Last data update: Nov 04, 2024. (Total: 48056 publications since 2009)
Records 1-30 (of 30 Records) |
Query Trace: Nakata N[original query] |
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Disaster-related shelter surveillance during the Hurricane Harvey response - Texas 2017
Schnall AH , Hanchey A , Nakata N , Wang A , Jeddy Z , Alva H , Tan C , Boehmer T , Bayleyegn T , Casey-Lockyer M . Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2019 14 (1) 1-7 OBJECTIVES: Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction in its wake, resulting in over 100 deaths and damaging critical infrastructure. During a disaster, public health surveillance is necessary to track emerging illnesses and injuries, identify at-risk populations, and assess the effectiveness of response efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Red Cross collaborate on shelter surveillance to monitor the health of the sheltered population and help guide response efforts. METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 24 Red Cross shelters between August 25, 2017, and September 14, 2017. We described the aggregate morbidity data collected during Harvey compared with previous hurricanes (Gustav, Ike, and Sandy). RESULTS: Over one-third (38%) of reasons for visit were for health care maintenance; 33% for acute illnesses, which includes respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain; 19% for exacerbation of chronic disease; 7% for mental health; and 4% for injury. The Red Cross treated 41% of clients within the shelters; however, reporting of disposition was often missed. These results are comparable to previous hurricanes. CONCLUSION: The capacity of Red Cross shelter staff to address the acute health needs of shelter residents is a critical resource for local public health agencies overwhelmed by the disaster. However, there remains room for improvement because reporting remained inconsistent. |
Getting the message out: Social media and word-of-mouth as effective communication methods during emergencies
Wolkin AF , Schnall AH , Nakata NK , Ellis EM . Prehosp Disaster Med 2018 34 (1) 1-6 Effective communication is a critical part of managing an emergency. During an emergency, the ways in which health agencies normally communicate warnings may not reach all of the intended audience. Not all communities are the same, and households within communities are diverse. Because different communities prefer different communication methods, community leaders and emergency planners need to know their communities' preferred methods for seeking information about an emergency. This descriptive report explores findings from previous community assessments that have collected information on communication preferences, including television (TV), social media, and word-of-mouth (WoM) delivery methods. Data were analyzed from 12 Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) conducted from 2014-2017 that included questions regarding primary and trusted communication sources. A CASPER is a rapid needs assessment designed to gather household-based information from a community. In 75.0% of the CASPERs, households reported TV as their primary source of information for specific emergency events (range = 24.0%-83.1%). Households reporting social media as their primary source of information differed widely across CASPERs (3.2%-41.8%). In five of the CASPERs, nearly one-half of households reported WoM as their primary source of information. These CASPERs were conducted in response to a specific emergency (ie, chemical spill, harmful algal bloom, hurricane, and flood). The CASPERs conducted as part of a preparedness activity had lower percentages of households reporting WoM as their primary source of information (8.3%-10.4%). The findings in this report demonstrate the need for emergency plans to include hybrid communication models, combining traditional methods with newer technologies to reach the broadest audience. Although TV was the most commonly reported preferred source of information, segments of the population relied on social media and WoM messaging. By using multiple methods for risk communication, emergency planners are more likely to reach the whole community and engage vulnerable populations that might not have access to, trust in, or understanding of traditional news sources. Multiple communication channels that include user-generated content, such as social media and WoM, can increase the timeliness of messaging and provide community members with message confirmation from sources they trust encouraging them to take protective public health actions.Wolkin AF, Schnall AH, Nakata NK, Ellis EM. Getting the message out: social media and word-of-mouth as effective communication methods during emergencies. |
Position statement: Reducing fatigue associated with sleep deficiency and work hours in nurses
Caruso CC , Baldwin CM , Berger A , Chasens ER , Landis C , Redeker NS , Scott LD , Trinkoff A . Nurs Outlook 2017 65 (6) 766-768 The American Academy of Nursing promotes management practices in health care organizations and | strategies in the nurse’s personal life to support sleep | health in nurses and, as a result, an alert nursing | workforce fit to perform their jobs and more able to live | healthy lives. Society requires critical nursing services | around the clock. Consequently, shift work and long | work hours are common in health care organizations | and negatively affect a significant percent of nurses. | Working at night and irregular hours compromise | human physiology dictated by the need for sleep and | circadian rhythms. The challenge that nurses on shift | work face is the need to work at night (when our | physiology promotes sleep) and sleep during the day | (when our physiology promotes activity). When shift | work combines with long work hours (e.g., shifts of | 12 hr or more) and leads to sleep deficiency or disruption to circadian rhythms, the health and safety costs | of this conflict with human physiology are potentially | significant. Sleep deficiency is a broad term that includes inadequate sleep duration, poor sleep quality, | untreated sleep disorders, and mistimed sleep that is | not synchronized with circadian rhythms. Sleep deficiency can affect nurses’ work readiness and health, | safety, and well-being. Evidence is building that long | shifts, shift rotations, double shifts, evening, and night | shifts are associated with multiple short- and longterm health and safety risks to the nurse (National | Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH]; | NIOSH, Caruso, Geiger-Brown, Takahashi, Trinkoff, & | Nakata, 2015). Tired nurses are also at risk for making | fatigue-related patient care errors that can endanger | their patients (Bae & Fabry, 2014). These risks also | extend to the nurse’s family, their employer/health | care organization, and the broader society when tired | nurses make errors at work and home or crash their vehicle due to drowsy driving. This complex hazard | requires a variety of personal, workplace, and public | health strategies to reduce these risks. Unfortunately, | persons working in health care organizations may not | fully understand the health and safety risks that are | associated with fatigue and may be unaware of | evidence-based strategies to reduce these risks. Yet | evidence shows that it is possible to limit or modify the | adverse impact of shift work and long work hours on | nurses by improving their sleep and reducing fatigue. |
Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER): An innovative emergency management tool in the United States
Schnall A , Nakata N , Talbert T , Bayleyegn T , Martinez D , Wolkin A . Am J Public Health 2017 107 S186-s192 OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate how inclusion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) as a tool in Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning can increase public health capacity for emergency response. METHODS: We reviewed all domestic CASPER activities (i.e., trainings and assessments) between fiscal years 2012 and 2016. Data from these CASPER activities were compared with respect to differences in geographic distribution, type, actions, efficacy, and usefulness of training. RESULTS: During the study period, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted 24 domestic in-person CASPER trainings for 1057 staff in 38 states. On average, there was a marked increase in knowledge of CASPER. Ninety-nine CASPERs were conducted in the United States, approximately half of which (53.5%) assessed preparedness; the others were categorized as response or recovery (27.2%) or were unrelated to a disaster (19.2%). CONCLUSIONS: CASPER trainings are successful in increasing disaster epidemiology skills. CASPER can be used by Public Health Emergency Preparedness program awardees to help build and sustain preparedness and response capabilities. |
A pilot study of healthy living options at 16 truck stops across the United States
Lincoln JE , Birdsey J , Sieber WK , Chen GX , Hitchcock EM , Nakata A , Robinson CF . Am J Health Promot 2016 32 (3) 546-553 PURPOSE: There is a growing body of evidence that the built environment influences diet and exercise and, as a consequence, community health status. Since long-haul truck drivers spend long periods of time at truck stops, it is important to know if this built environment includes resources that contribute to the emotional and physical well-being of drivers. SETTING: The truck stop environment was defined as the truck stop itself, grocery stores, and medical clinics near the truck stop that could be accessed by a large truck or safely on foot. DESIGN: Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed and utilized a checklist to record the availability of resources for personal hygiene and comfort, communication and mental stimulation, health care, safety, physical activity, and nutrition at truck stops. SUBJECTS: The NIOSH checklist was used to collect data at a convenience sample of 16 truck stops throughout the United States along both high-flow and low-flow truck traffic routes. MEASURES: The checklist was completed by observation within and around the truck stops. RESULTS: No truck stops offered exercise facilities, 94% lacked access to health care, 81% lacked a walking path, 50% lacked fresh fruit, and 37% lacked fresh vegetables in their restaurant or convenience store. CONCLUSION: The NIOSH found that most truck stops did not provide an overall healthy living environment. |
Workplace psychosocial and organizational factors for neck pain in workers in the United States
Yang H , Hitchcock E , Haldeman S , Swanson N , Lu ML , Choi B , Nakata A , Baker D . Am J Ind Med 2016 59 (7) 549-60 BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition among workers in the United States. This study explores a set of workplace psychosocial and organization-related factors for neck pain. METHODS: Data used for this study come from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey which provides a representative sample of the US population. To account for the complex sampling design, the Taylor linearized variance estimation method was used. Logistic regression models were constructed to measure the associations. RESULTS: This study demonstrated significant associations between neck pain and a set of workplace risk factors, including work-family imbalance, exposure to a hostile work environment and job insecurity, non-standard work arrangements, multiple jobs, and long work hours. CONCLUSION: Workers with neck pain may benefit from intervention programs that address issues related to these workplace risk factors. Future studies exploring both psychosocial risk factors and physical risk factors with a longitudinal design will be important. Am. J. Ind. Med. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
NIOSH national survey of long-haul truck drivers: injury and safety
Chen GX , Sieber WK , Lincoln JE , Birdsey J , Hitchcock EM , Nakata A , Robinson CF , Collins JW , Sweeney MH . Accid Anal Prev 2015 85 66-72 Approximately 1,701,500 people were employed as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the United States in 2012. The majority of them were long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs). There are limited data on occupational injury and safety in LHTDs, which prompted a targeted national survey. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health conducted a nationally representative survey of 1265 LHTDs at 32 truck stops across the contiguous United States in 2010. Data were collected on truck crashes, near misses, moving violations, work-related injuries, work environment, safety climate, driver training, job satisfaction, and driving behaviors. Results suggested that an estimated 2.6% of LHTDs reported a truck crash in 2010, 35% reported at least one crash while working as an LHTD, 24% reported at least one near miss in the previous 7 days, 17% reported at least one moving violation ticket and 4.7% reported a non-crash injury involving days away from work in the previous 12 months. The majority (68%) of non-crash injuries among company drivers were not reported to employers. An estimate of 73% of LHTDs (16% often and 58% sometimes) perceived their delivery schedules unrealistically tight; 24% often continued driving despite fatigue, bad weather, or heavy traffic because they needed to deliver or pick up a load at a given time; 4.5% often drove 10miles per hours or more over the speed limit; 6.0% never wore a seatbelt; 36% were often frustrated by other drivers on the road; 35% often had to wait for access to a loading dock; 37% reported being noncompliant with hours-of-service rules (10% often and 27% sometimes); 38% of LHTDs perceived their entry-level training inadequate; and 15% did not feel that safety of workers was a high priority with their management. This survey brings to light a number of important safety issues for further research and interventions, e.g., high prevalence of truck crashes, injury underreporting, unrealistically tight delivery schedules, noncompliance with hours-of-service rules, and inadequate entry-level training. |
National Survey of US Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury: health behaviors
Birdsey J , Sieber WK , Chen GX , Hitchcock EM , Lincoln JE , Nakata A , Robinson CF , Sweeney MH . J Occup Environ Med 2015 57 (2) 210-216 OBJECTIVE: To compare selected health behaviors and body mass index (modifiable risk factors) of US long-haul truck drivers to the US working population by sex. METHODS: The National Survey of US Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury interviewed a nationally representative sample of long-haul truck drivers (n = 1265) at truck stops. Age-adjusted results were compared with national health surveys. RESULTS: Compared with US workers, drivers had significantly higher body mass index, current cigarette use, and pack-years of smoking; lower prevalence of annual influenza vaccination; and generally lower alcohol consumption. Physical activity level was low for most drivers, and 25% had never had their cholesterol levels tested. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions common to long-haul trucking may create significant barriers to certain healthy behaviors; thus, transportation and health professionals should address the unique work environment when developing interventions for long-haul drivers. |
Co-effect of Demand-control-support Model and Effort-reward Imbalance Model on depression risk estimation in humans: findings from Henan Province of China
Yu SF , Nakata A , Gu GZ , Swanson NG , Zhou WH , He LH , Wang S . Biomed Environ Sci 2013 26 (12) 962-71 OBJECTIVE: To investigate the co-effect of Demand-control-support (DCS) model and Effort-reward Imbalance (ERI) model on the risk estimation of depression in humans in comparison with the effects when they are used respectively. METHODS: A total of 3 632 males and 1 706 females from 13 factories and companies in Henan province were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Perceived job stress was evaluated with the Job Content Questionnaire and Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (Chinese version). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: DC (demands/job control ratio) and ERI were shown to be independently associated with depressive symptoms. The outcome of low social support and overcommitment were similar. High DC and low social support (SS), high ERI and high overcommitment, and high DC and high ERI posed greater risks of depressive symptoms than each of them did alone. ERI model and SS model seem to be effective in estimating the risk of depressive symptoms if they are used respectively. CONCLUSION: The DC had better performance when it was used in combination with low SS. The effect on physical demands was better than on psychological demands. The combination of DCS and ERI models could improve the risk estimate of depressive symptoms in humans. |
Obesity and other risk factors: the National Survey of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury
Sieber WK , Robinson CF , Birdsey J , Chen GX , Hitchcock EM , Lincoln JE , Nakata A , Sweeney MH . Am J Ind Med 2014 57 (6) 615-26 BACKGROUND: Drivers of heavy and tractor-trailer trucks accounted for 56% of all production and nonsupervisory employees in the truck transportation industry in 2011. There are limited data for illness and injury in long-haul truck drivers, which prompted a targeted national survey. METHODS: Interviewers collected data during 2010 from 1,670 long-haul truck drivers at 32 truck stops across the 48 contiguous United States that were used to compute prevalence estimates for self-reported health conditions and risk factors. RESULTS: Obesity (69% vs. 31%, P < 0.01) and current smoking (51% vs. 19%, P < 0.01) were twice as prevalent in long-haul truck drivers as in the 2010 U.S. adult working population. Sixty-one percent reported having two or more of the risk factors: hypertension, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, no physical activity, 6 or fewer hours of sleep per 24-hr period. CONCLUSION: Survey findings suggest a need for targeted interventions and continued surveillance for long-haul truck drivers. |
Workplace psychosocial factors associated with work-related injury absence: a study from a nationally representative sample of Korean workers
Lu ML , Nakata A , Park JB , Swanson NG . Int J Behav Med 2013 21 (1) 42-52 BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association between psychosocial factors and injury absence in the workplace. PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the association of comprehensive workplace psychosocial factors with work-related injury absence among Korean workers. METHODS: The data (n = 7,856) were derived from the First Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in 2006 with a representative sample (n = 10,043) of the Korean working population. The survey instrument contained questions about hours of work, physical risk factors, work organization, and the effect of work on health/injury. Work-related injury absence was indicated by a dichotomous variable with at least 1 day absence during the preceding 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratio and confidence interval (CI). Incremental adjustments for sociodemographic, health behavior, and occupational confounding variables were employed in the models. RESULTS: The overall 1-year prevalence of work-related injury absence in this study was 1.37 % (95 % CI, 1.11-1.63 %). Those who experienced violence at work (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 7.05 (95 % CI, 2.69-18.5)), threat of violence at work (aOR, 4.25 (95 % CI, 1.32-13.64)), low job autonomy (aOR, 1.79 (95 % CI, 1.17-2.74)), and high job strain (aOR, 2.38 (95 % CI, 1.29-4.42) had an increased risk of injury absence, compared with their respective counterparts (p < 0.05). Among all job types, skilled workers in Korea were at a near fourfold risk of work absence due to occupational injuries, compared with managers in low-risk jobs. CONCLUSION: Workplace violence and increased job strain were two key workplace psychosocial factors associated with work-related injury absence. |
A single-item global job satisfaction measure is associated with quantitative bliood immune indices in white-collar employees
Nakata A , Irie Masahiro , Takahashi M . Ind Health 2013 51 (2) 193-201 Although a single-item job satisfaction measure has been shown to be reliable and inclusive as multiple-item scales in relation to health, studies including immunological data are few. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of single-item job and family life satisfaction based on its association with immune indices. A total of 189 white-collar employees (70% men) underwent a blood draw for the measurement of natural killer (NK), total T, and B cell counts as well as plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentrations and completed single-item job and family life satisfaction measures, respectively. The response options for satisfaction measures were 'dissatisfied' (coded 1) to ‘satisfied’ (coded 4). Spearman’s partial correlations controlling for cofactors revealed that increased job satisfaction was positively associated with NK cells (rsp=.201, p=.007) and IgG (rsp=.178, p=.018), while family life satisfaction was unrelated to immune indices. Those who reported a combination of low job/low family life satisfaction had significantly lower NK and higher B cell counts than those with a high job/high family life satisfaction. Our study suggests that the single-item summary measure of job satisfaction, but not family life satisfaction, may be a valid tool to evaluate immune status in healthy white-collar employees. |
Job strain, effort-reward imbalance and neck, shoulder and wrist symptoms among Chinese workers
Yu S , Nakata A , Gu G , Swanson NG , He L , Zhou W , Wang S . Ind Health 2013 51 (2) 193-201 The purpose of this study was to examine the association between psychosocial job stress (by the Job Control-Demand (JCD) model and Effort-Reward imbalance (ERI) model) and musculoskeletal (MS) symptoms among workers in China. Overall, 3,632 male and 1,706 female workers from 13 factories/companies participated in this study. Perceived job stress was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and ERI Questionnaire. Neck, shoulder and wrist symptoms were assessed by self-report during the past year. Workers reporting high job demands and low job control or high effort and low rewards had moderately increased risk for all MS symptoms. Odds ratios (ORs) were higher in workers reporting both high effort and low rewards. The combination of high physical job demands with low job control showed significant associations with MS symptoms. The effects of psychological demands on symptoms in women, effort and effort-reward imbalance on symptoms among both genders were increased as the number of regions with symptoms increased. These results suggest that high job strain and ERI are associated with neck, shoulder and wrist symptoms in Chinese factory workers independent of individual factors, physical factors, and other psychological variables. |
Organizational factors associated with work-related sleep problems in a nationally representative sample of Korean workers
Park JB , Nakata A , Swanson NG , Chun H . Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2013 86 (2) 211-22 PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the association of organizational factors with work-related sleep problems (WRSP) among Korean workers. METHODS: The data were derived from the First Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in 2006 with a representative sample of the Korean working population (n = 10,039). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of WRSP was 5.1 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 4.7-5.5). Those who experienced sexual harassment at work (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.47: 95 % CI 1.77-6.81), discrimination due to sex (aOR 2.44: 95 % CI 1.36-4.36) or age (aOR 2.22: 95 % CI 1.52-3.23), violence at work (aOR 1.98: 95 % CI 1.06-3.68), threat of violence (aOR 1.96: 95 % CI 1.05-3.66), poor work-life balance (aOR 1.78: 95 % CI 1.44-2.20), low job satisfaction (aOR 1.69: 95 % CI 1.37-2.09), high cognitive (OR 1.64: 95 % CI 1.32-2.03) and emotional (aOR 1.53: 95 % CI 1.22-1.91) demands, job insecurity (aOR 1.32: 95 % CI 1.07-1.63), and high work intensity (aOR 1.55: 95 % CI: 95 % CI 1.25-1.92) had an increased risk of WRSP compared to their respective counterparts (p < 0.01). Low social support was not significantly associated with WRSP (aOR 0.88: 95 % CI 0.67-1.15). CONCLUSION: The results revealed that poor psychosocial working conditions may be related to a high prevalence of WRSP among representative Korean workers. |
Psychosocial job stress and immunity: a systematic review
Nakata A . Methods Mol Biol 2012 934 39-75 The purpose of this review was to provide current knowledge about the possible association between psychosocial job stress and immune parameters in blood, saliva, and urine. Using bibliographic databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Medline) and the snowball method, 56 studies were found. In general, exposure to psychosocial job stress (high job demands, low job control, high job strain, job dissatisfaction, high effort-reward imbalance, overcommitment, burnout, unemployment, organizational downsizing, economic recession) had a measurable impact on immune parameters (reduced NK cell activity, NK and T cell subsets, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and increased inflammatory markers). The evidence supports that psychosocial job stresses are related to disrupted immune responses but further research is needed to demonstrate cause-effect relationships. |
A consensus method for updating psychosocial measures used in NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations
Wiegand DM , Chen PY , Hurrell JJ Jr , Jex S , Nakata A , Nigam JA , Robertson M , Tetrick LE . J Occup Environ Med 2012 54 (3) 350-5 OBJECTIVE: An expert panel was convened to select practical, valid psychosocial measures for use during National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health field investigations. METHODS: A taxonomy of psychosocial constructs was developed using existing taxonomies and criteria regarding the malleability, actionability, and validity of constructs. Panel members identified measures for each construct based on their expertise and experience. Measures were selected on the basis of the following criteria: practicality, brevity, validity, availability of existing data, and lack of confounds between psychosocial constructs and outcomes. RESULTS: The panel came to a consensus in recommending 24 measures representing 22 constructs. CONCLUSIONS: It is important that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health regularly evaluates its methodologies to ensure it is in line with current best practices. The measures identified will be used modularly in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health fieldwork depending on the nature of the evaluation request, industry type, and worker population. |
Effort-reward imbalance, overcommitment, and cellular immune measures among white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M . Biol Psychol 2011 88 270-9 We investigated whether chronic job stress, i.e., effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment is associated with cellular immunity among 190 male and 157 female white-collar daytime employees (mean age 38; range 22-69 years). Participants provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune (natural killer (NK), B, and T) cell counts and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey during April to June 2002. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that NK cells were inversely associated with effort (beta=-.230; p=.013), reward (beta=.169; p=.047), and ERI (beta=-.182; p=.047) scores but not with overcommitment in men; reward score was positively associated with NKCC (beta=.167; p=.049) and inversely associated with B cells (beta=-.181; p=.030). No significant associations were found in women. Although the picture remains less clear in women, our findings suggest a potential immunological pathway linking adverse working conditions and stress-related disorders in men. |
Association of general fatigue with cellular immune indicators among healthy white-collar employees
Nakata A , Irie M , Takahashi M . J Occup Environ Med 2011 53 (9) 1078-86 OBJECTIVE: Although fatigue is a common complaint in the working population, underlying immunological mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigated the association of general fatigue with cellular immune indicators. METHODS: A total of 148 healthy white-collar employees (70% men) underwent a blood draw for the measurement of natural killer (NK), B, and T cell counts as well as NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed two different fatigue scales, that is, Profile of Mood State (POMS) and Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ). RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that POMS fatigue score was significantly associated with decreases of NK cells (beta = -.407) and NKCC (beta = -.215), whereas MQ fatigue score was significantly associated with reduced NK cells (beta = -.290) but not with NKCC (beta = -.127). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that general fatigue may be related to impaired NK cell competency among healthy employees. |
Association of overtime work with cellular immune markers among healthy daytime white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M . Scand J Work Environ Health 2011 38 (1) 56-64 OBJECTIVES: Even though overtime work has been suspected to be a risk factor for ill health, little research has been done to determine the underlying immunological mechanisms. This study investigated the association between overtime work and cellular immunity among Japanese white-collar workers. METHODS: A total of 306 healthy, full-time, non-shift, daytime employees (165 men and 141 women), aged 22-69 (mean 36) years, provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune [natural killer (NK), B, and T] cells and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey including overtime/month. Blood samples were collected between 09.00-11.00 hours during the working days and participants completed the questionnaire within the two weeks prior to the blood sampling. Stepwise linear regression analyses controlling for confounders were carried out to examine the relationship between overtime work and immune markers. RESULTS: Overtime work was mainly related to short sleep duration, increased weight, and reduced job satisfaction, and it was more prevalent among men than women and among younger and married employees. Amount of overtime was inversely associated with NK (CD3-CD56+) cell counts (beta=-0.145; P =0.032) but was not associated with NKCC, NKCC/NK cell ratio, T or B cells. CONCLUSIONS: The NK cell is a lymphocyte that possesses killer activity against tumor and virus-infected cells and constitutes a major component of the innate immune system. A decrease of NK cell counts from overtime work suggests a dampened innate immune defense. However, the finding needs to be further validated with a well-designed study using objective overtime measures. |
Psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and cellular immunity among healthy individuals: a 1-year prospective study
Nakata A , Irie M , Takahashi M . Int J Psychophysiol 2011 81 (3) 191-7 Cross-sectional and case-control studies have reported that psychological distress and depression are associated with reduced cellular immune competence but the directionality of the relationship remains uncertain. This study investigated whether levels of psychological distress and depressive symptoms are related to subsequent changes in counts of lymphocyte subsets (natural killer (NK), B, and T cell) and/or whether changes of immune markers predict psychological distress/depressive symptoms in a 1-year prospective study design. A total of 105 healthy employees (67 men and 38 women), aged 23-59 (mean 40) years with an average of 15years of education, underwent a blood draw for the measurement of circulating immune cells and completed the Japanese version of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in April 2002 (time 1) and 2003 (time 2). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses revealed that GHQ-28 and CES-D scores at time 1 were significantly (p<.05) and inversely associated with NK cells at time 2 controlling for potential confounders including time 1 NK cells (beta=-.221 and -.177, respectively). In contrast, NK cells and NK cell cytotoxicity at time 1 did not predict GHQ-28 or CES-D score at time 2 controlling for GHQ-28/CES-D score at time 1. GHQ-28 and CES-D scores were not related to T or B cells at times 1 and 2. The present findings indicate that psychological distress and depressive symptoms may precede and predict suppression of NK cell immunity while NK cells did not lead to subsequent psychological distress and depressive symptoms, suggesting an absence of the bi-directional relationships. |
Work hours, sleep sufficiency, and prevalence of depression among full-time employees: a community-based cross-sectional study
Nakata A . J Clin Psychiatry 2011 72 (5) 605-14 OBJECTIVE: Depression due to long work hours and sleep deprivation is a major occupational health concern. The extent to which work hours and sleep are associated with depression was investigated in employees of small- and medium-scale businesses in the Japanese city of Yashio, Saitama, and in the Ohta ward of Tokyo, a suburb of Tokyo, controlling for various potential confounders. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2,643 full-time employees (1,928 men and 715 women), aged 18-79 years (mean = 45 years), in 296 small- and medium-scale businesses were surveyed from August 2002 to December 2002 using a self-administered questionnaire evaluating work hours, sleep status, and covariates including sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, biological factors, medication usage, and occupational factors. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Prevalence of depression by work hours, sleep status, and covariates was analyzed by chi2 test. Risk of depression by work hours, sleep status, and both combined was estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Participants working > 10 hours per day, sleeping < 6 hours per day, and reporting insufficient sleep were, respectively, 37%, 43%, and 97% more likely to be depressed than those working 6 to 8 hours per day, sleeping 6 to < 8 hours per day, and reporting sufficient sleep (P < .05). Participants working > 10 hours per day or > 8 to 10 hours per day with < 6 hours per day of sleep showed a 41%-169% higher prevalence of depression versus those working 6 to 8 hours per day with 6+ hours per day of sleep (P < .05). Participants reporting insufficient sleep in 3 work-hour categories (6 to 8, > 8 to 10, and > 10 hours per day) showed a 62%-179% increase in the prevalence of depression versus those working 6 to 8 hours per day and reporting sufficient sleep (P < .05). No significant effects on depression were found for subjects in any work-hour category with 6+ hours of sleep or with subjective sufficient sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Depression associated with long work hours is primarily a result of sleep deprivation. Greater attention should be paid to management of sleep deprivation to prevent workplace depression. |
Investigating the associations between work hours, sleep status, and self-reported health among full-time employees
Nakata A . Int J Public Health 2011 57 (2) 403-11 OBJECTIVES: The extent to which work hours and sleep are associated with self-rated health (SRH) was investigated in full-time employees of small- and medium-scale businesses (SMBs) in a suburb of Tokyo. METHODS: A total of 2,579 employees (1,887 men and 692 women), aged 18-79 (mean 45) years, in 296 SMBs were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire from August to December 2002. Work hours, sleep, and SRH were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with those working 6-8 h/day, participants working >8 to 10 h/day and >10 h/day had significantly higher odds of suboptimal SRH [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.36 and 1.87, respectively]. Similarly, compared with those sleeping 6+ h/day and sufficient sleep, participants with short sleep (<6 h/day) and insufficient sleep had increased odds of suboptimal SRH (aOR 1.65 and aOR 2.03, respectively). Combinations of the longest work hours with short sleep (aOR 3.30) or insufficient sleep (aOR 3.40) exerted synergistic negative associations on SRH. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that long work hours and poor sleep and its combination are associated with suboptimal SRH. |
Effects of long work hours and poor sleep characteristics on workplace injury among full-time male employees of small- and medium-scale businesses
Nakata A . J Sleep Res 2011 20 (4) 576-84 The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long work hours and poor sleep characteristics on workplace injury. A total of 1891 male employees, aged 18-79 years (mean 45 years), in 296 small- and medium-scale businesses in a suburb of Tokyo were surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire during August-December 2002. Work hours and sleep characteristics, including daily sleep hours, subjective sleep sufficiency, sleep quality and easiness to wake up in the morning, were evaluated. Information on workplace injury in the past 1-year period was self-reported. The risk of workplace injury associated with work hours and poor sleep was estimated using multivariate logistic regression with odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals as measures of associations. Compared with those working 6-8 h day(-1) with good sleep characteristics, positive interactive effects for workplace injury were found between long work hours (>8-10 h day(-1) or >10 h day(-1) ) and short sleep duration (<6 h) [adjusted OR (aOR), 1.27-1.54], subjective insufficient sleep (aOR, 1.94-1.99), sleep poorly at night (aOR, 2.23-2.49) and difficulty waking up in the morning (aOR, 1.56-1.59). Long work hours (aOR, 1.31-1.48), subjective insufficient sleep (aOR, 1.49) and sleeping poorly at night (aOR, 1.72) were also independently associated with workplace injury. This study suggests that long work hours coupled with poor sleep characteristics are synergistically associated with increased risk of workplace injury. Greater attention should be paid to manage/treat poor sleep and reduce excessive work hours to improve safety at the workplace. |
Association between workaholism and sleep problems among hospital nurses
Kubota K , Shimazu A , Kawakami N , Takahashi M , Nakata A , Schaufeli WB . Ind Health 2010 48 (6) 864-71 The present study examined the association between workaholism, the tendency to work excessively hard in a compulsive fashion, and sleep problems among Japanese nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 nurses from 2 university hospitals in Japan using a self-reported questionnaire on workaholism, sleep, job-related variables (i.e., job demands, job control, and worksite support), and demographic variables. A total of 394 nurses returned the questionnaire (response rate=65.7%) and complete data from 312 female nurses were used for analyses (final coverage rate=52.0%). Workaholics, as measured using the Japanese version of the Dutch Workaholism Scale, were defined as those having high scores on both the "work excessively" and "work compulsively" subscales. Logistic regression analyses revealed that workaholics had higher risks for sleep problems in terms of subjective sleep insufficiency, excessive daytime sleepiness at work, difficulty awakening in the morning, and feeling tired when waking up in the morning (odds ratios [OR] of 4.40, 3.18, 3.48, and 4.61, respectively, p<0.05). These remained significant even after adjusting for demographic and job-related variables (OR 3.41, 5.36, 2.56, and 2.77, respectively). However, no significant associations were found between workaholism and insomnia symptoms. These results suggest that workaholic nurses had higher risks for impaired awakening, insufficient sleep, and workplace sleepiness. |
Job satisfaction, common cold, and sickness absence among white-collar employees: a cross-sectional survey
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M , Ray T , Swanson NG . Ind Health 2010 49 (1) 116-21 The purpose of this study is to examine the independent association of job satisfaction with common cold and sickness absence among Japanese workers. A total of 307 apparently healthy white-collar employees (165 men and 142 women), aged 22-69 (mean 36) yr, completed a questionnaire survey during April to June, 2002. Global job satisfaction was measured by a 4-item scale from the Japanese version of a generic job stress questionnaire with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Information about whether the employees had a common cold (within the past 6 months) and sickness absence (within the past 12 months) was self-reported. Hierarchical log-linear Poisson regression analysis controlling for confounders revealed that greater job satisfaction was inversely correlated with days (B=-0.116; p<0.001) and times (B=-0.058; p=0.067) of common cold and days (B=-0.160; p<0.001) and times (B=-0.141; p<0.001) of sickness absence. Our findings suggested that poor job satisfaction is associated with both common cold and sickness absence. |
Nurses, smoking, and immunity: a review
Nakata A , Swanson NG , Caruso CC . Rehabil Nurs 2010 35 (5) 198-205 Nurses regularly are exposed to a variety of occupational hazards. In addition to documented occupational hazards, exposure to smoking remains a major concern. This article reviews the prevalence of smoking among nurses working in the United States and discusses their reasons for smoking. Researchers conducted a state-of-the-art review on the effects of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke (Si-IS) on the immune system. Smoking prevalence among nurses working in the United States ranged from 7%-12%, and high work stress, poor work environment, shift work, and peer influence were suspected major risk factors influencing smoking behavior. A review of the effects of smoking on immunity revealed that both active smoking and exposure to SHS negatively affects immune function. When rehabilitation nurses stop smoking, their health improves and nonsmokers are exposed to less SHS. Rehabilitation nurses are encouraged to share knowledge of the immunological benefits of smoking cessation with patients to facilitate nurse-led rehabilitation programs. |
Job satisfaction is associated with elevated natural killer cell immunity among healthy white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M , Swanson NG . Brain Behav Immun 2010 24 (8) 1268-75 Although the association of job satisfaction with health has been well documented, little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study investigates the association of job satisfaction with cell-mediated immunity among Japanese white-collar daytime workers. A total of 306 healthy full-time employees (141 women and 165 men), aged 22-69 (mean 36) years, provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune (natural killer (NK), B, and total T) cells and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey during April to June 2002. Job satisfaction was measured by a 4-item scale from the Japanese version of the generic job stress questionnaire with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Analyses were done separately for women and men using a hierarchical multiple linear regression model controlling for multiple confounders. The results revealed that greater job satisfaction was positively correlated with NKCC (beta=.207; p=.029) and the number of NK (CD3(-)CD56(+)) cells (beta=.261; p=.008) in women. In men, job satisfaction was marginally correlated with NKCC (beta=.165; p=.050) but was not correlated with the number of NK (CD3(-)CD56(+)) cells (beta=.142; p=.107). Job satisfaction did not correlate with numbers of T (CD3(+)CD56(-)) and B (CD19(+)) cells in both women and men. Our findings suggest an independent association between job satisfaction and NK cells but the association seems to be stronger in women than in men. Although the results provide a support for the biological plausibility of the job satisfaction-health relationship, additional research is required to determine whether greater job satisfaction contributes to recovery/maintenance of NK cell immunity and host defense over time. |
Prevention of community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection among Asian/Pacific Islanders: a qualitative assessment
Ciccarone RM , Kim M , Tice AD , Nakata M , Effler P , Jernigan DB , Cardo DM , Sinkowitz-Cochran RL . Hawaii Med J 2010 69 (6) 142-4 BACKGROUND: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has been increasingly reported over the past decade, including in Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PIs). METHODS: We conducted ethnographic interviews in Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii, with 10 Asian/Pacific Islanders identified as having a history of CA-MRSA infections. RESULTS: Most (7/10) thought skin infections were not a new problem in Hawaii. Most (8/9) attempted to self-treat the infection prior to seeking medical care with a range of home remedies and store- bought solutions. Most respondents did not initially comprehend the severity of their infection and only sought medical treatment after concern from family, unbearable pain, and/or other symptoms of illness. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the reportedly frequent use of home remedies by this population, as it may potentially contribute to interactions when treatments are combined. If clinicians and public health professionals do not address perceptions and misperceptions of how MRSA is acquired, it will be very difficult to prevent infection, and may also delay individuals from seeking treatment. |
Is self-rated health associated with blood immune markers in healthy individuals?
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Otsuka Y , Swanson NG . Int J Behav Med 2010 17 (3) 234-42 BACKGROUND: Although self-rated health (SRH) has been established as a robust predictor of morbidity and mortality, the immunological mechanisms underpinning this relationship are poorly understood. PURPOSE: This study examined the association of SRH with humoral and cellular immune markers in healthy individuals who reported no physical illnesses. METHOD: A total of 116 healthy Japanese white-collar employees (79 women and 37 men) at a pharmaceutical company, aged 23-62 (mean 32) years, underwent a blood draw for the measurement of circulating immune (T, B, and natural killer) cells, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and completed a health survey including SRH. The question regarding SRH ranged from "very good" (coded 1) to "very poor" (coded 5). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out to calculate the relationship between SRH and immune markers. RESULTS: In this sample, poor SRH was positively correlated with B (CD19(+)) cell numbers (beta = 0.260, p < 0.05) and IgG levels (beta = 0.335, p < 0.01) even after adjusting for depressive symptoms, age, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, sex, and sex x SRH interaction. The interaction between SRH and sex on the immune markers was not significant. CONCLUSION: Although the connection between SRH and immune markers was not strong in this context, the results suggest that poor SRH may be associated with reduced humoral immune system capacity to respond to new/latent challenges. The results provide some support for the immunological basis of SRH in healthier individuals. |
Active cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at work and home, and self-rated health
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Swanson NG , Ikeda T , Hojou M . Public Health 2009 123 (10) 650-6 OBJECTIVES: Although active smoking has been reported to be associated with poor self-rated health (SRH), its association with secondhand smoke (SHS) is not well understood. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association of active smoking and SHS exposure with SRH. METHODS: A total of 2558 workers (1899 men and 689 women), aged 16-83 (mean 45) years, in 296 small and medium-sized enterprises were surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Smoking status and exposure levels to SHS (no, occasional or regular) among lifetime non-smokers were assessed separately at work and at home. SRH was assessed with the question: How would you describe your health during the past 1-year period (very poor, poor, good, very good)? SRH was dichotomized into suboptimal (poor, very poor) and optimal (good, very good). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for reporting suboptimal vs optimal SRH according to smoking status and smoke exposure were calculated. RESULTS: Current heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day) had a significantly increased suboptimal SRH than lifetime non-smokers after adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, physical and occupational factors (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.06-1.69). Similarly, lifetime non-smokers occasionally exposed to SHS at work alone had worse SRH than their unexposed counterparts (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.02-2.11). In contrast, lifetime non-smokers exposed at home alone had no significant increase in suboptimal SRH. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates an increase in suboptimal SRH among current heavy smokers, and suggests that SHS exposure at work is a possible risk factor for non-smokers. Whether or not the association is causal, control of smoking at work may protect workers from developing future health conditions. |
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