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The economic impact of depression in a workplace
buildings. The pig farmers were exposed to a total dust level of 2.41 mg x ms3. The respirable particle concentration was low. The pig and dairy farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of cough and morning phlegm than the referents. Before the methacholine challenge, the dairy farmers had nonsignificantly lower mean lung function values than the other groups. Among the subjects with no history of asthma, nonspecific bronchial hyperactivity was significantly higher among the pig and dairy farmers than among the referents. There was a fall in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEVt,u) that was greater than 10% in 6.7% of the re.ferents, 17.9% of the swine workers, and 35.6% of the dairy farmers. The result was unchanged after adjustment for the initial FEV, o. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among the pig farmers without base-line lung function impairment. However, both the pig and the dairy farmers had increased bronchial reactivity. The Economic Impact of Depression in a Workplace. L). J. Conti and W. N. Burton, Joumul of Occupational Medicine, 3q9),
983.
Epidemiological studies hold that depressive disorders are among the most common forms of mental illness in the population and should pro duce a substantial economic impact upon corpo rate America. However, only a few studies have examined the economic impact of depression in the workplace. A study of the medical and disability costs of depressive disonlers was conducted at the Fit Chicago Corporation. In this analysis, short-term disability data, medical plan costs, and Employee Assistance Program referral data for depressive disorders were compared with selected common chronic medical conditions. The average length of disability and the disability relapse rate was greater for depressive disorders than for the comparison medical groups. Depressive disorders were also found to have the largest medical plan costs of all behavioral health diagnoses. Finally, depressive disorders proved to be the most common. Axis-I-level diagnosis encountered in the Employee Assistance Program. These findings have important irnplications for medical benefit plan design, disability plan management, and occupational health professionals’ training. The observed higher preva-
lence of these disorders in women force their recognition as a women’s health issue. Reliability and Validity of a Newly Developed Test of Physical Work Performance. L). E. Lechner, J. R. Jackson, D. L, Roth, and K. V Straaton, Journal of Occupational Medicine, 36(9), 997. This study examined the interrater reliability and validity of a newly developed test of physical work abilities, the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. Eleven physical therapists were trained to administer and score this evaluation. From this group, two therapists at a time simultaneously and independently evaluated 50 patients with musculoskeletal disorders as they performed the tasks of the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. At the conclusion of the evaluation, each therapist determined the safe level of physical work for each patient. A comparison of the two independent evaluations was used to determine reliability. To determine validity, the predicted level of work was compared with the actual level of work. Kappa coefficient between the two therapists on the level of work was .83. Spearman rho correlations between the predicted and actual levels of work ranged from .41 to .55. Only 14-18% were working above the level predicted by the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. These results indicate high interrater reliability. Given the lack of a perfect standard for validity comparisons, these results also provide evidence in support of convergent validity. The test can be used in making decisions regarding return to work after injury, preemployment placement, and vocational exploration.
Public Safety Motorboat Propeller Injuries in Wisconsin: Enumeration and Prevention. S. H! Hargatien, Z Karlson, J. S. Vemick, and C. Aprahamian, The Journal of Trauma, 37(2), 187. Studyobjective. To ascertain the nature and extent of motorboat propeller injuries in Wisconsin. Design. Retrospective study of deaths and injuries from outboard motor propellers reported Journal of Safety Research
983.
Epidemiological studies hold that depressive disorders are among the most common forms of mental illness in the population and should pro duce a substantial economic impact upon corpo rate America. However, only a few studies have examined the economic impact of depression in the workplace. A study of the medical and disability costs of depressive disonlers was conducted at the Fit Chicago Corporation. In this analysis, short-term disability data, medical plan costs, and Employee Assistance Program referral data for depressive disorders were compared with selected common chronic medical conditions. The average length of disability and the disability relapse rate was greater for depressive disorders than for the comparison medical groups. Depressive disorders were also found to have the largest medical plan costs of all behavioral health diagnoses. Finally, depressive disorders proved to be the most common. Axis-I-level diagnosis encountered in the Employee Assistance Program. These findings have important irnplications for medical benefit plan design, disability plan management, and occupational health professionals’ training. The observed higher preva-
lence of these disorders in women force their recognition as a women’s health issue. Reliability and Validity of a Newly Developed Test of Physical Work Performance. L). E. Lechner, J. R. Jackson, D. L, Roth, and K. V Straaton, Journal of Occupational Medicine, 36(9), 997. This study examined the interrater reliability and validity of a newly developed test of physical work abilities, the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. Eleven physical therapists were trained to administer and score this evaluation. From this group, two therapists at a time simultaneously and independently evaluated 50 patients with musculoskeletal disorders as they performed the tasks of the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. At the conclusion of the evaluation, each therapist determined the safe level of physical work for each patient. A comparison of the two independent evaluations was used to determine reliability. To determine validity, the predicted level of work was compared with the actual level of work. Kappa coefficient between the two therapists on the level of work was .83. Spearman rho correlations between the predicted and actual levels of work ranged from .41 to .55. Only 14-18% were working above the level predicted by the Physical Work Performance Evaluation. These results indicate high interrater reliability. Given the lack of a perfect standard for validity comparisons, these results also provide evidence in support of convergent validity. The test can be used in making decisions regarding return to work after injury, preemployment placement, and vocational exploration.
Public Safety Motorboat Propeller Injuries in Wisconsin: Enumeration and Prevention. S. H! Hargatien, Z Karlson, J. S. Vemick, and C. Aprahamian, The Journal of Trauma, 37(2), 187. Studyobjective. To ascertain the nature and extent of motorboat propeller injuries in Wisconsin. Design. Retrospective study of deaths and injuries from outboard motor propellers reported Journal of Safety Research