID-related factors, nursing-related factors, factors in Tedeschi's PTG conceptual model, and other factors. Smaller categories were then created by inductively categorizing the factors based on similarities and differences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As factors of nurses' PTG during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 subcategories were organized under 4 categories. In addition to all factors from Tedeschi's PTG model, some COVID-related factors (eg, care context, organizational training), and some nursing-related factors (eg, work environment) were shown to be related to PTG. No significant relationships were found between almost all of the other factors, including sociodemographic attributes, and PTG.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Factors found in this study can help identify nurses' PTG facilitators and guide the development of interventions for future crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12229266/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 on health status of self-employed workers.","authors":"Se-Eun Oh, Sangjun Choi","doi":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf017","DOIUrl":"10.1093/joccuh/uiaf017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status of self-employed workers by comparing their status before and during the pandemic, using nationwide data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The final study included 16 620 and 14 342 self-employed participants in the fifth (2017) and sixth (2020-2021) surveys, respectively. Musculoskeletal symptoms, systemic fatigue, headache, and eye strain, as well as mental health status, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Gender, age, education level, and income were adjusted for the multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess pre- and peri-pandemic changes in the health status based on working conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the pre-pandemic period, all aspects of the health status of self-employed individuals surveyed during the peri-pandemic period showed deterioration. Back pain increased 3.4 times (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.44; 95% CI: 3.15-3.75) compared with the pre-pandemic period, followed by anxiety, which increased 2.1 times (adjusted OR 2.13; 95% CI: 1.79-2.54). For single-person businesses, the overall health status showed statistically significant deterioration, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of these groups during this period.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study confirmed that the physical and mental health status of self-employed individuals significantly deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic period. These findings suggest the need for government health protection policies for vulnerable groups, such as self-employed individuals, during future pandemics when social control measures are implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":16632,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Occupational Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11977532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143573291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}