Gerhard Blasche

Leisure Opportunities and Fatigue in Employees: A Large Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between perceived leisure availability and fatigue in working individuals and the extent it mediates the known association between work hours and fatigue. A sample of 7,154 working individuals (ages 20–59) was drawn from the Austrian Health Survey 2006–07. The associations were determined using stepwise logistic regression analysis. Individuals perceiving few opportunities for leisure activities had a 2.7 greater likelihood of having prolonged fatigue (95% CI = 2.05–3.29) than those with sufficient leisure, after controlling for relevant confounders. Furthermore, the positive association between weekly hours of work and fatigue was mediated to a greater part by leisure opportunities, indicating that working long hours leads to fatigue by limiting leisure opportunities. The results of this study suggest that the perceived availability of leisure is a source of health and well-being in working individuals.

Association of spa therapy with improvement of psychological symptoms of occupational burnout: a pilot study.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of a 3-week resort-based spa therapy (a combination of balneotherapy, massages, exercise etc., including a respite from work) on psychological symptoms associated with occupational burnout. Patients and Methods: In a longitudinal design, a group of 65 actively working individuals (45 women, 20 men, mean age 50.4 ± 6.7 years) of various occupations selected on the basis of their level of burnout and undergoing spa therapy primarily for musculoskeletal pain were studied in regard to the change in fatigue, distress, reduced motivation, and quality of sleep. Variables were assessed at the beginning and at the end of spa therapy as well as 4 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Two levels of burnout were distinguished: individuals with mild burnout (i.e. increased emotional exhaustion) and individuals with a full burnout syndrome (i.e. increased exhaustion plus social detachment and/or performance dissatisfaction). Results: At the end of the treatment, all four symptoms of burnout showed a significant improvement in both groups compared to their pre-treatment level. This improvement was sustained up to 3 months post-treatment for both burnout groups. Conclusion: Spa therapy may be a helpful measure for treating the symptoms of occupational burnout.

Health care utilisation in subjects with osteoarthritis, chronic back pain and osteoporosis aged 65 years and more: mediating effects of limitations in activities of daily living, pain intensity and mental diseases

SummaryMusculoskeletal diseases (MDs) have major consequences for the individual, and also for society and may thus lead to increased use of health care. It was the aim of this study to explore health care utilisation in patients with self-reported osteoarthritis, chronic back pain or osteoporosis compared with people of the same age without those diseases, based on data of the Austrian health interview survey including 3,097 subjects aged ≥ 65 years. Patients with MDs in our study visited a general practitioner (GP) and were hospitalised significantly more often compared with persons without the respective diseases. Problems in the activities of daily living (ADLs), pain intensity and anxiety/depression influenced GP consultations. Complex factors explain the higher health care utilisation in subjects with MDs in our study. Our results indicate that integrated strategies are needed to manage those patients, which should focus on management of ADL problems, pain and mental health.ZusammenfassungMuskuloskeletale Erkrankungen (MEs) haben schwerwiegende Folgen für die betroffenen PatientInnen, die dann meist mehr Versorgungsleistungen des Gesundheitssystems benötigen, sowie für die Gesellschaft. Es war das Ziel dieser Studie die Versorgungsleistungen des Gesundheitssystems bei 3097 ≥ 65 Jahre alten PatientInnen, die bei der österreichischen Gesundheitsbefragung angaben, Arthrose, chronischen Rückenschmerz und/oder Osteoporose zu haben, zu analysieren und mit Personen ohne die jeweilige(n) Erkrankung(en) zu vergleichen. PatientInnen mit MEs in unserer Studie besuchten im Vergleich zu Personen ohne die jeweilige Erkrankung öfter einen Praktischen Arzt/ Hausärztin (PA) und wurden öfter stationär aufgenommen. Probleme bei den Aktivitäten des täglichen Lebens (ADLs), Schmerzintensität und psychische Begleiterkrankungen beeinflussen die Häufigkeit der PA-Besuche. Unsere Resultate zeigen, dass verschiedene Faktoren bei PatientInnen mit MEs die Versorgungsleistungen des Gesundheitssystems bedingen. Integrierte Interventionen sind erforderlich, die die ADL-Probleme, die Schmerzen und die psychische Begleiterkrankungen verbessern.

Effects of Rest-Break Intention on Rest-Break Frequency and Work-Related Fatigue:

Objectives: The present paper presents findings from two studies addressing the effects of the employee’s intention to have rest breaks on rest-break frequency and the change of well-being during a workday. Background: Rest breaks are effective in avoiding an accumulation of fatigue during work. However, little is known about individual differences in rest-break behavior. Method: In Study 1, the association between rest-break intention and the daily number of rest breaks recorded over 4 consecutive workdays was determined by generalized linear model in a sample of employees (n = 111, 59% females). In Study 2, professional geriatric nurses (n = 95 females) who worked over two consecutive 12-hour day shifts recorded well-being (fatigue, distress, effort motivation) at the beginning and the end of their shifts. The effect of rest-break intention on the change of well-being was determined by multilevel modeling. Results: Rest-break intention was positively associated with the frequency of rest breaks (Study 1) and reduced the increase of fatigue and distress over the workday (Study 2). Conclusion: The results indicate that individual differences account for the number of breaks an employee takes and, as a consequence, for variations in the work-related fatigue and distress. Application: Strengthening rest-break intentions may help to increase rest-break behavior to avoid the buildup of fatigue and distress over a workday.

Work-site health promotion of frequent computer users: comparing selected interventions

OBJECTIVE Frequent computer use is associated with an increase in musculoskeletal complaints. The present study aims at comparing the relative efficacy of three novel interventions for the preventions of musculoskeletal complaints in frequent computer users. PARTICIPANTS 93 employees (56 woman, 37 men, mean age 40.1 ± 8.8 years) with frequent computer use. METHODS Participants were assigned on the basis of preference to one of the following interventions of 8 week duration: Nordic Walking (NW), biofeedback assisted relaxation and stretching (BFB), balance exercises on a wobble board (BAL) or a waiting list control group. Outcome measures were musculoskeletal complaints, emotional well-being, fatigue, job dissatisfaction as well as neuromuscular activity in the neck/shoulder region at rest and during computer work assessed before and after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up. RESULTS The average number of training-units per week was 2.2 ± 0.8, 5.5 ± 3.5 and 4.1 ± 2.9 for NW, BFB and BAL, respectively. NW led to short and medium term improvement of musculoskeletal complaints, BFB to a short term improvement of musculoskeletal complaints. Effects on the well-being related variables or on neuromuscular activity were not found. BAL had no effect on the studied variables. CONCLUSION NW and to a limited extent BFB are interventions potentially useful for reducing musculoskeletal complaints in frequent computer users.

Recovery intention: its association with fatigue in the working population

PurposeTo investigate the association of the intention to recover from work with fatigue and its moderating effect on the link between occupational characteristics and fatigue.MethodsThree hundred and eighty Austrian employees (nurses, teachers and administrative staff) participated in a survey assessing fatigue, the intention to create and engage in recovery activities and effort–reward imbalance as a measure of job characteristics. Data were analysed by regression analysis.ResultsRecovery intention was negatively associated with fatigue. This association was especially pronounced under conditions of high effort–reward imbalance, thus suggesting a buffering effect. Effort–reward imbalance, in return, was positively related to prolonged fatigue, indicating that fatigue was partly work related in the present sample.ConclusionsIndividuals differ in their intent to engage in recovery activities. Those high in recovery intention are less exhausted, especially under conditions of more demanding and less rewarding work characteristics. Thus, a promotion of recovery intentions could contribute to the prevention of work-related fatigue.

Work-related self-assessed fatigue and recovery among nurses

PurposeAdequate recovery opportunities are crucial for preventing long-term health effects of acute load reactions in response to stressful work. However, little is known about the time course of recovery from work during non-working days. Thus, the present study assessed recovery from two consecutive 12-hours day shifts during a period of three rest days among nurses.MethodsIn total, 48 nurses (89.6% females) working in three public Austrian nursing homes completed 5-day self-reporting diaries prior to a work phase consisting of two consecutive 12-hours day shifts followed by three consecutive rest days. Therefore, morning and evening fatigue, distress, vigor and sleep were self-assessed by standardized questionnaires. We analyzed the data using multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures.ResultsStudy participants experienced worse well-being and a greater decline in well-being on working days compared to rest days. Well-being increased from rest day 1 to rest day 2 in fatigue, vigor and distress. Rest day 2 to rest day 3 showed a further improvement in fatigue and vigor.ConclusionsUnderstanding the concepts of allostatic load, need for recovery and fatigue is essential to develop personalized working schedules. The results suggest that at least three rest days are necessary for full recovery after two consecutive 12-hours day shifts. Thus, adequate time for recovery enables nurses to maintain caring attitudes with patients, thus contributing to patient safety.

Salt taste after bariatric surgery and weight loss in obese persons

Background. Little is known about the perception of salty taste in obese patients, especially after bariatric surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse possible differences in salt detection thresholds and preferences for foods differing in salt content in obese persons before and after bariatric surgery with weight loss compared to non-obese individuals. Methods. Sodium chloride detection thresholds and liking for cream soups with different salt concentrations were studied with established tests. Moreover, a brief salt food questionnaire was assessed to identify the usage and awareness of salt in food. Results. The results showed similar mean sodium chloride detection thresholds between non-obese and obese participants. After bariatric surgery a non-significant increase in the salt detection threshold was observed in the obese patients (mean ± SD: 0.44 ± 0.24 g NaCl/L before OP vs. 0.64 ± 0.47 g NaCl/L after OP, p = 0.069). Cream soup liking between controls and obese patients were not significantly different. However, significant sex specific differences were detected with the tested women not liking the soups (p < 0.001). Results from the food questionnaire were similar between the groups. Conclusion. No differences between non-obese persons and obese patients were shown regarding the salt detection threshold. However, due to highly significant differences in soup liking, sex should be taken into consideration when conducting similar sensory studies.

Task-related increases in fatigue predict recovery time after academic stress

Task‐related increases in fatigue predict recovery time after academic stress: Gerhard Blasche, et al. Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Short-term effect of macronutrient composition and glycemic index of a yoghurt breakfast on satiety and mood in healthy young men.

Background: Promoting satiety and repressing appetite is one major goal in the dietetic therapy of obesity. In the past, several studies investigated the effect of different macronutrients, especially protein and carbohydrates, on short- and long-term satiety in humans. This paper aims to directly compare the effect of protein, rolled oats (low glycemic index), sugar or cornflakes (high glycemic index), and walnuts (high amount of omega-3 fatty acids) as ingredients of a yoghurt breakfast on short-term hunger and satiety in one setting. A second objective was to study the effect of these yoghurt breakfasts on mental state. Methods: 14 healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized, controlled, cross-over design study. After consuming the different test meals, volunteers repeatedly completed 2 questionnaires over a total of 3 h. Results: The protein meal showed the highest satiety scores and the controls (low-calorie yoghurt) the lowest. The other test meals were not different among each other. Regarding mental state (mood, fatigue, and calmness), no significant difference between the test meals and the low-calorie control was observed. Conclusion: The glycemic index does not seem to modify satiety in this short-term setting. The similar mental state between low- and high-calorie breakfasts deserves further investigations.