The Relationship of Occupational Health Nurses’ Experiences with Associated Departments in Relation to Project Development of Mental Health Care for Primary Preventive Treatment

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship and experiences of occupational health nurses (OHNs) and related departments in project development of mental health care for primary treatment in the Japanese occupational health setting. Method: A total of 235 OHNs who are members of the Japan Academy of Occupational Health Nursing were sent an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included items on the following: the OHN’s background, whether the OHN had experience in project development, the communication between the associated departments, the Japanese version of the Work Engagement Scale (UWES-J), occupational assessments, workplace assessments, and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) for health promotion in companies and the OHN’s working environment. We performed logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between experience and these harmonious relationships with other associated departments. Result: Responses from 61 OHNs (valid response rate: 25.9%) were analyzed. The mean number of years of service as an OHN was 18.9, and 82% of respondents had experience in project development. The logistic analysis further revealed that OHNs who had experience in project development of mental health care usually had a harmonious relationship with other associated departments. Conclusion: To promote mental health care for workers, OHNs have the capability to create individual and workplace assessments, enhance their work engagement, and make further improvements to their working environment. .

Mental Functioning of Workers with Cancer Diagnosis by Brazilian Version of the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire—WRFQ-Br

Aim: To evaluate data related to mental work functioning of workers with cancer diagnosis in radiotherapy in a private service in the city of Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Method: It consists in a cross-sectional, observational and analytical study with comparison between cancer patients and healthy people, using the Brazilian version of the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire (WRFQ-Br). Descriptive and statistical analysis is performed by the Mann-Whitney test. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups in the evaluation of mental demand;however, the population diagnosed with malignant neoplasm submitted to radiotherapy had unexpected higher scores, reflecting lower mental exigency. Conclusions: The observed context may occur due to extensive support of family, government and interdisciplinary team of health care for individuals diagnosed with cancer. This data provide support for new research studies related to the importance of the work to promote mental health, considering aspects related to social interaction and productivity as the support system members. The importance of disseminating these results and limitation is based in the necessity of investments to improve research and actions to promote the permanence and early return to work for cancer survivors in Brazil and Latin America.

Job and housework during radiotherapy: Comparisons between leaving out activities and disease treatment

Background: Researches about work limitations related to cancer treatment and survival are recent. This study describes the characteristics of patients who keep their work and house work activities during radiotherapy, and comparison between some disease data and leaving out those activities. Methods: Data were collected from medical records of patients admitted in a Brazilian Radiotherapy Private Health Service. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, as hypotheses texts, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Data of 111 individuals were presented;being 65.77% of workers of paid activities and 34.34% of careers of home. Between employees, 50.7% kept their job activities, and 92.1% between house workers. The association between absence from work activities and tumor type (primary or metastasis) and between absence and KPS (p < 0.05) were observed. Discussion: It is observed that breast, brain and lung tumors significantly affect employees’ performance, causing the withdrawal of workers from their activities. Data from the literature review clearly demonstrated the importance of work activities in social support of the worker, but his overall performance may be impaired. Implications for cancer survivors: The study indicates the need for assessment of the individual, work or activity environment and required as well as the continuity research aiming at the development and validation of evaluation tools such as questionnaires or scales.