Max Tijmen Tijhuis, Astrid R Bosma, Mariëtte van den Hoven, Robin N Kok, Frederieke G Schaafsma, Astrid de Wind
{"title":"Attitudes, Needs, and Expectations Regarding the Application of AI in Occupational Healthcare: A Multiple Stakeholder Perspective.","authors":"Max Tijmen Tijhuis, Astrid R Bosma, Mariëtte van den Hoven, Robin N Kok, Frederieke G Schaafsma, Astrid de Wind","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003636","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to explore attitudes, needs, and expectations of employees, employers, and occupational health professionals regarding the application of AI in occupational healthcare.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-three semistructured interviews were conducted between May and December 2024. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The following five themes were identified: skepticism about the feasibility of using AI, perceived benefits of using AI, chances for improving quality of care, unfamiliarity leading to more reserved attitudes, and need for clarity about actionable perspectives.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is an urgent need from all stakeholders for clear, actionable perspectives on AI outcomes, such as predictions of future sick leave. Future research should explore these actionable perspectives, ensuring that they are acceptable to all stakeholders and maximize occupational health benefits. Because of unfamiliarity, a longer period of co-creation with stakeholders is recommended when developing AI tools for occupational healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"353-360"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145960983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nele Van Loon, Kevin Lamote, David Ruttens, Mathieu Verbrugghe, Sofie Acke, Cindy Mai, Annemiek Snoeckx, Wim Siemons, Steven Ronsmans, Pierre Van Damme, Thérèse Lapperre
{"title":"The Diagnostic Value of Routine Spirometry in Occupational Health Practice for Early Detection of Silicosis: A Retrospective Belgian Study Among Silica-Exposed Workers.","authors":"Nele Van Loon, Kevin Lamote, David Ruttens, Mathieu Verbrugghe, Sofie Acke, Cindy Mai, Annemiek Snoeckx, Wim Siemons, Steven Ronsmans, Pierre Van Damme, Thérèse Lapperre","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003634","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Silicosis is a pneumoconiosis caused by respirable crystalline silica (RCS). As current surveillance methods have low sensitivity for early detection, we evaluated the value of prediagnostic occupational spirometry monitoring.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To investigate the possibility of detecting disease, we assessed 58 RCS-exposed cases by linking lung function abnormalities to CT readings. Univariate, stepwise logistic regression and ROC analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 31 workers with RCS-related CT abnormalities, 25 were classified as silicosis. Fixed cutoff predicted values (FCO) for FEV 1 and FVC of <80% and FEV 1 /FVC of <0.7, FEV 1 % predicted decline >15%, and FEV 1 decline >60 mL/year were significantly associated with pathological outcome. Combining FCO ( P = 0.001) and percentage predicted method (PPM) ( P = 0.023) best predicted silicosis (AUC ROC = 0.84).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To identify RCS-exposed workers requiring diagnostic referral, priority should be given to those with FCO, PPM, and annual FEV 1 decline abnormalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e353-e359"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145679898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Practical Role of an Acclimatization Plan in Occupational Heat Stress Management.","authors":"Thomas E Bernard, W Larry Kenney, Candi D Ashley","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003686","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003686","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e390-e393"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147346123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unpredictable Work Schedule Changes and Occupational Accidents: A Comparative Analysis of Korean and European Working Conditions Surveys.","authors":"Min Young Park, Joonho Ahn","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003627","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to examine whether unpredictable work schedule changes are associated with occupational accidents, comparing South Korea and the European Union.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study used data from the 2017 Korean Working Conditions Survey and 2015 European Working Conditions Survey, focusing on blue-collar wage workers aged 18 to 64 years. Weighted logistic regression was applied, adjusting for confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In Korea, unpredictable schedule changes significantly increased accident risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.733; 95% confidence interval: 1.859 to 4.018), with stronger effects among shift workers. In Europe, associations were weaker and nonsignificant (adjusted odds ratio = 1.142; 95% confidence interval: 0.811 to 1.610). A dose-response trend by notification timing was observed in Korea but not Europe.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Schedule predictability is an independent occupational safety factor, underscoring the need for organizational and policy measures, particularly in vulnerable work settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e331-e336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145590580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Combining MEA-Net and LAP-Net for Pneumoconiosis Staging Framework.","authors":"Yen-Yu Chen, Hung-Yi Chuang, Hsien-Chu Wu, Chwei-Shyong Tsai, Ching-Cheng Chen, I-Hung Lee","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003618","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Pneumoconiosis is a common and highly hazardous occupational disease. The staging of pneumoconiosis is mainly carried out by experienced doctors on the basis of the shadows and textures on lung x-ray films. Despite well-defined criteria, the process remains influenced by individual clinical judgment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To improve the subjective process of pneumoconiosis diagnosis, this study proposes a new deep learning framework for pneumoconiosis staging framework using MEA-Net and LAP-Net.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The experimental results show that the accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, F1-score, and area under the curve in the four-stage classification reached 95.24%, 95.15%, 95.15%, 90.58%, 94.85%, and 98.87%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proposed method can help doctors to identify the different stages of pneumoconiosis more accurately in the diagnosis of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"398-408"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adam D Lutz, Samantha Rodriguez, Kathryn F DeBuck, Thomas R Denninger, Lucas M Myers, Natalie L Myers
{"title":"Work Conditioning: The Appropriate Stepped Physical Therapy Care for Injured Workers in Physically Demanding Roles: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Adam D Lutz, Samantha Rodriguez, Kathryn F DeBuck, Thomas R Denninger, Lucas M Myers, Natalie L Myers","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003611","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003611","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of work conditioning for injured workers with low back pain conditions relative to acute physical therapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Episodes of injured workers with medium+ physical demand level (PDL) jobs leveraging acute workers' compensation physical therapy with (Acute+) or without (Acute) transition to work conditioning were considered. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) compared visits and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between Acute and Acute+ cohorts controlling for baseline factors, and χ 2 compared achievement of medium+ PDL capacity between cohorts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most patients (81%) received only Acute PT. Between-group differences in visits were favorable to Acute, and PRO metrics were all favorable to Acute+ (all P < 0.001). Significantly more (80%) in the Acute+ cohort achieved medium+ PDL than Acute only (57%; P < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Acute+ increases utilization but yields significantly better PRO metrics.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"385-390"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145491215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D Rosenman
{"title":"Wasping in Michigan Correctional Facilities: Exposures to Correctional Workers and Incarcerated Persons, 2023 and 2025: Case Reports.","authors":"Hailey TenHarmsel, Laurel Harduar Morano, Kenneth D Rosenman","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003679","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>\"Wasping\" is an emerging trend where pyrethroid-based insecticides are intentionally inhaled. Michigan's pesticide surveillance program identified events in Michigan wherein correctional officers and incarcerated persons required medical evaluation at local hospitals after \"wasping\" exposures. Michigan's pesticide surveillance program reviewed case reports involving acute pesticide exposures. Demographic characteristics, signs and symptoms, and clinical outcomes were evaluated and described for each exposed correctional officer and incarcerated person. Reports identified 11 separate events at 8 different Michigan correctional facilities where a total of 5 correctional officers and 9 incarcerated persons experienced illness after being exposed to smoke from incarcerated persons \"wasping\" in 2023 and 2025. Awareness of the multiple routes of obtaining pyrethroid products for incarcerated persons and tailoring a prevention plan based on facility policies is crucial to protecting the health of incarcerated persons and correctional workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e384-e387"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147346047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xavier James Ethan Moses, Blair Ilsley, Megan Greenlee, Katherine Golden, Alan E Shackelford, Mariya Cassin, Maggie Cook-Shimanek, Roy Foster, Emily Grayek, Juliana Hill
{"title":"Medical Cannabis Reimbursement in Workers' Compensation: Insights From a Program Evaluation in Colorado.","authors":"Xavier James Ethan Moses, Blair Ilsley, Megan Greenlee, Katherine Golden, Alan E Shackelford, Mariya Cassin, Maggie Cook-Shimanek, Roy Foster, Emily Grayek, Juliana Hill","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003675","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of reimbursing medical cannabis for chronic pain within a workers' compensation framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A program evaluation was conducted by the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation's Alternative Pain Management Program to assess the feasibility of medical cannabis reimbursement. The program included medical cannabis, care coordination, and robust clinical oversight. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and over 12 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The program demonstrated the feasibility of reimbursing medical cannabis under a coordinated care model. Upon program completion, the patient reported meaningful reductions in pain, improvement in function, increased quality of life, and psychosocial stability. A modest reduction in opioid use was observed. No adverse safety events occurred.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This program evaluation suggests that medical cannabis reimbursement may be a viable option for very select workers' compensation patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e325-e330"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147313782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changes in Workers' Suicide Rates Before (2017-2019) and During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2021) by Industry and Occupation, National Violent Death Reporting System, 29 States.","authors":"Devan Hawkins","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003631","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess changes in suicide rates during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous 3 years according to occupation and industry.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mortality rates using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System were calculated and compared according to occupation and industry for the 3 years before the COVID-19 Pandemic (2017-2019) and the first 2 years of the pandemic (2020-2021).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were significant increases in mortality rates for workers in Personal Care and Service and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry occupations. In adjusted models, workers in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance and Construction and Extraction also had significant increases in mortality rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Further research should examine the factors that may have contributed to increases, including differential risk for COVID-19 and increases in unemployment during the pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"409-415"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145663084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elias M Malek, Tanner K H Erwin, Greco A Neblina, Michael B Dial, Joseph A Sol, Anna C Covington, Aidan D A McCloy, Izaac P Sessums, John C Quindry, Graham R McGinnis
{"title":"The Effects of Acute Sleep Deprivation on Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses to Simulated Wildland Firefighting.","authors":"Elias M Malek, Tanner K H Erwin, Greco A Neblina, Michael B Dial, Joseph A Sol, Anna C Covington, Aidan D A McCloy, Izaac P Sessums, John C Quindry, Graham R McGinnis","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003635","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003635","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined effects of sleep deprivation and simulated wildland firefighting on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ten participants performed two exercise trials while exposed to woodsmoke following one night of normal sleep or sleep deprivation (4 hours) in a crossover design. Blood biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation were quantified through ELISAs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interleukin-6 significantly increased after simulated wildland firefighting ( P < 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.74), with no effect of sleep deprivation. Oxidative stress markers (8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine, myeloperoxidase) showed no significant changes or interactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Simulated wildland firefighting elicits an inflammatory response but does not alter oxidative stress markers. Acute sleep deprivation did not to modulate these responses. Future research should explore the cumulative effects of prolonged sleep restriction and repeated woodsmoke exposure to better understand their impact on inflammation and oxidative stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e360-e366"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145679847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}