Mahima Krishnamoorthi, Samantha Grace Alarcon Basurto, Susan Sherman, Catherine Tomko
{"title":"\"I'm Going to Work, but It Is Survival, Too\": A Unique Qualitative Study of Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Women Sex Workers in Baltimore, Maryland.","authors":"Mahima Krishnamoorthi, Samantha Grace Alarcon Basurto, Susan Sherman, Catherine Tomko","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003425","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The Surgeon General released the Framework for Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace, a call to attention for industry leaders. In this study, we applied this framework to street-based women sex workers (WSW) to understand their mental health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fourteen WSW in Baltimore, Maryland, completed structured qualitative interviews to characterize occupational environment in street-based sex work and mental health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>WSW expressed workplace desires shared by those in the traditional workforce, such as flexibility, sense of belonging, safety and security. Factors like violence, lack of a strong support network, and enduring social stigma were highlighted as occupational barriers to positive mental health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study is the first to use the Surgeon General's Framework for Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace to incorporate the perspectives of street-based WSW.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"740-746"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144056104","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}
Ashamsa Aryal, Carri Casteel, Brandi Janssen, Nathan Fethke, Brenda Buikema, Hyunkeun Ryan Cho, Megan TePoel, Diane Rohlman
{"title":"Conditions of Work that Impact the Health Behaviors of Long-Haul Truck Drivers.","authors":"Ashamsa Aryal, Carri Casteel, Brandi Janssen, Nathan Fethke, Brenda Buikema, Hyunkeun Ryan Cho, Megan TePoel, Diane Rohlman","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003451","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We sought to describe conditions of work that impact the health of long-haul truck drivers in the context of the Worker Well-being Framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted semistructured interviews with 33 incoming and current workers, including drivers. Interviews were analyzed and categorized into the five domains of the Worker Well-being Framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The physical environment contributes to unhealthy behaviors (eg, limited access to healthy foods, physical activity, noise). Drivers emphasized that industry policies and culture prioritized customer service over worker well-being.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Drivers and students had different perceptions about personal responsibility and motivation regarding health behaviors, with students focusing on individual solutions instead of organizational solutions. These insights are essential for developing strategies to create healthier work environments and improve the well-being of long-haul truck drivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e649-e654"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12354055/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mingyue Li, Jiali Han, Carolyn Muegge, Terrell Zollinger, Laura Y Zhou, Patrick Monahan, Hallie Jo Phillips, Jennifer Wessel, Vanessa Kleinschmidt, Steven Moffatt, Hongmei Nan
{"title":"Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Coronary Artery Calcium Scores in Firefighters.","authors":"Mingyue Li, Jiali Han, Carolyn Muegge, Terrell Zollinger, Laura Y Zhou, Patrick Monahan, Hallie Jo Phillips, Jennifer Wessel, Vanessa Kleinschmidt, Steven Moffatt, Hongmei Nan","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003443","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003443","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigates the association between maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores in Indiana firefighters across different age groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using cross-sectional data, multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the relationship between VO 2 max and CAC, stratified by age (<45 and ≥45 years), with adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher VO 2 max was significantly associated with lower CAC scores in firefighters aged ≥45 years (β = -7.30; 95% CI: -11.41, -3.18; P < 0.001). No association was detected in firefighters under 45 years. Differences may reflect unique occupational physical demands and age specific cardiovascular risk profiles.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Higher aerobic fitness is linked to reduced subclinical atherosclerosis in older firefighters, underscoring the importance of maintaining fitness to mitigate cardiovascular risks in this high risk group.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e616-e620"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144036150","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}
Akbar Sharip, Paul Papanek, Craig Conlon, Constantine J Gean, Alya Khan, Robert Harrison, Manijeh Berenji
{"title":"WOEMA Position Paper and Call-to-Action: California Needs More Physicians Specializing in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM).","authors":"Akbar Sharip, Paul Papanek, Craig Conlon, Constantine J Gean, Alya Khan, Robert Harrison, Manijeh Berenji","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003464","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003464","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":"67 9","pages":"e672-e673"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144984030","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":"Wearing Comfort of Disposable Respirators: Experimental Analysis of Structural Properties and Physiological Indexes.","authors":"Jingqi Gao, Xiang Wu, Qun Li, Jianwu Chen, Yihang Liu, Shiyu Liu","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003538","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To establish an evidence-based respirator selection framework mitigating occupational pneumoconiosis risks caused by poor compliance due to discomfort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study assessed wearing comfort via two experiments on structural performance and physiological indicators. Participants wore different respirators and performed tasks (sitting/low-intensity vs. simulated occupational task/medium-intensity) while parameters were measured. XGBoost-SHAP analysis method was used to identify key comfort determinants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The wearing comfort was co-regulated by multiple factors in low-intensity task, with expiratory resistance most critically influenced heart rate, inspiratory resistance dominated facial temperature. Expiratory resistance became the decisive burden predictor in medium-intensity task. The valved models (9501 V+/9502 V+) minimized physiological strain, with the earband type performing better.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This SHAP-based ergonomic tool enables protocolized respirator deployment by activity intensity, reducing work-related respiratory disease risks through clinically actionable safety guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145071459","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":"Feasibility and Preliminary Evaluation of Implementation Strategies to Increase Individual Participation in an Internet-Based Stress Management Program for Micro- and Small-Sized Enterprises: A Pre-Post Pilot Study.","authors":"Natsu Sasaki, Taichi Shimazu, Sayaka Ogawa, Utako Sawada, Byron J Powell, Junko Saito, Miyuki Odawara, Hajime Takeno, Akizumi Tsutsumi, Kotaro Imamura","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003430","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study evaluated the feasibility of strategies to improve participation rates in an Internet-based stress management program for micro- and small-sized enterprises.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A pre-post intervention study was conducted with companies (<50 employees). Stakeholder education preceded program implementation. The primary outcome was individual participation rate, with >50% of companies required to achieve ≥60% penetration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen companies (169 employees) participated; 10 (66.7%) achieved ≥60% penetration. Stakeholders rated acceptability, appropriateness, fidelity, and time investment positively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study found the strategies feasible, meeting criteria to proceed with future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"766-775"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035280","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":"Erosion of Traditional Employment: Impact on Health and Economic Well-being.","authors":"Edward Yelin, Alicia LaFrance, Trisha Iley","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003423","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003423","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to describe growth of alternative and contingent employment and the impacts of these changes in State of California.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We administered surveys to random samples of population of the State in 1999-2000 and 2022-2023 to compare the frequency of kinds of work, working conditions, economic well-being, and health status in the two dyads of years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1999-2000 and 2022-2023, decreasing fractions of the population of the State work full-time/full-year; report regular shifts, jobs with long tenures, and upward mobility in their careers, while increasing fractions report fair or poor health and financial strain.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Employment changes are associated with a worsening in the health status and economic well-being of the population of the State. Longitudinal follow-up of the same individuals would be necessary to establish a causal connection among these phenomena.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"691-698"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12354229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144047499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Employment-Grade Differences in Factors for Work Performance: The Japanese Civil Servants Study.","authors":"Takamasa Fuchigami, Takashi Tatsuse, Masaaki Yamada, Michikazu Sekine","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003424","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to determine the factors associated with job performance and assess job grade differences in these factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was based on the fifth Japanese Civil Servants Study, which included 3325 participants. Logistic regression analyses were performed by job grade.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The associations between high job performance and job grade were as follows: in the low-grade group, older age, middle or high job control, low job support, meaningful work, and no depression; in the intermediate-grade group, high job demands and no depression; and in the high-grade group, higher workplace justice, meaningful work, and no depression.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Individual factors were associated with higher job performance in lower grades and workplace psychosocial resources in higher grades. This difference may be key to developing and implementing measures to improve job performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"732-739"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144056872","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}
Martha Shepherd, Pen-Che Ho, Jon Harris-Shapiro, Hau Liu, Dena Bravata, Christopher Whaley, David Hines
{"title":"The Effects of a Digital Digestive Care Management Program on Employee Absenteeism: A Case-Control Study.","authors":"Martha Shepherd, Pen-Che Ho, Jon Harris-Shapiro, Hau Liu, Dena Bravata, Christopher Whaley, David Hines","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003441","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003441","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>60 to 70 million people in the US have chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Employers bear a significant economic burden for GI conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a digital digestive care program on absenteeism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using propensity score matching between participants and nonparticipants, we evaluated sick days of public school system employees who were offered a digital digestive care program as part of their health benefits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline annual sick days were comparable for the 237 participants and 400 nonparticipants. Among employees aged 50 years and older, during the intervention period, participants had significantly fewer sick days than nonparticipants (1.7 days [SD, 4.2], P = 0.02), an approximate direct salary savings of $672/employee annually.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Digital digestive care is promising for decreasing sick days among older workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e612-e615"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12379769/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel J Topazian, Aleksandra Wec, Joseph Ali, Shannon Frattaroli, Paul Locke, Jennifer A Taylor, Cassandra K Crifasi
{"title":"Ethical Use of Wearable Device Data in Occupational Settings: Perspectives From the Fire Service.","authors":"Rachel J Topazian, Aleksandra Wec, Joseph Ali, Shannon Frattaroli, Paul Locke, Jennifer A Taylor, Cassandra K Crifasi","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003446","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Despite interest in using wearable technology to improve firefighter health and safety, there is little evidence on data privacy preferences in the fire service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted interviews and focus groups with career firefighters and fire department and union leaders in Maryland and Virginia and with national-level leaders (March to November 2023).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We conducted 4 focus groups and 35 interviews (65 participants). Leaders were optimistic about using wearable data to help firefighters obtain benefits, improve safety, conduct prevention, and advance administrative priorities. Firefighters described tradeoffs between safety and autonomy, privacy, and job status. Firefighters opposed using wearables on calls, whereas leadership was supportive. Participants identified implementation barriers and conditions for ethical implementation of wearables.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Wearable data could protect health and safety but must be utilized in a way that respects autonomy and privacy preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e621-e629"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144055627","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}