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In population studies, body mass index (BMI) is generally calculated from self-reported body weight and height. The self-report of these anthropometrics is known to be biased, resulting in a misclassification of BMI status. The aim of our study is to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported weight, height and waist circumference among a Dutch overweight (Body Mass Index [BMI] > or = 25 kg/m2) working population, and to determine to what extent the accuracy was moderated by sex, age, BMI, socio-economic status (SES) and health-related factors.~Background~Background~Both measured and self-reported body weight and body height were collected in 1298 healthy overweight employees (66.6% male; mean age 43.9 +/- 8.6 years; mean BMI 29.5 +/- 3.4 kg/m2), taking part in the ALIFE@Work project. Measured and self-reported waist circumferences (WC) were available for a sub-group of 250 overweight subjects (70.4% male; mean age 44.1 +/- 9.2 years; mean BMI 29.6 +/- 3.0 kg/m2). Intra Class Correlation (ICC), Cohen's kappa and Bland Altman plots were used for reliability analyses, while linear regression analyses were performed to assess the factors that were (independently) associated with the reliability.~Methods~Methods~Body weight was significantly (p < 0.001) under-reported on average by 1.4 kg and height significantly (p < 0.001) over-reported by 0.7 cm. Consequently, BMI was significantly (p < 0.001) under-reported by 0.7 kg/m2. WC was significantly (p < 0.001) over-reported by 1.1 cm. Although the self-reporting of anthropometrics was biased, ICC's showed high concordance between measured and self-reported values. Also, substantial agreement existed between the prevalences of BMI status and increased WC based on measured and self-reported data. The under-reporting of BMI and body weight was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by measured weight, height, SES and smoking status, and the over-reporting of WC by age, sex and measured WC.~Results~Results~Results suggest that self-reported BMI and WC are satisfactorily accurate for the assessment of the prevalence of overweight/obesity and increased WC in a middle-aged overweight working population. As the accuracy of self-reported anthropometrics is affected by measured weight, height, WC, smoking status and/or SES, results for these subgroups should be interpreted with caution. Due to the large power of our study, the clinical significance of our statistical significant findings may be limited.~Conclusion~Conclusions~ISRCTN04265725.~Trial Registration~Background [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial health among individuals with different levels of hearing ability., Design: For this cross-sectional study, adults completed an online digits-in-noise test and survey. Participants were categorised into "good", "insufficient", or "poor" hearing groups. Survey questions included topics on depression, anxiety, distress, somatisation, and loneliness levels. Multiple logistic, linear, and negative binomial regressions examined differences in psychosocial health between hearing groups. Moderation analyses identified vulnerable subgroups. Mediation analyses examined mediating effects of pandemic measures on hearing ability and psychosocial health., Study Sample: Eight-hundred and sixty-five adults with or without hearing impairment., Results: Individuals with poor hearing had a higher odds of having elevated anxiety levels and had higher somatisation levels compared to participants with good hearing. Chronic diseases significantly moderated the relationship between poor hearing ability and loneliness. Difficulties with communicating through facemasks, 1.5 m distance, plastic screens, and during video calls significantly mediated the relationships between hearing ability, anxiety and somatisation., Conclusions: Results highlight the elevated anxiety and somatisation levels experienced among individuals with hearing impairment during the COVID-19 pandemic. More awareness is needed of the negative impact pandemic measures can have on psychosocial health during future health crises.

Background: Overweight and obesity impose a considerable individual and social burden, and the urban environments might encompass factors that contribute to obesity. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research that takes into account the simultaneous interaction of multiple environmental factors., Objectives: Our objective was to perform an exposome-wide association study of body mass index (BMI) in a multicohort setting of 15 studies., Methods: Studies were affiliated with the Dutch Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium (GECCO), had different population sizes (688-141,825), and covered the entire Netherlands. Ten studies contained general population samples, others focused on specific populations including people with diabetes or impaired hearing. BMI was calculated from self-reported or measured height and weight. Associations with 69 residential neighborhood environmental factors (air pollution, noise, temperature, neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic factors, food environment, drivability, and walkability) were explored. Random forest (RF) regression addressed potential nonlinear and nonadditive associations. In the absence of formal methods for multimodel inference for RF, a rank aggregation-based meta-analytic strategy was used to summarize the results across the studies., Results: Six exposures were associated with BMI: five indicating neighborhood economic or social environments (average home values, percentage of high-income residents, average income, livability score, share of single residents) and one indicating the physical activity environment (walkability in 5 -km buffer area). Living in high-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with higher livability scores was associated with lower BMI. Nonlinear associations were observed with neighborhood home values in all studies. Lower neighborhood home values were associated with higher BMI scores but only for values up to € 300,000 . The directions of associations were less consistent for walkability and share of single residents., Discussion: Rank aggregation made it possible to flexibly combine the results from various studies, although between-study heterogeneity could not be estimated quantitatively based on RF models. Neighborhood social, economic, and physical environments had the strongest associations with BMI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13393.

Background: This study examined the relationship between speech-in-noise recognition and incident/recurrent falls due to balance problems ten years later (RQ-1); 10-year change in speech-in-noise recognition and falls (RQ-2a), as well as the role of dizziness in this relationship (RQ-2b). The association between hearing aid use and falls was also examined (RQ-3)., Methods: Data was collected from the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing between 2006 and December 2022. Participants completed an online survey and digits-in-noise test every five years. For this study, data was divided into two 10-year follow-up time intervals: T0 (baseline) to T2 (10-year follow-up), and T1 (5-years) to T3 (15-years). For all RQs, participants aged ≥ 40 years at baseline, without congenital hearing loss, and non-CI users were eligible (n = 592). Additionally, for RQ-3 participants with a speech reception threshold in noise (SRTn) ≥ -5.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio were included (n = 422). Analyses used survey variables on hearing, dizziness, falls due to balance problems, chronic health conditions, and psychosocial health. Logistic regressions using General Estimating Equations were conducted to assess all RQs., Results: Among individuals with obesity, those with poor baseline SRTn had a higher odds of incident falls ten years later (odds ratio (OR):14.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.12, 103]). A 10-year worsening of SRTn was significantly associated with a higher odds of recurrent (OR: 2.20, 95% CI [1.03, 4.71]) but not incident falls. No interaction was found between dizziness and change in SRTn. Hearing aid use (no use/ < 2 years use vs. ≥ 2 years) was not significantly associated with incident nor recurrent falls. Although there was a significant interaction with sex for this association, the effect of hearing aid use on incident/recurrent falls was not statistically significant among males nor females., Conclusions: A longitudinal association between the deterioration in SRTn and recurrent falls due to balance problems after 10 years was confirmed in this study. This result stresses the importance of identifying declines in hearing earlier and justifies including hearing ability assessments within fall risk prevention programs. Mixed results of hearing aid use on fall risk warrant further investigation into the temporality of this association and possible differences between men and women., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study assessed the impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) preventative measures on hearing and communication among individuals with normal and impaired hearing. We also evaluated the use of digital communication tools between these groups. Design: For this cross-sectional study, participants completed an online digits-in-noise test and survey. Survey topics included understanding through masks, behind plastic screens, from a 1.5-m distance, and use of social network sites/apps, direct messaging, and video calling. Logistic regressions assessed the odds of disagreeing versus agreeing with survey statements. Study Sample: A total of 880 adults from the National Longitudinal Study on Hearing completed a survey and hearing test. Based on speech reception threshold scores, participants were categorised into "good" (reference group for all analyses), "insufficient", or "poor" hearing groups. Results: Those with insufficient and poor hearing had more difficulty understanding others through facemasks, plastic screens, and from 1.5 m. Those with poor hearing had a higher odds of video calling more to contact family/friends/acquaintances during the pandemic, but also had more difficulty hearing sufficiently through video calls. Conclusions: This study addresses methodological weaknesses in previous studies. Results strengthen current evidence of the burden COVID-19 measures place on individuals with hearing impairment.

Objective: To study weekly use of smartwatches, fitness watches and physical activity apps among adults with and without impaired speech-in-noise (SIN) recognition, to identify subgroups of users., Design: Cross-sectional study., Study Sample: Adults (aged 28-80 years) with impaired ( n  = 384) and normal SIN recognition ( n  = 341) as measured with a web-based digits-in-noise test, from the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to study differences and to build an association model., Results: Employed adults in both groups are more likely to use each type of fitness technology (all ORs >3.4, all p -values < 0.004). Specific to fitness watch use, adults living with others use it more (OR 2.5, 95%CI 1.1;5.8, p  = 0.033) whereas those abstaining from alcohol (OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1;0.6) or consuming >2 glasses/week (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2;0.81, overall p  = 0.006) and hearing aid users (OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.2;0.9, p  = 0.024) make less use., Conclusions: Subgroups of adults more and less likely to use fitness technology exist, but do not differ between adults with and without impaired SIN recognition. More research is needed to confirm these results and to develop interventions to increase physical activity levels among adults with hearing loss.

Objectives: The first aim of this study was to examine the relationship between having tinnitus and the need for recovery after work (NFR). The second aim was to investigate whether the level of tinnitus annoyance is associated with NFR., Design: Data from the 5- and 10-year follow-up measurement rounds of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH) were used in a cross-sectional analyses. The NL-SH is a web-based prospective cohort study and includes participants aged 18 to 70 years at baseline. For this study, we included only participants who worked at least 12 hours/week and were under the age of 65 years. Participants completed questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, hearing-related, and work-related characteristics. In addition, participants answered questions about hearing ability and tinnitus and performed an online digit-triplet speech recognition in noise test to measure the speech reception threshold (SRT) in noise. Participants were asked if (1) they suffer from tinnitus and (2) to rate tinnitus annoyance on a 0-100 numeric rating scale. A linear mixed model was used (1) to estimate the overall (i.e., cross-sectional) association between having tinnitus and NFR and (2) to estimate the overall association between the level of tinnitus annoyance and NFR. The models were checked for effect modification and confounding of factors known to be associated with either tinnitus or NFR and available in the NL-SH., Results: The study sample comprised 770 unique participants in total; 686 and 335 participants at 5- and 10-year follow-up, respectively. Distress, somatization, and self-reported hearing disability appeared to be confounding factors in the analysis of having tinnitus and NFR. After adjusting for these factors, participants with tinnitus had a 2.5% higher NFR (95% confidence interval: -0.9 to 5.9; p = 0.15). In the analysis of tinnitus annoyance and NFR, SRT was an effect modifier. Distress, somatization, depression, and self-reported hearing disability were confounders. After adjustment for effect modification and confounding, tinnitus annoyance was not significantly associated with NFR ( p = 0.79 for tinnitus annoyance)., Conclusions: This study showed that having tinnitus was not associated with a higher NFR. Also, higher levels of tinnitus annoyance were not associated with a higher NFR. NFR was associated with the psychological factors distress, somatization, and depression, which are known to be intricately related to tinnitus. A longitudinal study design is recommended as it can assess the sequence of events, which might help disentangle the association between tinnitus, NFR, and psychological factors., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Ear & Hearing is published on behalf of the American Auditory Society, by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: The Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH) was set up to examine associations of hearing ability with psychosocial, work and health outcomes in working age adults., Participants: Inclusion started in 2006 and is ongoing. Currently the sample comprises 2800 adults with normal and impaired hearing, aged 18-70 years at inclusion. Five-year follow-up started in 2011, 10-year follow-up in 2016 and 15-year follow-up in 2021. All measurements are web-based. Participants perform a speech-in-noise recognition test to measure hearing ability and fill out questionnaires about their hearing status, hearing aid use, self-reported hearing disability and coping, work status and work-related outcomes (work performance, need for recovery), physical and psychosocial health (depression, anxiety, distress, somatisation, loneliness), healthcare usage, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol), and technology use., Findings to Date: The NL-SH has shown the vast implications of reduced hearing ability for the quality of life and health of working-age adults. A selection of results published in 27 papers is presented. Age-related deterioration of hearing ability accelerates after the age of 50 years. Having a history of smoking is associated with a faster decline in hearing ability, but this relationship is not found for other cardiovascular risk factors. Poorer hearing ability is associated with increased distress, somatisation, depression and loneliness. Adults with impaired hearing ability are more likely to be unemployed or unfit for work, and need more time to recuperate from work effort., Future Plans: Participant data will be linked to a national database to enable research on the association between hearing ability and mortality. Linking to environmental exposure data will facilitate insight in relations between environmental factors, hearing ability and psychosocial outcomes. The unique breadth of the NL-SH data will also allow for further research on other functional problems, for instance, hearing ability and fall risk., Trial Registration Number: NL12015.029.06., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MFvW, LAJ, TG, MS, JN, JHMvB, JRA, BIL-W, CS and SEK none. UL is affiliated with Sonova AG, one of the funding entities., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: Tinnitus is highly prevalent, but only a few risk factors for developing tinnitus are known and little is known about factors associated with the degree of annoyance of new-onset tinnitus. Longitudinal analysis can reveal risk factors associated with the development of tinnitus and might lead to targeted prevention. The aim of this study is twofold. (1) To identify risk factors that are longitudinally associated with the odds of developing tinnitus 5 years later. (2) To identify factors that are cross-sectionally associated with tinnitus annoyance in adults with new-onset tinnitus., Methods: Baseline, 5-year, and 10-year follow-up data of participants in the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH) were used. The NL-SH is a web-based prospective cohort study, which started in 2006 and includes both normal hearing and hearing-impaired adults aged 18 to 70 years at baseline. The NL-SH uses an online digit-triplet speech-in-noise test to asses speech recognition ability in noise, and online questionnaires on various aspects of life. At follow-up, participants are asked (1) if they suffer from tinnitus and (2) to rate tinnitus annoyance on a 0 to 100 numeric rating scale. We investigated whether demographic (age, sex, living arrangement, educational level), lifestyle (history of tobacco smoking, alcohol use), health (asthma, severe heart disease, hypertension, history of stroke, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and migraine), hearing (speech recognition ability in noise, hyperacusis, and occupational noise exposure), and psychological variables (distress, somatization, depression, and anxiety) were potential risk factors for new-onset tinnitus, or associated with annoyance caused by new-onset tinnitus. Generalized estimating equations were used to longitudinally analyze the association between potential risk factors and new-onset tinnitus measured 5 years later. A multivariable association model was constructed using a forward selection procedure with p < 0.05 for model entry. Linear regression analysis was used to cross-sectionally analyze the association between potential factors and tinnitus annoyance in new-onset tinnitus. For this purpose, a multivariable association model was constructed using a forward selection procedure with p <0.05 for model entry., Results: In total, 734 participants without tinnitus at baseline were included, from which 137 participants reported to suffer from new-onset tinnitus 5 or 10 years later. Risk factors for new-onset tinnitus were history of smoking (odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 2.2, p = 0.027) and higher levels of somatization (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3, overall p = 0.024). Factors associated with the degree of tinnitus annoyance were increased levels of anxiety (β = 11.6, 95% CI 2.3-20.8, overall p = 0.035) and poor speech recognition ability in noise (β = 13.5, 95% CI, 4.4 to 22.6, overall p = 0.014)., Conclusions: Higher levels of somatization and a history of smoking were found to be risk factors for new-onset tinnitus 5 years later. Anxiety and poor speech recognition ability in noise were associated with higher degrees of tinnitus annoyance in new-onset tinnitus. Somatization deserves to be addressed in future research and clinical practice as it might provide part of a model for the development of chronic tinnitus., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Ear & Hearing is published on behalf of the American Auditory Society, by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate patient preferences and the determinants of participation willingness in orthopaedic diagnostic or invasive surgical randomized controlled trials., Methods: This observational study included one hundred patients visiting an orthopaedic clinic. The patients answered if they were willing to participate in a hypothetical invasive and diagnostic trial among patients with a distal radius fracture., Results: We found no difference in participation willingness in either the invasive surgical (66/100) or the diagnostic trial (68/100, p = 0.76). Willingness to participate was not associated with age, gender, country of origin, level of education, marital status, or distance of home from the hospital with the confidence interval for all odds ratios including the value 1. Patients who expressed willingness to participate do so because they wanted to contribute to science; patients who declined to participate wanted to speak with a doctor and to be better informed., Conclusion: This study showed a high rate of willingness to participate in orthopaedic surgical invasive trials and in diagnostic trials. Nevertheless, to ensure participation, it is recommended to put emphasis on the contribution to science and to give adequate information about the trial including the opportunity to talk to a doctor., Competing Interests: Declarations of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Hearing impairment may lead to an increased need to recover from fatigue and distress after a day of work. Also, hearing impairment may negatively affect the balance between workload and control over it (job demand and job control). The uptake of hearing solutions may have a positive effect on these outcomes. We aimed to assess the longitudinal relationship between change in speech recognition in noise and changes in need for recovery after work and job demand and job control, and the influence of hearing solutions on these relationships over a period of 5 years. Research questions (RQs) were as follows: (1) Is a 5-year change in speech recognition in noise associated with a change in need for recovery after work over that same 5-year period?; (2) Is a 5-year change in speech recognition in noise associated with a change in job demand and job control over that same 5-year period?; (3) What is the effect of hearing solution uptake in the 5-year period on the change in these outcomes in that same 5-year period?, Method: Data of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing, collected between 2006 and January 2019, were divided into two 5-year follow-up intervals: T0 (baseline) to T1 (5-year follow-up) and T1 (5-year follow-up) to T2 (10-year follow-up). An online digit-triplet in noise test was used to assess speech recognition in noise. Online questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic, and work-related characteristics were administered. For RQ1-RQ2, the study sample included adults working ≥12 hours per week, with at least two consecutive measurements (n = 783). For RQ3, employees who had not yet obtained hearing solutions at baseline, but who would be eligible based on a speech reception threshold in noise ≥ -5.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), were included (n = 147). Longitudinal linear regression analyses using mixed models were performed to assess RQ1-RQ3., Results: After adjusting for baseline values, 5-year change in speech recognition in noise showed a statistically significant association with 5-year change in need for recovery. A worsening of 1 dB SNR in speech recognition in noise in an individual was associated with an increase of 0.72 units in need for recovery (scale range 0 to 100). A 5-year change in speech recognition in noise was not significantly associated with a 5-year change in job demand or job control. The uptake of hearing solutions in the 5-year period did not have a significant effect on change in need for recovery in that same 5-year period., Conclusion: The significant longitudinal association between 5-year worsening in speech recognition in noise and increase in need for recovery over the same time period strengthens the evidence for the importance of early detection of a worsening in speech recognition in noise to identify employees with an increase in need for recovery. The absence of an effect of the uptake of a hearing solution on need for recovery indicates that additional alternative interventions may be needed to foster beneficial use of hearing solutions as well as to mitigate the increased need for recovery in case of worsening speech recognition in noise., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate the potential association between beta blocker use and hearing ability in adults and to discern whether this effect is dose-dependent., Design: Cross-sectional analyses. Multiple linear regression was performed with hearing ability as the dependent variable and beta blocker use as the independent variable. The independent variable was classified into three dose categories for secondary analysis. Adjustments were made for age, gender, educational level, and tobacco smoking status., Study Sample: 1636 adults, 75 of whom reported being on beta blockers, from the internet-based Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH)., Results: No significant association was found between beta blocker use and hearing ability in noise. In the adjusted regressions, beta blocker use changed the speech reception threshold in noise (SRT) by -0.04 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (95%CI [-0.67 to 0.58], p  = 0.890). Medium dose beta blocker use changed SRT by -0.42 dB SNR (95%CI [-1.38 to 0.71], p  = 0.433), while a high dose changed it by -0.26 dB SNR (95%CI [-1.74 to 1.4], p  = 0.767)., Conclusions: No evidence was found for beta blocker-induced changes in hearing ability. Future studies on this topic should favour case-control and cohort study designs, while focussing on a hypertensive population to minimise confounding by indication.

Background: eHealth and social media could be of particular benefit to adults with hearing impairment, but it is unknown whether their use of smart devices, apps, and social media is similar to that of the general population., Objective: Our aim is to study whether adults with normal hearing and those with impaired hearing differ in their weekly use of smart devices, apps, and social media; reasons for using social media; and benefits from using social media., Methods: We used data from a Dutch cohort, the National Longitudinal Study on Hearing. Data were collected from September 2016 to April 2020 using a web-based questionnaire and speech-in-noise test. The results from this test were used to categorize normal hearing and hearing impairment. Outcomes were compared using (multiple) logistic regression models., Results: Adults with impaired hearing (n=384) did not differ from normal hearing adults (n=341) in their use of a smartphone or tablet. They were less likely to make use of social media apps on a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch (age-adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.92; P=.02). Use of social media on all devices and use of other apps did not differ. Adults with hearing impairment were more likely to agree with using social media to stay in touch with family members (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.16-2.07; P=.003) and friends (age-adjusted OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-1.81; P=.046). Furthermore, they were more likely to agree with using social media to perform their work (age-adjusted OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04-2.18; P=.03). There were no differences in the experienced benefits from social media., Conclusions: The potential for eHealth is confirmed because adults with hearing impairment are not less likely to use smart devices than their normal hearing peers. Adults with hearing impairment are less likely to use social media apps on a smart device but not less likely to use social media on all types of internet-connected devices. This warrants further research on the types of social media platforms that adults with hearing impairment use and on the type of device on which they prefer to use social media. Given that participants with hearing impairment are more likely than their normal hearing peers to use social media to perform their work, use of social media may be seen as an opportunity to enhance vocational rehabilitation services for persons with hearing impairment., (©Marieke F van Wier, Emily Urry, Birgit I Lissenberg-Witte, Sophia E Kramer. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 20.12.2021.)

Objective: To identify predictors of the 5-year uptake of hearing aids (HAs) and hearing assistive technology (HAT) in a sample of Dutch employees eligible for HAs and/or HAT. The potential predictors included demographic factors (age, sex, marital status, and living situation), education, hearing factors (ability to recognize speech in noise and self-reported hearing disability), distress, self-efficacy, and work-related factors (job demand, job control, and need for recovery)., Design: Five-year follow-up data of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH) collected until January 2019 were included. An online digit-triplet in noise test, the National Hearing Test (NHT), was used to assess speech-recognition-in-noise ability. In addition, online questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic, self-reported hearing disability, health, and work-related characteristics were administered. Adults who worked over 12 hours per week, who had not yet taken up HAs or HAT, but who would be eligible for HAs/HAT based on their NHT score (insufficient or poor hearing ability), were included in the study. The 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT was defined as a dichotomous variable of self-reported HA/HAT use reported 5 years later. Generalized Estimating Equations analyses were performed to analyze the associations between potential predicting factors and the 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT, taking into account the repeated measurements of the predicting factors and the 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT., Results: Data of 218 participants were included. The cumulative incidence of the 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT was 15 to 33%, of which 52 employees took up HAs and 11 employees took up HAT. Married participants had increased odds for 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT compared with unmarried participants (odds ratio [OR] = 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 4.35). Higher self-reported hearing disability (per one unit, scale range 0 to 74) was associated with increased odds for 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.07). Job demand showed a significant interaction with sex (p = 0.002), and therefore, stratified analyses were performed. In male participants, participants with higher job demand scores (per one unit, scale range 12 to 48) had increased odds for 5-year uptake of HAs/HAT (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.35). No difference was seen in females., Conclusion: This study confirms that factors predicting the uptake of HAs/HAT in the general or older populations, including marital status and self-reported hearing disability, also extend to the working population. The identification of job demand as a predictor of the uptake of HAs/HAT (in males only) was a novel finding. It demonstrates the importance of considering work-related factors in aural rehabilitation., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Ear & Hearing is published on behalf of the American Auditory Society, by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Our aim is to determine the interobserver reliability for surgeons to detect Hill-Sachs lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the certainty of judgement, and the effects of surgeon characteristics on agreement., Methods: Twenty-nine patients with Hill-Sachs lesions or other lesions with a similar appearance on MRIs were presented to 20 surgeons without any patient characteristics. The surgeons answered questions on the presence of Hill-Sachs lesions and the certainty of diagnosis. Interobserver agreement was assessed using the Fleiss' kappa (κ) and percentage of agreement. Agreement between surgeons was compared using a technique similar to the pairwise t-test for means, based on large-sample linear approximation of Fleiss' kappa, with Bonferroni correction., Results: The agreement between surgeons in detecting Hill-Sachs lesions on MRI was fair (69% agreement; κ, 0.304; p<0.001). In 84% of the cases, surgeons were certain or highly certain about the presence of a Hill-Sachs lesion., Conclusions: Although surgeons reported high levels of certainty for their ability to detect Hill-Sachs lesions, there was only a fair amount of agreement between surgeons in detecting Hill-Sachs lesions on MRI. This indicates that clear criteria for defining Hill-Sachs lesions are lacking, which hampers accurate diagnosis and can compromise treatment.

Background: The Popeye sign is a frequently reported finding following long head of the biceps (LHB) surgery and may be more often detected by doctors than by patients. This study investigates agreement between patients and doctors regarding the presence of a Popeye sign following LHB surgery., Method: This interobserver study investigates agreement between patients and consulting physicians with regard to assessment of a Popeye sign in patients following LHB surgery. Furthermore, this was compared with assessments by non-consulting physicians (observers) using digital photographs of the operated arm, taken both preoperatively and postoperatively. Data about gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were collected to investigate their role in doctor's reporting of a Popeye sign. Patient's dissatisfaction with a Popeye sign in the operated arm was evaluated as well., Results: Ninety-seven patients (mean age 61 ± 6.0 years, 62% male) underwent LHB surgery. A Popeye sign was reported by 2 patients (2%) as opposed to 32 cases (40%) by consulting physicians, of which only 1 case was in agreement. Krippendorff's alpha (Kalpha) for agreement between observers for preoperative photographs was 0.074 (95% CI -0.277, 0.382) and 0.495 (95% CI 0.317, 0.659) for postoperative cases. Kalpha between observers and consulting physicians for pre- and postoperative cases were 0.033 (95% CI -970, 0.642) and 0.499 (95% CI 0.265, 0.699), respectively. Phi coefficient analysis showed a moderate, statistically significant correlation between male sex and Popeye sign identification. Rank-biserial calculation revealed negligible correlation between BMI and age with regard to detecting a Popeye sign by both consulting physicians and observers. Dissatisfaction about swelling in the upper arm was reported in 1 case, though in a location that did not correspond to the location of a Popeye sign., Conclusion: The Popeye sign is more often identified by doctors than by patients after undergoing LHB surgery. BMI and age are not related to the detection of a Popeye sign, but sex is moderately correlated. Together with the low percentage of dissatisfaction of patients with this swelling, this signifies that a Popeye sign seems to be a doctor's rather than a patient's problem., (Copyright © 2020 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rockwood I and II acromioclavicular joint injuries are generally treated nonoperatively. The long-term outcome is considered to be good but has not yet been properly investigated., Purpose: To assess the long-term outcome after nonoperative therapy for Rockwood I and II acromioclavicular joint injuries regarding functional and radiologic outcome., Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3., Methods: Eligible patients visited the emergency department between January 2003 and December 2015 and were ≥16 years old at the time of presentation. The main study parameters were the Constant score, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, and the Simple Shoulder Test. The Constant score was measured in the injured and contralateral shoulders. Radiologic outcomes in both shoulders included joint displacement, joint space, degenerative changes, osteolysis of the distal clavicle, and ossification of the ligaments., Results: A total of 75 patients were included for follow-up. After a median follow-up of 85 months (interquartile range [IQR], 68.0-100.0), the mean Constant score in the injured shoulder for the total sample was 88.6 (SD, 12.7) as compared with 93.3 (SD, 8.7) in the contralateral shoulder, with a significant difference of 4.7 points between shoulders. The median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 4.2 (IQR, 0.0-10.8), and the median Simple Shoulder Test was 100 (IQR, 91.7-100.0). The median patient satisfaction for the injured shoulder was 83 (IQR, 70.0-95.0). Regarding radiologic outcomes, for the injured shoulder versus the contralateral shoulder, patients had similar rates of degeneration (44% vs 46%) but more frequent osteolysis of the distal clavicle (31% vs 0%), ossification of the ligaments (29% vs 7%), and deformity of the distal clavicle (19% vs 0%)., Conclusion: Despite the frequent occurrence of radiographic changes, long-term functional outcome after Rockwood I and II acromioclavicular joint injuries is good, with only clinically nonrelevant functional differences between the injured and contralateral shoulders.

Introduction: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are associated with sensorineural hearing loss. CVD risk factors are known to cluster and interact, thereby increasing the cumulative risk for CVD. Previously, using the database of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing (NL-SH), an association was found between a history of smoking and an increased decline in speech recognition in noise over 10 years of follow-up. Prospectively limited data are available on the association between CVD risk factors, interactions of these risk factors, and hearing loss. In this study, data from the NL-SH were used to study the association between CVD risk factors and speech recognition in noise longitudinally., Methods: Baseline, 5-year, and 10-year follow-up data of the NL-SH were included. The NL-SH is a web-based prospective cohort study which started in 2006. Participants were aged 18-70 years at baseline. Speech recognition in noise was determined with an online digit-triplet speech-in-noise test. In addition, participants completed online questionnaires on demographic, lifestyle, and health-related characteristics. The association of the ability to recognize speech in noise with CVD risk factors (i.e., obesity, rheumatoid arthritis [RA], hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia) was analyzed longitudinally. We also analyzed the interaction between these risk factors (including age, sex, and history of smoking) and speech recognition in noise., Results: None of the CVD risk factors or interactions of 2 CVD risk factors was significantly associated with a decline in SRT over time. Obesity (p = 0.016), RA (p = 0.027), and hypertension (p = 0.044) were associated with overall higher (more unfavorable) SRTs. No overall interactions between CVD risk factors were found., Conclusion: Obesity, RA, and hypertension were overall associated with a higher SRT, but no longitudinal associations between these or other CVD factors with SRTs were found. Also, no interactions between 2 CVD risk factors and SRTs were found. Although no longitudinal associations between CVD risk factors and decline in SRTs were found, clinicians should be alert about the concurrent association between CVD risk factors and hearing loss., (© 2021 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background and purpose - Dislocation is the leading reason for early revision surgery after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The dual-mobility (DM) cup was developed to provide more stability and mechanically reduce the risk of dislocation. Despite the increased use of DM cups, high-quality evidence of their (cost-)effectiveness is lacking. The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate whether there is a difference in the number of hip dislocations following primary THA, using the posterolateral approach, with a DM cup compared with a unipolar (UP) cup in elderly patients 1 year after surgery. Secondary outcomes include the number of revision surgeries, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and cost-effectiveness.Methods and analysis - This is a prospective multicenter nationwide, single-blinded RCT nested in the Dutch Arthroplasty Registry. Patients ≥ 70 years old, undergoing elective primary THA using the posterolateral approach, will be eligible. After written informed consent, 1,100 participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The intervention group receives a THA with a DM cup and the control group a THA with a UP cup. PROMs are collected preoperatively, and 3 months, 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Primary outcome is the difference in number of dislocations between the UP and DM cup within 1 year, reported in the registry (revisions), or by the patients (closed or open reduction). Data will be analyzed using multilevel models as appropriate for each outcome (linear/logistic/survival). An economic evaluation will be performed from the healthcare and societal perspective, for dislocation and quality adjusted life years (QALYs).Trial registration - This RCT is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov with identification number NCT04031820.

Purpose: To develop a Dutch-Flemish translation of the PROMIS® upper extremity (PROMIS-UE) item bank v2.0, and to investigate its cross-cultural and construct validity as well as its floor and ceiling effects in patients with musculoskeletal UE disorders., Methods: State of the art translation methodology was used to develop the Dutch-Flemish PROMIS-UE item bank v2.0. The item bank and four legacy instruments were administered to 205 Dutch patients with musculoskeletal UE disorders visiting an orthopedic outpatient clinic. The validity of cross-cultural comparisons between English and Dutch patients was evaluated by studying differential item functioning (DIF) for language (Dutch vs. English) with ordinal logistic regression models and McFadden's pseudo R 2 -change of ≥ 2% as critical value. Construct validity was assessed by formulating a priori hypotheses and calculating correlations with legacy instruments. Floor/ceiling effects were evaluated by determining the proportion of patients who achieved the lowest/highest possible raw score., Results: Eight items showed DIF for language, but their impact on the test score was negligible. The item bank correlated, as hypothesized, moderately with the Dutch-Flemish PROMIS pain intensity item (Pearson's r = - 0.43) and strongly with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, Subscale Disability/Symptoms (Spearman's ρ = - 0.87), the Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (ρ = - 0.86), and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, Subscale Activities of Daily Living (ρ = 0.87). No patients achieved the lowest or highest possible raw score., Conclusions: A Dutch-Flemish PROMIS-UE item bank v2.0 has been developed that showed sufficient cross-cultural and construct validity as well as absence of floor and ceiling effects.

Introduction: It is common practice to obtain follow-up radiographs of non-operatively treated isolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures 1 to 2 weeks after trauma. However, the majority of non-operatively treated GT fractures remain stable and do not require reconsideration of the initial treatment decision. Radiological follow-up therefore might be unnecessary. Our primary objective was to study whether radiological folow-up changes the initial treatment recommendation, hypothesizing no change., Materials and Methods: Radiographs of 25 patients diagnosed with an isolated GT fracture were selected from our hospital database and presented on a web-based platform. Sixty-eight trauma- and orthopedic surgeons evaluated these radiographs. First the radiographs directly post-trauma and then, in random order, the radiographs 5-14 days post-trauma alongside the first radiographs. Each observer evaluated each set of radiographs once. The observers answered which treatment they would recommend (non-operative/operative), and how certain they were about their advice (absolutely certain, certain, some doubt, very uncertain). Recommendation-consistency and inter-observer agreement are presented as percentages and intra class correlation coefficients (ICC)., Results: Overall, 84% (95% CI 82.1-85.8) of treatment recommendations was unchanged after evaluation of the second radiograph. Agreement within each observer ranged from 60 to 98%. The mean proportion of patients about whom the observers were (absolutely) certain of their recommendation increased from 70% at the first evaluation to 83% at the second evaluation (12.8; 95% CI 9.8-15.9). Furthermore, the ICC between the surgeons improved from 0.37 (95% CI 0.26-0.54) for the first evaluation to 0.60 (95% CI 0.47-0.74) for the second., Conclusion: In 16% of the patients the treatment recommendation for an isolated GT fracture changed after the evaluation of radiographs 1 to 2 weeks post-trauma. In addition, surgeons were more certain about their recommendation and there was less inter-observer variation. Radiological follow-up of a non-operatively treated isolated GT fracture therefore seems justifiable., Level of Evidence: III, diagnostic study., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study explored the cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment of a combined social and physical environmental worksite health promotion program compared with usual practice, and of both intervention conditions separately. Participants were randomized to the combined intervention (n = 92), social environmental intervention (n = 118), physical environmental intervention (n = 96), or control group (n = 106). The social environmental intervention consisted of group motivational interviewing and the physical environmental intervention of workplace modifications. Both interventions were aimed at improving physical activity and relaxation. Effects included need for recovery (NFR), general vitality and job satisfaction. Cost-effectiveness analyses were performed from the societal and employer's perspective, and return-on-investment analyses from the employer's perspective. Compared with usual practice, the combined intervention was significantly more effective in improving NFR (-8.4;95% CI:-14.6;-2.2) and significantly more expensive to the employer (3102; 95%CI:598;5969). All other between-group differences were non-significant. For NFR, the combined intervention became the preferred option at willingness-to-pays of ≥€170/point improvement (society) and ≥€300/point improvement (employer). For general vitality and job satisfaction, the interventions' maximum probabilities of cost-effective were low (≤0.55). All interventions had a negative return-on-investment. The combined intervention may be cost-effective for NFR depending on the decision-makers' willingness-to-pay. Both separate interventions are not cost-effective for NFR. All interventions were neither cost-effective for general vitality and job satisfaction, nor cost-saving to the employer., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: To improve continuity of care at hospital admission and discharge and to decrease medication errors pharmaceutical care programs are developed. This study aims to determine the cost-effectiveness of the COACH program in comparison with usual care from a societal perspective., Methods: A controlled clinical trial was performed at the Internal Medicine department of a general teaching hospital. All admitted patients using at least one prescription drug were included. The COACH program consisted of medication reconciliation, patient counselling at discharge, and communication to healthcare providers in primary care. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with an unplanned rehospitalisation within three months after discharge. Also, the number of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) was assessed. Cost data were collected using cost diaries. Uncertainty surrounding cost differences and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios between the groups was estimated by bootstrapping., Results: In the COACH program, 168 patients were included and in usual care 151 patients. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with unplanned rehospitalisations (mean difference 0.17%, 95% CI -8.85;8.51), and in QALYs (mean difference -0.0085, 95% CI -0.0170;0.0001). Total costs for the COACH program were non-significantly lower than usual care (-€1160, 95% CI -3168;847). Cost-effectiveness planes showed that the program was not cost-effective compared with usual care for unplanned rehospitalisations and QALYs gained., Conclusion: The COACH program was not cost-effective in comparison with usual care. Future studies should focus on high risk patients and include other outcomes (e.g. adverse drug events) as this may increase the chances of a cost-effective intervention. Dutch trial register NTR1519.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment analysis comparing a mindfulness-based worksite intervention to usual practice., Methods: Two hundred fifty-seven governmental research institute employees were randomized to the intervention or control group. Intervention group participants received an eight-week mindfulness training, e-coaching, and supporting elements. Outcomes included work engagement, general vitality, job satisfaction, work ability, and costs. Cost-effectiveness analyses were conducted from the societal and employer's perspective, and a return-on-investment analysis from the employer's perspective., Results: After 12 months, a significant but not clinically relevant adverse effect on work engagement was found (-0.19; 95% confidence interval: -0.38 to -0.01). There were no significant differences in job satisfaction, general vitality, work ability, and total costs. Probabilities of cost-effectiveness were low (≤0.25) and the intervention did not have a positive financial return to the employer., Conclusion: The intervention was neither cost-saving nor cost-effective. Poor e-coaching compliance might partly explain this result.

Background: Cost-effectiveness analyses provide insight in the use of lifestyle interventions. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention compared to usual care in people with Familial Hypercholesterolemia, 340 people with FH were randomized to the intervention or control group. LDL cholesterol, quality of life and costs were measured at 0 and 12 months. Cost-effectiveness analyses were performed from a healthcare perspective using bootstrapping techniques., Results: Non-significant decreases in LDL cholesterol and quality of life were found. The mean between-group difference in costs was €-237 (95% CI -1,386 to 130). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were 1,729 per 1 mmol/l LDL cholesterol and 145,899 per QALY gained. Assumed that the small non-significant decrease in LDL cholesterol is attributed to the intervention, the probability of cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to usual care was 91% per 1 mmol/l LDL cholesterol reduction and 75% per QALY gained at a ceiling ratio of €20,000., Conclusions: The intervention is not cost-effective., Trial Registration: NTR1899, date 07-07-2009.

To allocate available resources as efficiently as possible, decision makers need information on the relative economic merits of occupational health and safety (OHS) interventions. Economic evaluations can provide this information by comparing the costs and consequences of alternatives. Nevertheless, only a few of the studies that consider the effectiveness of OHS interventions take the extra step of considering their resource implications. Moreover, the methodological quality of those that do is generally poor. Therefore, this study aims to help occupational health researchers conduct high-quality trial-based economic evaluations by discussing the theory and methodology that underlie them, and by providing recommendations for good practice regarding their design, analysis, and reporting. This study also helps consumers of this literature with understanding and critically appraising trial-based economic evaluations of OHS interventions.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness and the financial return of a guideline for occupational physicians (OPs), aimed at the prevention of weight gain among employees., Methods: The guideline consisted of a company-environment scan and up to five individual sessions with an OP. Sixteen OPs randomized to the guideline (n = 7) or usual care group (n = 9) recruited 275 and 249 employees. Costs were collected by using 3-monthly retrospective questionnaires. Quality-adjusted life-years gained were determined with 6-monthly administered EuroQol-5D. Waist circumference and body weight were measured at baseline and 18 months., Results: Unfavorable differences were found on waist circumference (+1.6 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 2.90) and weight (+1.1 kg; 95% CI, 0.01 to 2.15). Probabilities of cost-effectiveness were consistently less than 55%. Net employer loss was &OV0556;-158 (95% CI, -2865 to 2672)., Conclusions: The occupational health care guideline was not cost-effective and no financial return was shown.

Background: Continued improvements in occupational health can only be ensured if decisions regarding the implementation and continuation of occupational health and safety interventions (OHS interventions) are based on the best available evidence. To ensure that this is the case, scientific evidence should meet the needs of decision-makers. As a first step in bridging the gap between the economic evaluation literature and daily practice in occupational health, this study aimed to provide insight into the occupational health decision-making process and information needs of decision-makers., Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with a purposeful sample of occupational health decision-makers in the Ontario healthcare sector. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the process by which occupational health decisions are made and the importance given to the financial implications of OHS interventions. Twenty-five structured telephone interviews were conducted to explore the sources of information used during the decision-making process, and decision-makers' knowledge on economic evaluation methods. In-depth interview data were analyzed according to the constant comparative method. For the structured telephone interviews, summary statistics were prepared., Results: The occupational health decision-making process generally consists of three stages: initiation stage, establishing the need for an intervention; pre-implementation stage, developing an intervention and its business case in order to receive senior management approval; and implementation and evaluation stage, implementing and evaluating an intervention. During this process, information on the financial implications of OHS interventions was found to be of great importance, especially the employer's costs and benefits. However, scientific evidence was rarely consulted, sound ex-post program evaluations were hardly ever performed, and there seemed to be a need to advance the economic evaluation skill set of decision-makers., Conclusions: Financial information is particularly important at the front end of implementation decisions, and can be a key deciding factor of whether to go forward with a new OHS intervention. In addition, it appears that current practice in occupational health in the healthcare sector is not solidly grounded in evidence-based decision-making and strategies should be developed to improve this.

Context: Reducing health inequalities is a policy priority in many developed countries. Little is known about effective strategies to reduce inequalities in obesity and its underlying behaviors. The goal of the study was to investigate differential effectiveness of interventions aimed at obesity prevention, the promotion of physical activity or a healthy diet by SES., Evidence Acquisition: Subgroup analyses in 2010 and 2011 of 26 Dutch studies funded by The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development after 1990 (n=17) or identified by expert contact (n=9). Methodologic quality and differential effects were synthesized in harvest plots, subdivided by setting, age group, intensity, and time to follow-up., Evidence Synthesis: Seven lifestyle interventions were rated more effective and four less effective in groups with high SES; for 15 studies no differential effects could be demonstrated. One study in the healthcare setting showed comparable effects in both socioeconomic groups. The only mass media campaign provided modest evidence for higher effectiveness among those with high SES. Individually tailored and workplace interventions were either more effective in higher-SES groups (n=4) or no differential effects were demonstrated (n=9). School-based studies (n=7) showed mixed results. Two of six community studies provided evidence for better effectiveness in lower-SES groups; none were more effective in higher-SES groups. One high-intensity community-based study provided best evidence for higher effectiveness in low-SES groups., Conclusions: Although for the majority of interventions aimed at obesity prevention, the promotion of physical activity, or a healthy diet, no differential effectiveness could be demonstrated, interventions may widen as well as reduce socioeconomic inequalities in these outcomes. Equity-specific subgroup analyses contribute to needed knowledge about what may work to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in obesity and underlying health behaviors., (Copyright © 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cost-effectiveness studies of lifestyle interventions in people at risk for lifestyle-related diseases, addressing 'real-world' implementation, are needed. This study examines the cost-effectiveness of a primary care intervention from a societal perspective, compared with provision of health brochures, alongside a randomized controlled trial., Methods: Adults aged 30-50 years, at risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD), were recruited from twelve general practices in The Netherlands. They were randomized to the intervention (n = 314) or control group (n = 308). The intervention consisted of up to six face-to-face counseling sessions with a trained practice nurse, followed by three-monthly sessions by phone. Costs were collected using three-monthly retrospective questionnaires. Quality of life was measured with the EuroQol-5D-3L, at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. Nine-year risk of developing T2DM and ten-year risk of CVD mortality were estimated using the ARIC and SCORE formulae, respectively, based on measurements at baseline and 24 months while applying a fixed age of 60 years at both time points., Results: Small, statistically non-significant differences in effects were found between the intervention and control group with regard to risk scores and Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) gained. The mean difference in costs between the intervention and control group was €-866 (95% confidence interval -2372; 370). The probability that the intervention was cost-effective varied from 93% at €8000/QALY to 88% at €80,000/QALY., Conclusion: A primary care lifestyle intervention aimed at adults at increased risk of T2DM and/or CVD could result in cost savings over a two-year period. However, due to methodological uncertainty no advice can be given regarding the implementation of the intervention in Dutch general practices., Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN59358434.

Objective: To conduct a cost-effectiveness and return-on-investment analysis comparing a worksite vitality intervention with usual care., Methods: A total of 730 older hospital workers were randomized to the intervention or control group. The 6-month intervention consisted of yoga and aerobic exercising, coaching, and fruit. At baseline, and 6 and 12 months, general vitality, work-related vitality, and need for recovery were determined. Cost data were collected on a 3-monthly basis. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from the societal perspective and the return-on-investment analysis from the employer's perspective using bootstrapping techniques., Results: No significant differences in costs and effects were observed. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios in terms of general vitality (range, 0 to 100), work-related vitality (range, 0 to 6), and need for recovery (range, 0 to 100) were, respectively, €280, €7506, and €258 per point improvement. Per euro invested, €2.21 was lost., Conclusions: The intervention was neither cost-effective nor cost-saving.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether a lifestyle intervention with individual counselling was cost-effective for reducing body weight compared with usual care from a company perspective., Participants: Overweight employees were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention groups, either phone or Internet, or the control group., Methods: The intervention was based on a cognitive behavioural approach and addressed physical activity and diet. Self-reported body weight was collected at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Intervention costs and costs of sick leave days based on gross and net lost productivity days (GLPDs/NLPDs) obtained from the participating companies were calculated. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation techniques. Uncertainty surrounding the differences in costs and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) was estimated by bootstrapping techniques, and presented on cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves., Results: No statistically significant differences in total costs were found between the intervention groups and control group, though mean total costs in both intervention groups tended to be higher than those in the control group. The ICER of the Internet group compared with the control group was €59 per kilogram of weight loss based on GLPD costs. The probability of cost effectiveness of the Internet intervention was 45% at a willingness-to-pay of €0 per extra kilogram weight loss and 75% at a willingness-to-pay of €1500 per extra kilogram body weight loss. Comparable results were found for the phone intervention., Conclusions: The intervention was not cost effective in comparison with usual care from the company perspective. Due to the large amount of missing data, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions.

The unhealthy lifestyle of many Dutch employees may negatively influence their health in general as well as their ability to work. Worksite physical activity, nutrition or combination programmes could improve employee health and, as a consequence of this, reduce costs due to illness absenteeism, early retirement, and health care use. In this article, we present current scientific research in terms of health-related effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and the financial return of these programmes. There is moderate evidence that programmes aimed at nutrition, as well as combined nutrition-and-physical activity programmes, do result in modest improvements in weight-related outcomes and the consumption of fruit, vegetables and fat after 6-12 months. There is also moderate evidence that physical fitness programmes improve physical activity and fitness in the short term. The programmes result in financial returns for the employer, but this conclusion is based on non-randomised studies. No firm conclusions can be drawn regarding their cost-effectiveness. Wide implementation of singular worksite physical activity, nutrition or combination programmes is therefore currently discouraged. It would probably be more effective and economical to set up a broad range of interventions and measures. This requires more research, however, as well as more opportunities for offering tailor-made programmes.

Background: Distance lifestyle counseling for weight control is a promising public health intervention in the work setting. Information about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions is lacking, but necessary to make informed implementation decisions. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation of a six-month program with lifestyle counseling aimed at weight reduction in an overweight working population with a two-year time horizon from a societal perspective., Methods: A randomized controlled trial comparing a program with two modes of intervention delivery against self-help. 1386 Employees from seven companies participated (67% male, mean age 43 (SD 8.6) years, mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). All groups received self-directed lifestyle brochures. The two intervention groups additionally received a workbook-based program with phone counseling (phone; n=462) or a web-based program with e-mail counseling (internet; n=464). Body weight was measured at baseline and 24 months after baseline. Quality of life (EuroQol-5D) was assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline. Resource use was measured with six-monthly diaries and valued with Dutch standard costs. Missing data were multiply imputed. Uncertainty around differences in costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios was estimated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques and graphically plotting the results in cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves., Results: At two years the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €1009/kg weight loss in the phone group and €16/kg weight loss in the internet group. The cost-utility analysis resulted in €245,243/quality adjusted life year (QALY) and €1337/QALY, respectively. The results from a complete-case analysis were slightly more favorable. However, there was considerable uncertainty around all outcomes., Conclusions: Neither intervention mode was proven to be cost-effective compared to self-help.

Objective: The aim of this study was to appraise and summarize the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of worksite physical activity and/or nutrition programs., Methods: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, SportDiscus, PsycInfo, NIOSHTIC-2, NHSEED, HTA, and Econlit for studies published up to 14 January 2011. Additionally, we searched for articles by reviewing references, searching authors' databases, and contacting authors of included studies. Two researchers independently selected articles. Articles had to include a cost-effectiveness and/or cost-utility analysis comparing a worksite physical activity and/or nutrition program to usual care or an abridged version of the program. Data were extracted on study characteristics and results. Two researchers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria list (CHEC-list)., Results: Ten studies (18 programs) were included. More than 50% of the studies fulfilled 11 (58%) of the 19 CHEC-list items. From various perspectives, worksite nutrition and worksite physical activity and nutrition programs (N=6) were more costly and more effective in reducing body weight than usual care. When only intervention costs were considered, most worksite nutrition (N=4/5) and worksite physical activity and nutrition programs (N=5/6) were more costly and more effective in reducing cholesterol level and cardiovascular disease risks, respectively., Conclusions: The cost-effectiveness of more costly and more effective programs depends on the "willingness to pay" for their effects. It is unknown how much decision-makers are willing to pay for reductions in body weight, cholesterol level, and cardiovascular disease risks. Therefore, conclusions about the cost-effectiveness of worksite physical activity and/or nutrition programs cannot be made. There is substantial need for improvement of the methodological quality of studies and particular emphasis should be placed on the handling of uncertainty.

Background: Insufficient PA has been shown to cluster with other CVD risk factors including insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, overweight, increased serum cholesterol concentrations and elevated blood pressure. This paper describes the development of Working on Wellness (WOW), a worksite intervention program incorporating motivational interviewing by wellness specialists, targeting employees at risk. In addition, we describe the evaluation the effectiveness of the intervention among employees at increased risk for cardiovascular disease., Methods: The intervention mapping (IM) protocol was used in the planning and design of WOW. Focus group discussions and interviews with employees and managers identified the importance of addressing risk factors for CVD at the worksite. Based on the employees' preference for individual counselling, and previous evidence of the effectiveness of this approach in the worksite setting, we decided to use motivational interviewing as part of the intervention strategy. Thus, as a cluster-randomised, controlled control trial, employees at increased risk for CVD (N = 928) will be assigned to a control or an intervention group, based on company random allocation. The sessions will include motivational interviewing techniques, comprised of two face-to-face and four telephonic sessions, with the primary aim to increase habitual levels of PA. Measures will take place at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in nutritional habits, serum cholesterol and glucose concentrations, blood pressure and BMI. In addition, healthcare expenditure and absenteeism will be measured for the economic evaluation. Analysis of variance will be performed to determine whether there were significant changes in physical activity habits in the intervention and control groups at 6 and 12 months., Discussion: The formative work on which this intervention is based suggests that the strategy of targeting employees at increased risk for CVD is preferred. Importantly, this study extends the work of a previous, similar study, Health Under Construction, in a different setting. Finally, this study will allow an economic evaluation of the intervention that will be an important outcome for health care funders, who ultimately will be responsible for implementation of such an intervention., Trial Registration: United States Clinical Trails Register NCT 01494207.

This systematic review summarizes the current evidence on the financial return of worksite health promotion programmes aimed at improving nutrition and/or increasing physical activity. Data on study characteristics and results were extracted from 18 studies published up to 14 January 2011. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Three metrics were (re-)calculated per study: the net benefits, benefit cost ratio (BCR) and return on investment (ROI). Metrics were averaged, and a post hoc subgroup analysis was performed to compare financial return estimates between study designs. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 13 non-randomized studies (NRSs) and one modelling study were included. Average financial return estimates in terms of absenteeism benefits (NRS: ROI 325%, BCR 4.25; RCT: ROI -49%, BCR 0.51), medical benefits (NRS: ROI 95%, BCR 1.95; RCT: ROI -112%, BCR -0.12) or both (NRS: ROI 387%, BCR 4.87; RCT: ROI -92%, BCR 0.08) were positive in NRSs, but negative in RCTs. Worksite health promotion programmes aimed at improving nutrition and/or increasing physical activity generate financial savings in terms of reduced absenteeism costs, medical costs or both according to NRSs, whereas they do not according to RCTs. Since these programmes are associated with additional types of benefits, conclusions about their overall profitability cannot be made., (© 2011 The Authors. obesity reviews © 2011 International Association for the Study of Obesity.)

Objective: To investigate the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of a lifestyle intervention for construction workers with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease., Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, usual care was compared to a 6-month individual-based lifestyle intervention. At 6 and 12 months, weight, absenteeism, health care use, and lifestyle-related expenses were determined. Missing data were imputed. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from a societal perspective. Uncertainty around the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated by bootstrapped cost-effect pairs. A cost-benefit analysis was performed from an employer's perspective, subtracting the incremental costs from the incremental benefits., Results: The ICER was € 145/kg weight loss. The difference between intervention and control group in net employer costs was € 254 (95% CI: -1070 to 1536)., Conclusion: Implementation of this important and effective intervention depends on the societal and employer's willingness to pay.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a weight-management program with personal counseling by phone or e-mail., Methods: A randomized controlled trial of a 6-month program comparing two modes of intervention delivery (phone, n = 462; Internet, n = 464) with self-directed materials (control, n = 460), among overweight employees. Change in body weight after 2 years was the main outcome., Results: Among complete cases, weight loss in the Internet group was 1.2 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.9 to -0.4) and in the phone group 0.8 kg (95% CI, -1.5 to 0.03), compared with the control group. Multiple imputation of missing body weight resulted in comparative weight losses of -0.9 kg (95% CI, -2.0 to 0.3) and -0.4 kg (95% CI, -1.4 to 0.7)., Conclusions: Among complete cases, the Internet intervention showed modest long-term weight loss, but among all participants neither program version was more effective than self-help.

Background: Overweight (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, posing a considerable burden to public health. The main aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle intervention effects on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy overweight employees., Methods: Participants were 276 healthy overweight employees (69.2% male; mean age 44.0 years [SD 9.2]; mean BMI 29.7 kg/m² [SD 3.1]). They were randomized to one of two intervention groups receiving a six month lifestyle intervention with behavior counseling by phone (phone group) or e-mail (Internet group), or to a control group receiving usual care. Body weight, height, waist circumference, sum of skinfolds, blood pressure, total cholesterol level and predicted aerobic fitness were measured at baseline, at 6 and at 24 months. Regression analyses included the 141 participants with complete data., Results: At 6 months a significant favorable effect on total cholesterol level (-0.2 mmol/l, 95%CI -0.5 to -0.0) was observed in the phone group and a trend for improved aerobic fitness (1.9 ml/kg/min, 95%CI -0.2 to 3.9) in the Internet group. At two years, favorable trends for body weight (-2.1 kg, 95%CI -4.4 to 0.2) and aerobic fitness (2.3 ml/kg/min, 95%CI -0.2 to 4.8) were observed in the Internet group., Conclusions: The intervention effects were independent of the used communication mode. However short-term results were in favor of the phone group and long-term results in favor of the internet group. Thus, we found limited evidence for our lifestyle intervention to be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk in a group of apparently healthy overweight workers., Trial Registration: ISRCTN04265725.

Background: The work setting provides an opportunity to introduce overweight (i.e., Body Mass Index >or= 25 kg/m2) adults to a weight management programme, but new approaches are needed in this setting. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle counselling by phone or e-mail on body weight, in an overweight working population. Secondary purposes were to establish effects on waist circumference and lifestyle behaviours, and to assess which communication method is the most effective., Methods: A randomized controlled trial with three treatments: intervention materials with phone counselling (phone group); a web-based intervention with e-mail counselling (internet group); and usual care, i.e. lifestyle brochures (control group). The interventions used lifestyle modification and lasted a maximum of six months. Subjects were 1386 employees, recruited from seven companies (67% male; mean age 43 (SD 8.6) y; mean BMI 29.6 (SD 3.5) kg/m2). Body weight was measured by research personnel and by questionnaire. Secondary outcomes fat, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity and waist circumference were assessed by questionnaire. Measurements were done at baseline and after six months. Missing body weight was multiply imputed., Results: Body weight reduced 1.5 kg (95% CI -2.2;-0.8, p < 0.001) in the phone group and 0.6 kg (95% CI -1.3; -0.01, p = 0.045) in the internet group, compared with controls. In completers analyses, weight and waist circumference in the phone group were reduced with 1.6 kg (95% CI -2.2;-1.0, p < 0.001) and 1.9 cm (95% CI -2.7;-1.0, p < 0.001) respectively, fat intake decreased with 1 fatpoint (1 to 4 grams)/day (95% CI -1.7;-0.2, p = 0.01) and physical activity increased with 866 METminutes/week (95% CI 203;1530, p = 0.01), compared with controls. The internet intervention resulted in a weight loss of 1.1 kg (95% CI -1.7;-0.5, p < 0.001) and a reduction in waist circumference of 1.2 cm (95% CI -2.1;-0.4, p = 0.01), in comparison with usual care. The phone group appeared to have more and larger changes than the internet group, but comparisons revealed no significant differences., Conclusion: Lifestyle counselling by phone and e-mail is effective for weight management in overweight employees and shows potential for use in the work setting., Trial Registration: ISCRTN04265725.

Background: The prevalence of overweight is increasing and its consequences will cause a major public health burden in the near future. Cost-effective interventions for weight control among the general population are therefore needed. The ALIFE@Work study is investigating a novel lifestyle intervention, aimed at the working population, with individual counselling through either phone or e-mail. This article describes the design of the study and the participant flow up to and including randomisation., Methods/design: ALIFE@Work is a controlled trial, with randomisation to three arms: a control group, a phone based intervention group and an internet based intervention group. The intervention takes six months and is based on a cognitive behavioural approach, addressing physical activity and diet. It consists of 10 lessons with feedback from a personal counsellor, either by phone or e-mail, between each lesson. Lessons contain educational content combined with behaviour change strategies. Assignments in each lesson teach the participant to apply these strategies to every day life. The study population consists of employees from seven Dutch companies. The most important inclusion criteria are having a body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m2 and being an employed adult. Primary outcomes of the study are body weight and BMI, diet and physical activity. Other outcomes are: perceived health; empowerment; stage of change and self-efficacy concerning weight control, physical activity and eating habits; work performance/productivity; waist circumference, sum of skin folds, blood pressure, total blood cholesterol level and aerobic fitness. A cost-utility- and a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed as well. Physiological outcomes are measured at baseline and after six and 24 months. Other outcomes are measured by questionnaire at baseline and after six, 12, 18 and 24 months. Statistical analyses for short term (six month) results are performed with multiple linear regression. Analyses for long term (two year) results are performed with multiple longitudinal regression. Analyses for cost-effectiveness and cost-utility are done at one and two years, using bootstrapping techniques., Discussion: ALIFE@Work will make a substantial contribution to the development of cost-effective weight control- and lifestyle interventions that are applicable to and attractive for the large population at risk.