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Prison farms are common programs within correctional services; however, knowledge is limited regarding the agricultural prison industry. As a starting point for further study and policy development, we conducted a scoping review to map knowledge on the industry. The results show many publications focused on the agricultural prison industry were outdated, United States-based, and/or non-original research. Findings reveal agricultural positions tend to be filled by prisoners with pre-existing work skills and relatively low support needs and agricultural positions are not necessarily driven by market demands. Findings also show prisoners experience a lack of workplace protections, such as workers’ compensation, the ability to unionize, and adequate workplace safety and hazardous materials training. Yet, a purported benefit of agricultural programs was improved food security for prisoners. Other finds show there is a predominant focus on self-sufficiency and cost-savings for prisons in the face of inadequate or worsening budgets but limited available data quantifies relationship, prison farms shift from being rehabilitative-focused to profit-driven over a certain amount of acres. We conclude by identifying gaps in the literature on the agricultural prison industry and listing areas of future inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the patient reported outcomes (PROs) of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy (HA) for femeroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), a condition where irregular bone growth in the hip joint leads to friction and pain during movement, who have worker's compensation (WC) or no-fault insurance (NF) versus commercial insurance (CI) at both 2 year and 5 year follow-up. Methods: This was a single center, single surgeon, retrospective analysis performed between August 2007 and May 2023 of consecutive patients that underwent HA, a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems inside the hip joint through small incisions, for FAIS. Patients were divided into two cohorts—those with WC/NF and those with commercial insurance (CI). Patient reported outcomes (PROs), which included modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), were collected preoperatively, as well as at least 2-year postoperatively. Additionally, other clinically relevant outcomes variables including prevalence of revision surgery and conversion to total hip arthroplasty were recorded. Results: Three hundred and forty three patients met inclusion criteria. There were 32 patients in the WC/NF cohort and 311 patients in the commercial cohort. When controlling for age, sex, and Body Mass Index (BMI), WC/NF status was associated with lower mHHS at both 2 year (β = − 8.190, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.092) and 5 year follow-up (β = − 16.60, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.179) and NAHS at 5 year follow up (β = − 13.462, p = 0.03, R2 = 0.148). The WC/NF cohort had a lower rate of achieving Substantial Clinical Benefit (SCB) for mHHS at 2-years follow-up (66.7% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.02).The rate of revision hip arthroscopy was significantly higher in the worker's compensation/no fault cohort than the commercial insurance cohort (15.6% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.01). The rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the WC/NF cohort was not significantly different than the rate of conversion to THA in the commercial insurance cohort (0.0% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.30). Conclusion: Patients with WC/NF insurance may expect a significant improvement from baseline mHHS and NAHS following HA for FAIS at short-term follow-up. However, this improvement may not be as durable as those experienced by patients with CI. Additionally, WC/NF patients should be counseled that they have a higher risk of undergoing revision hip arthroscopy than similar CI patients. Level of evidence: III, Retrospective Comparative Prognostic Investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of literature evaluating long-term outcomes and survivorship of patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Purpose: To report 10-year survivorship and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair for FAIS and evaluate the effect of capsular repair in patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed on all patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair between October 2008 and February 2011. Patients with a minimum 10-year follow-up on the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and visual analog scale for pain (VAS) scores were selected. The preoperative and minimum 10-year follow-up Hip Outcome Score—Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS) scores were also reported, if available. Patients with ipsilateral hip surgery, worker's compensation, Tönnis osteoarthritis grade >1, and hip dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle <25°) were excluded. Survivorship, PROS, and clinical benefit—minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS)—were reported. An additional propensity-matched subanalysis was performed on patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty, comparing patients undergoing capsular repair to patients with unrepaired capsules. Results: A total of 145 (n = 130 patients) out of 180 eligible hips (n = 165 patients) had a minimum 10-year follow-up (80.6%). Also, 126 hips (86.9%) belonged to women, and 19 hips (13.1%) belonged to men. The mean patient age was 30.3 ± 12.9 years. The survivorship rate was 91% at the 10-year follow-up. The cohort experienced significant improvements (P <.001) in the mHHS, NAHS, HOS-SSS, and VAS for pain scores. Moreover, the cohort achieved high rates of the PASS for the mHHS (89.8%), high rates of the MCID for the mHHS (82.4%), and high rates of the MCID for VAS for pain (80.6%) scores. In the propensity-matched subanalysis performed on patients with the highest risk for arthroplasty, 29 hips with capsular repair were matched to 81 hips with unrepaired capsules. While both groups experienced significant improvements in all PROs (P <.05), the group without capsule repair trended toward a higher conversion to arthroplasty rate when compared with the repair group. In addition, an odds ratio was calculated for the likelihood of converting to arthroplasty after having an unrepaired capsule compared with capsular repair (2.54 [95% CI, 0.873-7.37]; P =.087). Conclusion: Patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair experienced a high survivorship rate of 91% at a minimum 10-year follow-up. Patients who did not convert to arthroplasty saw favorable improvements in PROs and achieved high clinical benefit rates. In addition, among those patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty, a trend toward greater survivorship was observed with capsular repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While medical and health science librarians' median salaries have increased over the last forty years; however, inflation-adjusted salaries are lower than in 2008. Utilizing data from the Medical Library Association's salary surveys from 1983 to 2023, this column explores median salary changes over time by discussing the median salary's performance against inflation and how the 2008 recession and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impacted salaries. From 2017 to 2023, the median salary increased by 18%, but after adjusting for inflation, the median salary decreased by almost 6%. The findings have serious implications for recruitment and retention in medical and health sciences librarianship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Findings: Despite the importance of early care and education (ECE) for children's early learning and parents' labor force participation, workers average low pay with few benefits. The precarity of work and low compensation contribute to staff turnover and other problems, with potential implications for staff well-being, children's development, and parents' employment. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated problems relating to the supply of and staff recruitment and retention in ECE. This paper provides a brief background and then reviews the empirical research linking early ECE worker compensation with program quality, children's outcomes, and staff turnover. We identified a range of studies that examined pay or workplace benefits in ECE, the majority of which used nonexperimental methods. In general, most studies found small associations among low compensation, poor worker mental health or well-being, or turnover or intentions to leave their jobs or the early childhood field. Fewer studies examined associations between compensation and measures of quality or children's outcomes, finding small or nonsignificant associations. One study using experimental methods found evidence that financial bonuses reduced staff turnover. Practice or Policy: Together, evidence suggests that low worker compensation is linked with poorer worker outcomes and staff turnover in ECE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Traumatic injury surveillance can be enhanced by describing injury severity trends. This study reports trends in work‐related injury severity for males and females over the period 2004–2017 in Ontario, Canada. Methods: A weighted measure of workers' compensation benefit expenditures was used to define injury severity, obtained from the linkage of workers' compensation claims to emergency department (ED) records where the main injury or illness was attributed to work. Denominator counts were obtained from Statistics Canada's Labor Force Survey. Trends in the annual incidence of injury, classified as low, moderate, or high severity, were examined using regression modeling, stratified by age and sex. Results: Over a 14‐year observation period, there were 1,636,866 ED records included in the analyses. Overall, 57.6% of occupational injury records were classified as low severity, 29.5% as moderate severity, and 12.8% as high severity conditions. There was an increase in the incidence of high severity injuries among females (annual percent change (APC): 1.52%; 95% CI: 0.77, 2.28), while the incidence of low and moderate severity injuries generally declined for males and females. Among females, injuries attributed to animate mechanical forces and assault increased as causes of low, moderate, and high severity injuries. The incidence of concussion increased for both males (APC: 10.51%; 95% CI: 8.18, 12.88) and females (APC: 16.37%; 95% CI: 13.37, 19.45). Conclusion: The incidence of severe work‐related injuries increased among females in Ontario between 2004 and 2017. The methods applied in this surveillance study of traumatic injury severity are plausibly generalizable to applications in other jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is little information about predictors of physical therapy (PT) use among injured workers with back pain. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the associations between PT use and baseline factors not routinely captured in workers' compensation (WC) data. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using the Washington State Workers' Compensation Disability Risk Identification Study Cohort, which combines self‐reported surveys with claims data from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries State Fund. Workers with an accepted or provisional WC claim for back injury between June 2002 and April 2004 were eligible. Baseline factors for PT use were selected from six domains (socio‐demographic, pain and function, psychosocial, clinical, health behaviors, and employment‐related). The outcome was a binary measure for PT use within 1 year of injury. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to evaluate the associations between PT use and baseline factors. Results: Among the 1370 eligible study participants, we identified 673 (49%) who received at least one PT service. Baseline factors from five of the six domains (all but health behaviors) were associated with PT use, including gender, income, pain and function measures, injury severity rating, catastrophizing, recovery expectations, fear avoidance, mental health score, body mass index, first provider seen for injury, previous injury, and several work‐related factors. Conclusion: We identify baseline factors that are associated with PT use, which may be useful in addressing disparities in access to care for injured workers with back pain in a WC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the serious question raised by the subprime of the 2008 global financial crisis over the rising practices of excessive rewarding of executives in the USA and European firms, the executive pay-performance nexus has emerged as a popular topic of debate in the contemporary corporate finance research. Conducted mostly on the Anglo-Saxon contexts, research outcomes have been inconclusive and dichotomous. Considering this backdrop, this study aims to investigate the endogenous relationship between executive compensation and risk taking in the context of the USA. Design/methodology/approach: Using a large sample of non-financial firms from 2010 to 2020 based on panel data and two-stage least square regression. In this study, the riskier corporate decision is measured as book leverage and ratio of R&D expense to total assets. Chief executive officers' (CEO) experience and age are used as instrumental variables, and these are expected to influence compensation incentives and, hence, affect firm riskiness indirectly. Firm size, return on assets and CEO turnover are reported to affect compensation and corporate decisions, therefore, included as control variables. Given that higher executive compensation is related to riskier corporate decision in firms, this study incorporates total wealth (i.e. accumulated equity related compensation) as an additional proxy of compensation, and this selection is justifiable by the perfect contracting notion of the agency theory. Findings: The results of this study show a significant positive and increasing nexus among compensation and riskier corporate decisions. Besides, the compensation level proxied through the percentage of each form of compensation in total compensation is very important as greater equity and greater salary diminishes risk taking. Practical implications: The outcomes of this study have useful implications for firm stakeholders and policymakers. Originality/value: The level of pay measured by the percentage of each type of compensation in total compensation is of utmost importance as it can increase or decrease risk taking in corporate decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the national burden of working time lost to occupational injury and disease in Australia compensable by workers' compensation schemes; to characterise the distribution of time lost by age, sex, and injury and disease type. Study design: Retrospective population‐based study; analysis of National Dataset for Compensation‐based Statistics (NDS) data. Setting, participants: Granted workers' compensation claims by people aged 15–100 years including payment of wage replacement benefits for time off work lodged in Australia, 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2017. Main outcome measures: Working years lost (WYL) per annum (total number of years of wage replacement benefits paid to injured and ill workers), overall and by sex, age, and injury and disease type; WYL per 10 000 fulltime equivalent (FTE) years worked. Results: A total of 755 330 eligible claims with complete data for analysis variables by people aged 15–100 years were identified, for compensable injuries and disease that led to 41 194 (95% confidence interval [CI], 41 020–41 368) WYL/year. The annual WYL number and rate were each higher for men (25 367 [95% CI, 25 230–25 503] WYL/year; 42.6 [95% CI, 42.1–43.1] WYL/10 000 FTE years) than for women (15 827 [95% CI, 15 720–15 935] WYL/year; 38.8 [95% CI, 38.2–39.4] WYL/10 000 FTE years). Workers aged 45–100 years made 66 742 claims per year (44.1% of all claims) but incurred 21 763 WYL/year (52.8% of all WYL). Traumatic joint and muscle injuries led to 16 494 WYL/year (40.0% of all WYL), musculoskeletal disorders to 8547 WYL/year (20.7%), mental health conditions to 5361 WYL/year (13.0%), fractures to 4276 WYL/year (10.4%), and wounds and lacerations to 3449 WYL/year (8.4%). Conclusions: Occupational injury and disease covered by workers' compensation result in lost working time in Australia equivalent to more than 41 000 fulltime jobs. Distribution of the burden reflects the greater labour force participation of men, slower recovery of older workers, and the impact of common occupational injuries and diseases. Population‐based monitoring of lost working time could support effective occupational health surveillance and allocation of resources for protecting the health of Australian workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Methods Findings Conclusions Policy Points Workers’ compensation agencies have instituted opioid review policies to reduce unsafe prescribing. Providers reported more limited and cautious prescribing than in the past; both patients and providers reported collaborative pain‐management relationships and satisfactory pain control for patients. Despite the fears articulated by pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates, opioid review programs have not generally resulted in unmanaged pain or reduced function in patients, anger or resistance from patients or providers, or damage to patient–provider relationships or clinical autonomy. Other insurance providers with broad physician networks may want to consider similar quality‐improvement efforts to support safe opioid prescribing. Workers’ compensation agencies have instituted opioid review policies to reduce unsafe prescribing. Providers reported more limited and cautious prescribing than in the past; both patients and providers reported collaborative pain‐management relationships and satisfactory pain control for patients. Despite the fears articulated by pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates, opioid review programs have not generally resulted in unmanaged pain or reduced function in patients, anger or resistance from patients or providers, or damage to patient–provider relationships or clinical autonomy. Other insurance providers with broad physician networks may want to consider similar quality‐improvement efforts to support safe opioid prescribing. Unsafe prescribing practices have been among the central causes of improper reception of opioids, unsafe use, and overdose in the United States. Workers’ compensation agencies in Washington and Ohio have implemented opioid review programs (ORPs)—a form of quality improvement based on utilization review—to curb unsafe prescribing. Evidence suggests that such regulations indeed reduce unsafe prescribing, but pharmaceutical companies and patient advocates have raised concerns about negative impacts that could also result. This study explores whether three core sets of problems have actually come to pass: (1) unmanaged pain or reduced function among patients, (2) anger or resistance to ORPs from patients or providers, and (3) damage to patient–provider relationships or clinical autonomy.In‐depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 48 patients (21 from Washington, 27 from Ohio) and 32 providers (18 from Washington, 14 from Ohio) who were purposively sampled to represent a range of injury and practice types. Thematic coding was conducted with codebooks developed using both inductive and deductive approaches.The consequences of opioid regulations have been generally positive: providers report more limited prescribing and a focus on multimodal pain control; patients report satisfactory pain control and recovery alongside collaborative relationships with providers. Participants attribute these patterns to a broad environment of opioid caution; they do not generally perceive workers’ compensation policies as distinctly impactful. Both patients and providers comment frequently on the difficult aspects of interacting with workers’ compensation agencies; effects of these range from simple inconvenience to delays in care, unmanaged pain, and reduced potential for physical recovery.In general, the three types of feared negative impacts have not come to pass for either patients or providers. Although interacting with workers’ compensation agencies involves difficulties typical of interacting with other insurers, opioid controls seem to have generally positive effects and are generally perceived of favorably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity loss because of chronic pain in the working age population is a widespread concern internationally. Interventions for chronic pain in working age adults might be expected to achieve enhanced productivity in terms of reduced costs of workers' compensation insurance, reduced disability support, and improved rates of return to work for injured workers. This would require the use of measures of productivity in the evaluation of chronic pain management interventions. The aim of this review was to identify and interpret the productivity outcomes of randomised controlled trials reported by studies that conducted economic evaluations (eg, cost-effectiveness and cost-utility) of chronic pain management interventions in the working age population published from database inception to March 2023. Econlit, Embase, and Pubmed electronic databases were searched, yielding 12 studies that met the selection criteria. All 12 studies used absenteeism to measure productivity, translating return to work measures into indirect costs. Only one study included return to work as a primary outcome. Ten studies found no statistically significant improvements in productivity-related costs. Despite evidence for reduced pain-related disability after pain management interventions, this review suggests that the use of measures for assessing productivity gains is lacking. Including such measures would greatly assist administrators and payers when considering the broader societal benefits of such interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Medicines are often prescribed to workers with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and injuries to relieve pain and facilitate their recovery and return to work. However, there is a growing concern that prescription medicines may have adverse effects on work function. This scoping review aimed to summarize the existing empirical evidence on prescription medicine use by workers with MSD or injury and its relationship with work-related outcomes. Methods: We identified studies through structured searching of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases, and via searching of dissertations, theses, and grey literature databases. Studies that examined the association between prescription medicine and work-related outcomes in working age people with injury or MSDs, and were published in English after the year 2000 were eligible. Results: From the 4884 records identified, 65 studies were included for review. Back disorders and opioids were the most commonly studied musculoskeletal conditions and prescription medicines, respectively. Most studies showed a negative relationship between prescription medicines and work outcomes. Opioids, psychotropics and their combination were the most common medicines associated with adverse work outcomes. Opioid prescriptions with early initiation, long-term use, strong and/or high dose and extended pre- and post-operative use in workers' compensation setting were consistently associated with adverse work function. We found emerging but inconsistent evidence that skeletal muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were associated with unfavorable work outcomes. Conclusion: Opioids and other prescription medicines might be associated with adverse work outcomes. However, the evidence is conflicting and there were relatively fewer studies on non-opioid medicines. Further studies with more robust design are required to enable more definitive exploration of causal relationships and settle inconsistent evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Recent studies suggest that better outcomes in work productivity following spine surgery eventually offset the higher cost of treatment. By analyzing preoperative and postoperative changes in work productivity, studies can determine if surgery is cost-effective and give patients valuable information about treatment. Prior studies reviewing outcomes in work performance after spine surgery have largely excluded patients on workers’ compensation from the overall cost analysis. Methods: A retrospective review of 92 eligible patients was conducted. Evaluation of the EHR identified presenteeism and absenteeism from designated work restrictions. Statistical analyses were conducted using JMP Pro 17. Results: About 84 (83%) spinal surgery cases were able to return to work, 60 (59%) were able to return to work with no restrictions, 26 (26%) received permanent work restrictions, and 12 (12%) were still undergoing treatment. 86 (85%) experienced presenteeism and 99 (98%) experienced absenteeism. Of the cases that were able to return to work without permanent work restrictions, the mean presenteeism length postoperatively was 287.4 days (median 191 days) and the mean absenteeism length postoperatively was 232.5 days (median 142 days). 72 patients were identified as having sedentary or nonsedentary labor. After excluding outliers, the average return-to-work length was 988.62 days for patients with sedentary employment types and 952.15 days for patients with nonsedentary employment types (p=.116). Conclusion: Following spinal surgery, our worker's compensation patient population's return-to-work rate was at an average of 232.5 days (median of 142 days) for 83% of patients included in this study. This exhibited worse outcomes than a previous study's measurement excluding worker's compensation patients. Presenteeism length within our population contributed more to decreased work productivity postoperatively than absenteeism length. Our results found no significant difference in return-to-work length between patients with sedentary and nonsedentary employment types.

Assembly lines are production lines used to manufacture products, ranging from mass-production products to mass-customisation with low unit products. Assembly lines consume the largest parts of investment funds and involve the largest proportion of companies' labour force. However, workers in assembly lines are exposed to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and ergonomics problems. Poor distribution of workloads reduces the performance of assembly lines and causes workers MSDs and injuries, largely affecting the economics of production systems and resulting in high workers' compensation and absenteeism costs. Furthermore, ergonomics problems and MSDs impact product quality and decrease productivity. We propose a methodology for taking physical ergonomics into account as early as in the design phase of assembly lines. This methodology is based on Integer Linear Programming for the assembly line balancing problem with consideration of ergonomics with a quantitative fatigue and recovery criterion. As solving approach, we develop a dedicated exact algorithm, denoted Iterative Dichotomic Search, to solve low and medium-size instances of the problem. We validate our approach by proposing numerical experiments and analysis on instances from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of an individual to occupational and environmental risk factors for a certain disease affects them and their family. Children are highly vulnerable in this setting because they are family-dependent. This review discusses diseases that occur in children according to the occupational and behavioral characteristics of their parents. Toxic agents in the home environment can affect children’s health. Maternal exposure to substances during pregnancy may directly affect fetal outcomes. The Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act in Korea was amended in 2023 to compensate for children’s adverse health effects due to their parents’ occupational risks. The long working hours and smoking behaviors of parents and toxic materials in the home environment are highlighted. To control for the diverse factors affecting children’s health in medical research, this review introduces directed acyclic graphs. Pediatric, occupational, and environmental medicine must collaborate to prevent childhood diseases related to environmental factors.

Purpose of reviewThis study explores legal aspects of migraine in the workplace. While the high prevalence of migraine is well-documented, its effects on the livelihoods of those living with the disease are less understood. Because migraine symptoms are often invisible, discussions concerning migraine in the workplace can be challenging. What are the rights of persons with migraine in the workplace? Time off may provide a brief respite, but it is not a long-term solution. Claiming disability for migraine has challenges, including barriers to doing so and required paperwork. How can persons with migraine remain employed and productive? How can persons with migraine receive accommodation from their employer or take time off to treat their condition?Recent findingsMany employers offer comprehensive benefit packages that allow for sick days, time off, mental health days, and accommodations that may give persons with migraine temporary reprieve. However, it may not be sufficient, particularly for those with chronic migraine. Further, not all employers offer comprehensive benefits. Employees with migraine may need to seek protection under the law. Our research closely examines the primary legal avenues that persons with migraine may pursue while living and working with migraine. In exploring the legal aspects of migraine, we couple our exploration with relevant case law. Through this lens, we conclude that migraine is becoming less stigmatized and more legitimized in the eyes of the court. It is the belief of the authors that at least some of the change in the attitude towards migraine is the result of strong patient advocacy and significant advances in research over the past several years.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to: report minimum 5-year outcomes in patients undergoing TSA and determine characteristics predictive of patients achieving an excellent functional outcome. Methods: Pre-operative demographic variables and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores were obtained pre-operatively and at a minimum of five years after surgery. A final SST ≥ 10 and percentage of maximal possible improvement (% MPI) of ≥ 66.7% were determined to be the thresholds for excellent outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify factors associated with excellent five year clinical outcomes. Results: Of 233 eligible patients, 188 (81%) had adequate follow-up for inclusion in this study. Mean SST scores improved from 3.4 ± 2.4 to 9.7 ± 2.2 (p < 0.001). Male sex was an independent predictor of both SST ≥ 10 (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.70–7.31; p < 0.001) and %MPI ≥ 66.7 (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.11–4.81, p = 0.027). Workers' Compensation insurance was predictive of not obtaining SST ≥ 10 (OR 0.12, 95% 0.02–0.60; p = 0.016) or %MPI ≥ 66.7 (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.77, p = 0.025). MCID was passed by the vast majority (95%) of patients undergoing TSA and did not necessarily indicate an excellent, satisfactory outcome. Conclusion: Male sex and commercial insurance coverage were significantly associated with these excellent outcomes, while Workers' Compensation insurance was associated with failure to achieve this result. Thresholds for excellent outcomes, such as final SST ≥ 10 and %MPI ≥ 66.7, may be useful in identifying the characteristics of patients who benefit most from TSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The goal of this research is to identify the factors that negatively impact the achievement of the minimum clinically significant change (MCID) for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score within the realm of various orthopedic shoulder procedures. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of studies published from 2002 to 2023, utilizing OvidMedline and PubMed databases. Our search criteria included terms such as "minimal clinically important difference" or "MCID" along with associated MeSH terms, in addition to "American shoulder and elbow surgeon" or "ASES." We selectively included primary investigations that assessed factors linked to the failure to achieve MCID for the ASES score subsequent to orthopedic shoulder procedures, while excluding papers addressing anatomical, surgical, or injury-related aspects. Results: Our analysis identified 149 full-text articles, leading to the inclusion of 12 studies for detailed analysis. The selected studies investigated outcomes following various orthopedic shoulder procedures, encompassing biceps tenodesis, total shoulder arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair. Notably, factors, such as gender, body mass index, diabetes, smoking habits, opioid usage, depression, anxiety, workers' compensation, occupational satisfaction, and the preoperative ASES score, were all associated with the inability to attain MCID. Conclusion: In summary, numerous factors exert a negative influence on the attainment of MCID following shoulder procedures, and these factors appear to be irrespective of the specific surgical technique employed. Patients presenting with these factors may perceive their surgical outcomes as less successful when compared to those without these factors. Identifying these factors can enable healthcare providers to provide more effective counseling to patients regarding their expected outcomes and rehabilitation course. Furthermore, these findings can aid in the development of a screening tool to better identify these risk factors and optimize them before surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia have accepted people with disabilities as delivery workers, framing it as economic empowerment. This article examines this ambivalent bargain of economic rehabilitation in Singapore where Grab is headquartered. Drawing from historical records, it first traces the relations of "platform" to "access," demonstrating how the framework of curative intermediaries had historically shaped expectations around work. Access in the 1980s was envisioned as intermediating infrastructural connections that could provide disabled people with resources, transforming them from liabilities to productive personhoods. The second portion draws from interviews with disabled delivery workers to highlight the problems that constitute this investment in intermediaries and cure. Although accommodative platforms provide some degree of economic inclusion, these accommodations are often partial, resulting in precarity, attrition, and injury. "Curative platforms," therefore, signals the investment and twinning of cure and violence that subject the disabled to a compromised existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limited number of studies have examined factors associated with opioid use and a comparison of cooccurring disorders and healthcare costs between opioid users and nonusers in North Carolina. The authors sought to determine comorbid conditions and other selected clinical outcomes associated with an increased likelihood of opioid use disorder (OUD). They also aimed to compare rates of various outcomes between OUD and non-OUD cases. Objectives: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized as a chronic condition that was first outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition , and now the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision. It encompasses frequent opioid usage, cravings, the development of tolerance, withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation, unsuccessful attempts to quit or reduce use, and recurrent use even when faced with negative consequences. Both national- and state-level data show that overdose deaths associated with prescription opioids are increasing at an alarming rate. The increasing overdose deaths from illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other synthetic opioids compound this epidemic's burden. The present study sought to determine the prevalence and potential factors associated with OUD in North Carolina. Methods: Using the State Inpatient Database, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to identify OUD-related discharges between 2000 and 2020. Descriptive statistics and rates of OUD per 1000 discharges were calculated. Simple and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with increased odds of having an opioid use disorder diagnosis at discharge. The deviance-Pearson goodness of fit statistic was also used. Variables were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification , and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification , codes in the discharge records. Results: Of 19,370,483 hospitalizations that occurred between 2000 and 2020 in North Carolina, 483,250 were associated with OUD, a prevalence rate of 24.9 cases per 1000 discharges. The highest OUD rates were seen among adults who self-paid for their hospitalization, those with Medicaid, and those with other types of payors such as Workers' Compensation and the Indian Health Service; individuals between 25 and 54 years old; tobacco and alcohol users; Native American patients; patients located in urban areas; patients with lower household income; White patients; and female patients. OUD also was associated with increased odds of having one or more comorbid psychiatric disorders when controlling for other factors. Conclusions: Although preventive measures are crucial, including policies that discourage prescribing opioids for noncancer pain and those that target the manufacturing and distribution of synthetic opioids, providing integrated care for patients with OUD and co-occurring psychiatric and/or physical disorders is equally important. These findings suggest the need for a system-wide public health response focused on the expansion of primary prevention and treatment efforts, including crisis services, harm reduction services, and recovery programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a term used to describe a range of psychiatric difficulties which arise following exposure to a psychologically traumatic event. The impact of being diagnosed with multiple psychiatric conditions on the return-to-work (RTW) outcomes of individuals with PTSI has not been adequately researched. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined whether the presence of two or more psychiatric conditions occurring simultaneously is predictive of RTW outcomes in workers with PTSI. METHOD: A population-based cohort design was conducted using archival data from injured workers admitted to a PTSI rehabilitation program. Differences in RTW outcomes and demographic, administrative, and clinical variables were compared between individuals with single and multiple psychiatric diagnoses. A range of variables were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model predicting RTW. RESULTS: The final logistic regression model indicated workers had higher odds of RTW if they had a single psychiatric diagnosis (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.20), non-elevated scores on a measure of traumatic stress (AOR 1.85), and reported higher self-perceived readiness to RTW (AOR 1.24). CONCLUSION: Being diagnosed with multiple psychiatric conditions appears to be associated with more negative RTW outcomes following PTSI rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work-related injuries can harm mental health and affect other facets of injured workers' lives. Clinicians must be aware of the problem of emotional distress and treat the whole patient after a workplace injury. More education and information are needed for clinicians, employers, and workers' compensation carriers so that injured workers can be properly screened for mental health issues and supported during treatment. Further research is needed to establish a protocol for early intervention to minimize the negative emotional and mental health effects of workplace injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry work, which is considered one of the most demanding and dangerous professions in the world, is claiming more and more lives. In a country as small as Austria, more than 50 forestry workers are killed in accidents every year, and the number is increasing rapidly. This serves as a catalyst for us to implement more stringent measures for workplace safety in order to achieve the sustainability objective of SDG 3, which focuses on health and well-being. This study contributes to the analysis of occupational accidents and focuses on two large real-world datasets from both the Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) and the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA). Decision trees, random forests, and fully connected neural networks are used for the analysis. By exploring different interpretation methods, this study sheds light on the decision-making processes ranging from basic association to causal inference and emphasizes the importance of causal inference in providing actionable insights for accident prevention. This paper contributes to the topic of explainable AI, specifically in its application to occupational safety in forestry. As a result, it introduces novel aspects to decision support systems in this application domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Registered nurses (RNs) represent the largest segment of the health care workforce and have unique job demands and occupational health considerations. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence, cost, and causes of occupational injuries among RNs in Washington State and to quantify the cumulative cost and burden of each type of injury, relative to all injuries among RNs. Methods: Annual injury claims data covered under Washington State workers' compensation (WC) fund were analyzed over a 13-year period (2007–2019). Annual mean incidence and cost of injuries were calculated and stratified by nature, source, and event/exposure. Negative binomial regression models were used to examine trends in injury incidence over time, for injury incidence overall, and by the most common injury classifications. Results: Between 2007 and 2019, 10,839 WC claims were filed and accepted for Washington State RNs (annual M = 834), totaling more than US$65 million. No significant trend in overall injury incidence was observed (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.94, 1.05]). The most common injury exposures were bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, falls, and assaults and violent acts. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first broad study of the incidence and costs of occupational injuries among RNs across all workplace settings. We identified high-cost, high-frequency incidence rates of musculoskeletal, sharp, and violence-related occupational injury claims, highlighting intervention targets. Implications for Occupational Health Practice : Policy makers, health systems, and occupational health nurse leaders can use this information to identify priority areas where evidence-based occupational health and prevention programs are most needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on integrated management systems (IMS) and their benefits for organizations, focusing on quality, environmental, and health and safety management systems. Topics include the benefits of a fully integrated system, the importance of top management's role in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility of the IMS, and the bull's-eye assessment method (BeAM) as a systematic auditing approach for identifying cost reduction opportunities.

Background: Short‐acting opioids have been utilized for pain management with little known about their use in patients on Workers' Compensation (WC) insurance. Our goal was to investigate this association in the ambulatory care setting. Methods: Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, visits from patients aged 18–64 during the years 2010 until 2018 were evaluated (excluding 2017 due to data availability). Demographic and co‐morbidity data from each visit was obtained along with the visit year. The first short‐acting opioid medication prescribed in the database was considered. Survey‐weighted frequencies were evaluated. Logistic regression estimated the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for the use of short‐acting opioid prescription. Results: There were 155,947 included visits with 62.5% for female patients. Most patients were White with 11.7% identifying as Black, and 6% identifying as another race. Over 13% of the sample was of Hispanic descent. WC was the identified insurance type in 1.6% of the sample population. Of these patients, 25.6% were prescribed a short‐acting opioid, compared with 10.1% of those with another identified insurance. On multivariable regression, Black patients had increased odds of being prescribed a short‐acting opioid compared to white patients (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.34). Those on WC had 1.7‐fold higher odds of being prescribed short‐acting opioids (95% CI: 1.46–2.06). Conclusion: Certain patient characteristics, including having WC insurance, increased the odds of a short‐acting opioid prescription. Further work is needed to identify prescribing patterns in specific high‐risk occupational groups, as well as to elicit potential associated health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]