Verônica Maria Cadena Lima

Fatores associados a patologias de pregas vocais em professores

OBJETIVO: Analizar factores asociados a la prevalencia del diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales en profesores. METODOS: Estudio epidemiologico transversal, censitario, con 4.495 profesores de la red publica municipal de ensenanza primaria y media de Salvador, Noreste de Brasil, de marzo a abril de 2006. La variable dependiente fue el diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales y las independientes, caracteristicas sociodemograficas, actividad profesional, organizacion del trabajo/relaciones interpersonales, caracteristicas fisicas del ambiente de trabajo, frecuencia de trastornos mentales comunes, medida por el Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20>7) y condiciones de salud general. Se aplicaron tecnicas de analisis estadistico descriptivo, bivariada y regresion logistica multiple. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales fue de 18,9%. En el analisis de regresion logistica, las variables que permanecieron asociadas al diagnostico medico de patologia de las cuerdas vocales fueron: sexo femenino, trabajar como profesor por mas de siete anos, uso intensivo de la voz, referir mas de cinco caracteristicas desfavorables del ambiente fisico de trabajo, una o mas enfermedades del tracto respiratorio, perdida auditiva, y presentar trastornos mentales comunes. CONCLUSIONES: La presencia de patologias de las cuerdas vocales referidas se asocio a factores que indican la necesidad de acciones de promocion de la salud vocal del profesor y modificaciones en la organizacion y estructura del trabajo docente.

Fatores de risco para absenteísmo com licença médica em trabalhadores da indústria de petróleo

OBJETIVO : Identificar factores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia medica en trabajadores de empresa del petroleo. METODOS : Estudio caso-control (120 casos y 656 controles) anidado en una cohorte retrospectiva con todos los trabajadores de una empresa de petroleo en la Region Norte-Nordeste de Brasil entre 2007 y 2009. La variable respuesta utilizada para representar el ausentismo con licencia medica fue la incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas durante el periodo, definida por el cociente entre el total de dias de licencias medicas y los dias potencialmente trabajables. Se utilizo analisis de regresion logistica para investigar la asociacion entre incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% en el periodo y las variables sexo, cargo, edad, tiempo de actuacion, regimen de trabajo, tabaquismo, hipertension arterial, indice de masa corporal, actividad fisica, riesgo coronario, sueno, glicemia, diabetes no controlada, enfermedad del aparato cardiovascular, digestivo, aparato locomotor, neurologica, neoplasia, posturas forzadas en el trabajo, satisfaccion con el trabajo, relacionamiento con el jefe y atencion concentrada en el trabajo. RESULTADOS : La incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas > 5,0% en el periodo de la cohorte fue de 15,5%. El modelo logistico revelo que trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% tuvieron 2,6 veces mas chance de ser del sexo femenino; 2,0 veces mas chances de ser fumador; 1,9 veces mas chance de ser ex-fumador; 2,1 veces mas chance de relatar sueno anormal y 10,5 veces mas chances de estar insatisfechos con el trabajo, en comparacion con los trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas < 5,0% en el periodo. CONCLUSIONES : Sexo femenino, ser fumador o ex-fumador, estar insatisfecho con el trabajo y relatar sueno anormal son buenos predictores del ausentismo en el trabajo por enfermedad.OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for absenteeism among workers with sick leave in an oil company. METHODS A case-control study (120 cases and 656 controls) nested in a retrospective cohort study following up all employees of an oil company in the North-Northeast of Brazil from 2007 to 2009. The response variable used to represent absenteeism with sick leave was the average incidence of sick leave, defined as the ratio between total sick days and potential working days in the period. Logistic regression techniques were used to investigate the association between average incidence of sick leave > 5.0% over the period and the variables sex, position, age, time at work, shift work, smoking, arterial hypertension, body mass index, physical activity, coronary risk, sleep, glycemia, non-managed diabetes, cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, neurological and neoplastic diseases, straining body positioning during work, satisfaction at work, relationship with management, and concentrated attention at work. RESULTS Average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% in the cohort period was 15.5%. The logistic model revealed that workers with average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% were 2.6 times more likely to be female; 2.0 time more likely to be smokers; 1.8 time more likely to be former smokers; 2.2 times more likely to report abnormal sleep and 10.5 times more likely to report dissatisfaction with their than workers with average incidence of sick leave ≤ 5.0% in the period. CONCLUSIONS In this population, female gender, being a smoker or a former smoker, reporting dissatisfaction with the job and reporting abnormal sleep are good predictors of occupational absenteeism with sick leave.

Factors associated with vocal fold pathologies in teachers

OBJETIVO: Analizar factores asociados a la prevalencia del diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales en profesores. METODOS: Estudio epidemiologico transversal, censitario, con 4.495 profesores de la red publica municipal de ensenanza primaria y media de Salvador, Noreste de Brasil, de marzo a abril de 2006. La variable dependiente fue el diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales y las independientes, caracteristicas sociodemograficas, actividad profesional, organizacion del trabajo/relaciones interpersonales, caracteristicas fisicas del ambiente de trabajo, frecuencia de trastornos mentales comunes, medida por el Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20>7) y condiciones de salud general. Se aplicaron tecnicas de analisis estadistico descriptivo, bivariada y regresion logistica multiple. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de diagnostico medico referido de patologias de las cuerdas vocales fue de 18,9%. En el analisis de regresion logistica, las variables que permanecieron asociadas al diagnostico medico de patologia de las cuerdas vocales fueron: sexo femenino, trabajar como profesor por mas de siete anos, uso intensivo de la voz, referir mas de cinco caracteristicas desfavorables del ambiente fisico de trabajo, una o mas enfermedades del tracto respiratorio, perdida auditiva, y presentar trastornos mentales comunes. CONCLUSIONES: La presencia de patologias de las cuerdas vocales referidas se asocio a factores que indican la necesidad de acciones de promocion de la salud vocal del profesor y modificaciones en la organizacion y estructura del trabajo docente.

Risk factors for absenteeism due to sick leave in the petroleum industry

OBJETIVO : Identificar factores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia medica en trabajadores de empresa del petroleo. METODOS : Estudio caso-control (120 casos y 656 controles) anidado en una cohorte retrospectiva con todos los trabajadores de una empresa de petroleo en la Region Norte-Nordeste de Brasil entre 2007 y 2009. La variable respuesta utilizada para representar el ausentismo con licencia medica fue la incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas durante el periodo, definida por el cociente entre el total de dias de licencias medicas y los dias potencialmente trabajables. Se utilizo analisis de regresion logistica para investigar la asociacion entre incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% en el periodo y las variables sexo, cargo, edad, tiempo de actuacion, regimen de trabajo, tabaquismo, hipertension arterial, indice de masa corporal, actividad fisica, riesgo coronario, sueno, glicemia, diabetes no controlada, enfermedad del aparato cardiovascular, digestivo, aparato locomotor, neurologica, neoplasia, posturas forzadas en el trabajo, satisfaccion con el trabajo, relacionamiento con el jefe y atencion concentrada en el trabajo. RESULTADOS : La incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas > 5,0% en el periodo de la cohorte fue de 15,5%. El modelo logistico revelo que trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% tuvieron 2,6 veces mas chance de ser del sexo femenino; 2,0 veces mas chances de ser fumador; 1,9 veces mas chance de ser ex-fumador; 2,1 veces mas chance de relatar sueno anormal y 10,5 veces mas chances de estar insatisfechos con el trabajo, en comparacion con los trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas < 5,0% en el periodo. CONCLUSIONES : Sexo femenino, ser fumador o ex-fumador, estar insatisfecho con el trabajo y relatar sueno anormal son buenos predictores del ausentismo en el trabajo por enfermedad.OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for absenteeism among workers with sick leave in an oil company. METHODS A case-control study (120 cases and 656 controls) nested in a retrospective cohort study following up all employees of an oil company in the North-Northeast of Brazil from 2007 to 2009. The response variable used to represent absenteeism with sick leave was the average incidence of sick leave, defined as the ratio between total sick days and potential working days in the period. Logistic regression techniques were used to investigate the association between average incidence of sick leave > 5.0% over the period and the variables sex, position, age, time at work, shift work, smoking, arterial hypertension, body mass index, physical activity, coronary risk, sleep, glycemia, non-managed diabetes, cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, neurological and neoplastic diseases, straining body positioning during work, satisfaction at work, relationship with management, and concentrated attention at work. RESULTS Average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% in the cohort period was 15.5%. The logistic model revealed that workers with average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% were 2.6 times more likely to be female; 2.0 time more likely to be smokers; 1.8 time more likely to be former smokers; 2.2 times more likely to report abnormal sleep and 10.5 times more likely to report dissatisfaction with their than workers with average incidence of sick leave ≤ 5.0% in the period. CONCLUSIONS In this population, female gender, being a smoker or a former smoker, reporting dissatisfaction with the job and reporting abnormal sleep are good predictors of occupational absenteeism with sick leave.

Heteroskedasticity-Robust Inference in Linear Regressions

The assumption that all errors share the same variance (homoskedasticity) is commonly violated in empirical analyses carried out using the linear regression model. A widely adopted modeling strategy is to perform point estimation by ordinary least squares and then perform testing inference based on these point estimators and heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors. These tests, however, tend to be size-distorted when the sample size is small and the data contain atypical observations. Furno (1996) suggested performing point estimation using a weighted least squares mechanism in order to attenuate the effect of leverage points on the associated inference. In this article, we follow up on her proposal and define heteroskedasticity-consistent covariance matrix estimators based on residuals obtained using robust estimation methods. We report Monte Carlo simulation results (size and power) on the finite sample performance of different heteroskedasticity-robust tests. Overall, the results favor inference based on HC0 tests constructed using robust residuals.

Prevalência dos distúrbios musculoesqueléticos nos membros superiores e pescoço em pescadoras artesanais/marisqueiras em saubara, Bahia, Brasil

This study was conducted in an artisanal fishing community. The main health complaints included musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) attributable to working conditions. The present work found a prevalence of neck and distal upper limb MSD among the artisan fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers in Saubara, Bahia, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional cohort epidemiological study involving 209 artisanal fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers. The Brazilian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and a survey listing physical demands adapted to shellfish gathering were used for the study. The MSD values obtained in some part of the body, neck or shoulder, and distal upper limb were 94.7%, 71.3% and 70.3%, respectively. The shellfish gatherers were found to work long shifts despite the high prevalence of MSD. The factors that cause these women to keep performing such activities include the need to make a living and provide food for their families through the sale and consumption of seafood.This study was conducted in an artisanal fishing community. The main health complaints included musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) attributable to working conditions. The present work found a prevalence of neck and distal upper limb MSD among the artisan fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers in Saubara, Bahia, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional cohort epidemiological study involving 209 artisanal fisherwomen/shellfish gatherers. The Brazilian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and a survey listing physical demands adapted to shellfish gathering were used for the study. The MSD values obtained in some part of the body, neck or shoulder, and distal upper limb were 94.7%, 71.3% and 70.3%, respectively. The shellfish gatherers were found to work long shifts despite the high prevalence of MSD. The factors that cause these women to keep performing such activities include the need to make a living and provide food for their families through the sale and consumption of seafood.

Penalized Maximum Likelihood Estimation in the Modified Extended Weibull Distribution

ABSTRACT We address the issue of performing inference on the parameters that index the modified extended Weibull (MEW) distribution. We show that numerical maximization of the MEW log-likelihood function can be problematic. It is even possible to encounter maximum likelihood estimates that are not finite, that is, it is possible to encounter monotonic likelihood functions. We consider different penalization schemes to improve maximum likelihood point estimation. A penalization scheme based on the Jeffreys’ invariant prior is shown to be particularly useful. Simulation results on point estimation, interval estimation, and hypothesis testing inference are presented. Two empirical applications are presented and discussed.

Testing Inference in Inflated Beta Regressions under Model Misspecification

We consider testing inference in inflated beta regressions subject to model misspecification. In particular, quasi-z tests based on sandwich covariance matrix estimators are described and their finite sample behavior is investigated via Monte Carlo simulations. The numerical evidence shows that quasi-z testing inference can be considerably more accurate than inference made through the usual z tests, especially when there is model misspecification. Interval estimation is also considered. We also present an empirical application that uses real (not simulated) data.

Factores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia médica en trabajadores de la industria del petróleo

OBJETIVO : Identificar factores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia medica en trabajadores de empresa del petroleo. METODOS : Estudio caso-control (120 casos y 656 controles) anidado en una cohorte retrospectiva con todos los trabajadores de una empresa de petroleo en la Region Norte-Nordeste de Brasil entre 2007 y 2009. La variable respuesta utilizada para representar el ausentismo con licencia medica fue la incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas durante el periodo, definida por el cociente entre el total de dias de licencias medicas y los dias potencialmente trabajables. Se utilizo analisis de regresion logistica para investigar la asociacion entre incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% en el periodo y las variables sexo, cargo, edad, tiempo de actuacion, regimen de trabajo, tabaquismo, hipertension arterial, indice de masa corporal, actividad fisica, riesgo coronario, sueno, glicemia, diabetes no controlada, enfermedad del aparato cardiovascular, digestivo, aparato locomotor, neurologica, neoplasia, posturas forzadas en el trabajo, satisfaccion con el trabajo, relacionamiento con el jefe y atencion concentrada en el trabajo. RESULTADOS : La incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas > 5,0% en el periodo de la cohorte fue de 15,5%. El modelo logistico revelo que trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% tuvieron 2,6 veces mas chance de ser del sexo femenino; 2,0 veces mas chances de ser fumador; 1,9 veces mas chance de ser ex-fumador; 2,1 veces mas chance de relatar sueno anormal y 10,5 veces mas chances de estar insatisfechos con el trabajo, en comparacion con los trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas < 5,0% en el periodo. CONCLUSIONES : Sexo femenino, ser fumador o ex-fumador, estar insatisfecho con el trabajo y relatar sueno anormal son buenos predictores del ausentismo en el trabajo por enfermedad.OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for absenteeism among workers with sick leave in an oil company. METHODS A case-control study (120 cases and 656 controls) nested in a retrospective cohort study following up all employees of an oil company in the North-Northeast of Brazil from 2007 to 2009. The response variable used to represent absenteeism with sick leave was the average incidence of sick leave, defined as the ratio between total sick days and potential working days in the period. Logistic regression techniques were used to investigate the association between average incidence of sick leave > 5.0% over the period and the variables sex, position, age, time at work, shift work, smoking, arterial hypertension, body mass index, physical activity, coronary risk, sleep, glycemia, non-managed diabetes, cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, neurological and neoplastic diseases, straining body positioning during work, satisfaction at work, relationship with management, and concentrated attention at work. RESULTS Average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% in the cohort period was 15.5%. The logistic model revealed that workers with average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% were 2.6 times more likely to be female; 2.0 time more likely to be smokers; 1.8 time more likely to be former smokers; 2.2 times more likely to report abnormal sleep and 10.5 times more likely to report dissatisfaction with their than workers with average incidence of sick leave ≤ 5.0% in the period. CONCLUSIONS In this population, female gender, being a smoker or a former smoker, reporting dissatisfaction with the job and reporting abnormal sleep are good predictors of occupational absenteeism with sick leave.

Risk factors for absenteeism due to sick leave in the petroleum industryFactores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia médica en trabajadores de la industria del petróleo

OBJETIVO : Identificar factores de riesgo para el ausentismo con licencia medica en trabajadores de empresa del petroleo. METODOS : Estudio caso-control (120 casos y 656 controles) anidado en una cohorte retrospectiva con todos los trabajadores de una empresa de petroleo en la Region Norte-Nordeste de Brasil entre 2007 y 2009. La variable respuesta utilizada para representar el ausentismo con licencia medica fue la incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas durante el periodo, definida por el cociente entre el total de dias de licencias medicas y los dias potencialmente trabajables. Se utilizo analisis de regresion logistica para investigar la asociacion entre incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% en el periodo y las variables sexo, cargo, edad, tiempo de actuacion, regimen de trabajo, tabaquismo, hipertension arterial, indice de masa corporal, actividad fisica, riesgo coronario, sueno, glicemia, diabetes no controlada, enfermedad del aparato cardiovascular, digestivo, aparato locomotor, neurologica, neoplasia, posturas forzadas en el trabajo, satisfaccion con el trabajo, relacionamiento con el jefe y atencion concentrada en el trabajo. RESULTADOS : La incidencia promedio de faltas con licencias medicas > 5,0% en el periodo de la cohorte fue de 15,5%. El modelo logistico revelo que trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas > 5,0% tuvieron 2,6 veces mas chance de ser del sexo femenino; 2,0 veces mas chances de ser fumador; 1,9 veces mas chance de ser ex-fumador; 2,1 veces mas chance de relatar sueno anormal y 10,5 veces mas chances de estar insatisfechos con el trabajo, en comparacion con los trabajadores con incidencia promedio de faltas < 5,0% en el periodo. CONCLUSIONES : Sexo femenino, ser fumador o ex-fumador, estar insatisfecho con el trabajo y relatar sueno anormal son buenos predictores del ausentismo en el trabajo por enfermedad.OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for absenteeism among workers with sick leave in an oil company. METHODS A case-control study (120 cases and 656 controls) nested in a retrospective cohort study following up all employees of an oil company in the North-Northeast of Brazil from 2007 to 2009. The response variable used to represent absenteeism with sick leave was the average incidence of sick leave, defined as the ratio between total sick days and potential working days in the period. Logistic regression techniques were used to investigate the association between average incidence of sick leave > 5.0% over the period and the variables sex, position, age, time at work, shift work, smoking, arterial hypertension, body mass index, physical activity, coronary risk, sleep, glycemia, non-managed diabetes, cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, neurological and neoplastic diseases, straining body positioning during work, satisfaction at work, relationship with management, and concentrated attention at work. RESULTS Average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% in the cohort period was 15.5%. The logistic model revealed that workers with average incidence of sick leave higher than 5.0% were 2.6 times more likely to be female; 2.0 time more likely to be smokers; 1.8 time more likely to be former smokers; 2.2 times more likely to report abnormal sleep and 10.5 times more likely to report dissatisfaction with their than workers with average incidence of sick leave ≤ 5.0% in the period. CONCLUSIONS In this population, female gender, being a smoker or a former smoker, reporting dissatisfaction with the job and reporting abnormal sleep are good predictors of occupational absenteeism with sick leave.