Masako Nagata

Surveys on the competencies of specialist occupational physicians and effective methods for acquisition of competencies in Japan

Surveys on the competencies of specialist occupational physicians and effective methods for acquisition of competencies in Japan: Koji Mori, et al. Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Psychiatric knowledge and skills required of occupational physicians: priorities in the Japanese setting.

Psychiatric Knowledge and Skills Required of Occupational Physicians: Priorities in the Japanese Setting: Akizumi Tsutsumi, et al. Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Japan—

486 Total burden of presenteeism, absenteeism and medical/pharmaceutical cost by health risks

Introduction Presenteesim, as well as medical/pharmaceutical costs, have attracted attention in the occupational health field in Japan. Presenteeism and health risks are known to be associated. However, the relationship between health risks and total burden of presenteeism, absenteeism, and medical/pharmaceutical cost have only received scarce attention. We aimed to investigate this relationship by examining the data of Japanese workers. Methods We conducted this study using the data of >40 year-old workers obtained from four pharmaceutical companies and health insurance associations. The workers were classified into three categories (low-risk, middle-risk, and high-risk) according to probabilities of developing cardiovascular disease, as calculated by risk factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol intake, and Body Mass Index) obtained from a previous study. Health data from self-administered questionnaires completed by the workers in 2014 were collected to evaluate presenteeism, and from compensation claims from the health insurance associations to calculate medical/drug costs. To measure presenteeism, we used the QQ method. We received medical (in-/out-patient) and drug (out-patient) data of all study samples from April 2014 to March 2015. Results The total sample in the final analysis numbered 7808 (low-risk: 2755, middle-risk: 2672, and high-risk: 2381). The total cost for the high-risk group was the highest of all three groups (€4,138/year/person), followed by the middle-risk group (€4,068/year/person), then the low-risk group (€3,620/year/person). Presenteeism was the largest cost in all groups, with the cost being the highest for the middle-risk group among all three groups. Discussion Many interventions have been conducted for high-risk workers in Japan, but ones for low- and middle-risk workers remain insufficient. Our findings suggest that greater awareness is needed about the intervention needs of low- and middle-risk workers, especially with regard to presenteeism. To increase this awareness, we plan to proceed with further study and make a detailed proposal.

Occupational safety and health aspects of corporate social responsibility reporting in Japan from 2004 to 2012

BackgroundA number of companies publish corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in booklets and other publicly available formats. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the nine-year (2004–2012) trend of occupational safety and health (OSH) activities as described in CSR reporting (by industry sector and company size).MethodsWe investigated CSR reporting on the website in all Japanese companies listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The data were extracted from CSR reporting of each company every year from 2004 to 2012. We counted the pages dedicated to information on OSH activities by industry sector and company size and calculated the rate of OSH divided by total CSR-related activities.ResultsThe number of companies publishing CSR reports increased in all industry sectors, although the rate of inclusion of OSH activity within CSR reports increased only among sectors such as construction, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce. Among all company size, CSR reporting increased constantly throughout all observed years. The proportion of companies that had described OSH in CSR reporting increased from 2004 to 2012, and 76.5% companies had described OSH activities in 2012. The average number of pages of CSR-related report was 34.2 in 2004, increasing to 43.1 in 2012. The proportion of described pages of OSH activities in total CSR reporting increased gradually, and 2.7% in 2012. The focus of CSR reporting gradually shifted from ‘environment’ to ‘social activity including OSH’.ConclusionsMajority of companies are putting more emphasis on OSH in CSR reporting in Japan.

Surveys on minimum practical abilities required by nonspecialist occupational physicians in Japan

This study aimed to identify the practical abilities required by nonspecialist occupational physicians and specify the priorities for training programs.