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ObjectivesThe work system reform and the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan have prompted efforts toward telecommuting in Japan, and there has been little research regarding the stress and health effects of telecommuting. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between telecommuting and job stress among Japanese workers.Study DesignThis was a cross-sectional study.MethodsIn December 2020, during the ‘third wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Internet-based nationwide health survey of 33,087 Japanese workers (CORoNaWork study) was conducted. Data for 27,036 individuals was included as 6,051 individuals provided invalid responses. We analysed a sample of 13,468 office workers from this database. We classified participants into four groups according to telecommuting frequency and compared the subscale of the Job Content Questionnaire and subjective job stress among these groups: high-frequency, medium-frequency, and low-frequency telecommuters group and non-telecommuters group. We used a linear mixed model and ordinal logistic regression analysis.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the score of job control of the JCQ among the four groups after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. The high-frequency telecommuters group had the highest job control score. Regarding the fluctuation score of subjective job stress, the high- and medium-frequency telecommuters groups were significantly lower than those of the non-telecommuters group after adjusting for multiple confounding factors.ConclusionWe found that high-frequency telecommuting was associated with high job control. This study suggests that the widespread adoption of telecommuting as a countermeasure to the public health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may also have a positive impact on job stress.

ObjectivesThis study examined the association between perceived organizational support (POS) and COVID-19 vaccine intention and the influence of the implementation of workplace infection prevention measures.MethodsWe analyzed 23,846 workers using data from an Internet survey of workers aged 20–65 years conducted in December 2020, during a period of widespread COVID-19 infection in Japan.ResultsA higher POS was associated with a higher intention to vaccinate. The relationship between POS and vaccine intention was attenuated when adjusted for infection prevention measures in the workplace.ConclusionsIn workplaces where POS is present, a sense of responsibility to the group and altruistic behavior may arise. This means employees act to acquire herd immunity to protect others, which may result in increased vaccine intention. The association between POS and vaccination intention was attenuated by adjusting for workplace infection prevention measures, which suggested that infection prevention measures may be a confounding factor or that POS created a health climate that promoted infection prevention measures. The results suggest that working to improve employee well-being and implementing appropriate workplace infection prevention measures during infectious disease outbreaks may promote vaccination behavior and contribute to the acquisition of herd immunity in the community.

BackgroundVaccine hesitancy is an issue for vaccines required for herd immunity. Although various factors such as sociodemographics can affect vaccine hesitancy, the research results differ and it is unclear whether these differences depend on the subjects or the situation, such as the type of infection or vaccine. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between seasonal influenza vaccination behavior and sociodemographic factors under the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between individual factors of risk preference and seasonal influenza vaccination on the premise that there is a difference in the association between efficacy and the risk of side effects of the two vaccines. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on workers aged 20-65 years on December 22-25, 2020, using data from an Internet survey. We set the presence or absence of 2020/2021 seasonal influenza vaccination as the dependent variable, and each aspect of sociodemographic factors and risk preference as independent variables. We performed a multilevel logistic regression analysis nested by residence. ResultsIn total, 26,637 respondents (13,600 men, 13,037 women) participated. Significantly more women than men were vaccinated. Both men and women had higher vaccination rates if married, highly educated, with high income, and with underlying disease. Men aged 60-65 had a significantly higher vaccination rate than those aged 20-29, while women aged 40-49 and 50-59 had a significantly lower rate than those aged 20-29. These results differed from those of a previous study on the vaccination intentions of the same subjects for COVID-19. Those with low risk preference had higher vaccination rates than those with high risk preference. ConclusionsOur results suggested that the effect of sociodemographic factors on vaccine hesitancy depends on the situation affecting efficacy of the vaccine and the perception of vaccination risk.

Objectives To follow up arising occupational health (OH) issues, measures taken, and their performances in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant since 2014, and thus share experiences and extend the contribution of OH to long-term decommissioning work and preparation for future disasters. Methods Necessary information from official reports and through the OH-related activities involved was collected and analyzed. Results The issues were categorized into establishment of the OH management system, three individual issues, and others. During the 6 years until end 2019, the OH management system has been strengthened and OH measures have been enriched gradually by visualizing the broader picture, even though some resistance and problems have been encountered. Conclusions Improvement in the autonomy of contractors and their ability to respond to environmental changes is necessary.

Objective To clarify the occupational health (OH) issues that arose, what actions were taken, and the OH performances during the disaster involving the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and thus improve the OH management system with respect to long-term decommissioning work and preparation for future disasters. Methods We used information in advisory reports to the Tokyo Electric Power Company by an OH expert group, observation through support activities, and data officially released by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Results Occupational health issues transitioned as work progressed and seasons changed. They were categorized into OH management system establishment, radiation exposure control, heat illness prevention, infectious disease prevention and control, and fitness for workers' duties. Conclusions Occupational health management systems involving OH experts should be implemented to manage multiple health risks with several conflicts and trade-offs after a disaster.