The Impact of Work on Musculoskeletal Complaints and Work Disability

In dit proefschrift wordt het probleem van klachten van het houdings- en bewegingsapparaat (HBA) in de arbeidssituatie benaderd middels een model dat het arbeidsongeschiktheidsproces beschrijft binnen de socio-demografische en socio-politieke context. Gegeven de complexiteit van het model, zal de scoop van dit proefschrift worden beperkt tot demografische, gezondheidsgerelateerde en werkgerelateerde factoren die het ziekteverzuim proces beïnvloeden. Deze factoren zijn gebruikt om informatie te verkrijgen over de specifieke rol van werkgerelateerde factoren en individuele karakteristieken in het ontstaan van HBA klachten (in het bijzonder lage rugklachten), duur van ziekteverzuim, herstel en werkhervatting.In this thesis the problem of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) within the work situation is addressed using a model describing the work disability process within its sociodemographic and socio-political context. Due to the complexity of this model, the scope of this thesis was restricted to demographic, health-related and work-related factors that influence the work disability process. These factors were used to gain more information on the specific role of work-related risk factors and individual characteristics in the onset of MSD (in particular low back pa

De wijkverpleegkundige als Zichtbare schakel in de wijk in Rotterdam

__Abstract__ Doel van de evaluatiestudie van Zichtbare Schakels Rotterdam was om i) inzicht te krijgen in de kosten en baten van de inzet van Zichtbare Schakels voor cliënten, ii) na te gaan in hoeverre cliënten, Zichtbare Schakels en andere professionals tevreden zijn over de zorg en ondersteuning door de Zichtbare Schakel, en iii) beschrijven in hoeverre de samenwerking met de Zichtbare Schakels volgens andere professionals bijdraagt aan de zorgverlening. Interessante bevinding uit de kosteneffectiviteit analyses is dat er een verschuiving in kosten lijkt plaats te vinden tussen de 3 e

Influence of modified work on return to work for employees on sick leave due to musculoskeletal complaints

Objective: To determine which individual and work-related factors are associated with performing modified work and to evaluate the influence of modified work on the duration of sick leave and health-related outcomes among employees with musculoskeletal complaints. Study design: A prospective study with 12 months follow-up. Methods: In this prospective study a total of 164 employees on sick leave for 2-6 weeks due to musculoskeletal complaints completed 2 questionnaires. At baseline we gathered information about individual characteristics, physical and psychosocial workload, and disease specific and general health. The follow-up questionnaire, sent to respondents who returned to their original job on full duty, collected information about having performed modified work, and disease-specific and general health. Results: Employees were less likely to perform modified work when their regular work was characterized by frequent lifting and their relationship with colleagues was less than good. Employees were more likely to return to modified work when they had a better mental health, had prolonged periods of standing in their regular job and had less skill discretion. Duration of sick leave was influenced by chronicity of complaints and disability, but not by modified work. Conclusion: Modified work, as the only advice given by a occupational health physician, did not influence the total duration of sick lea

Effects of controlled inspiratory muscle training in patients with COPD: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to review studies investigating the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and to find out whether patient characteristics influence the efficacy of IMT. A systematic literature search was performed using the Medline and Embase databases. On the basis of a methodological framework, a critical review was performed and summary effect-sizes were calculated by applying fixed and random effects models. Both IMT alone and IMT as adjunct to general exercise reconditioning significantly increased inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. A significant effect was found for dyspnoea at rest and during exercise. Improved functional exercise capacity tended to be an additional effect of IMT alone and as an adjunct to general exercise reconditioning, but this trend did not reach statistical significance. No significant correlations were found for training effects with patient characteristics. However, subgroup analysis in IMT plus exercise training revealed that patients with inspiratory muscle weakness improved significantly more compared to patients without inspiratory muscle weakness. From this review it is concluded that inspiratory muscle training is an important addition to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme directed at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with inspiratory muscle weakness. The effect on exercise performance is still to be determined

Even Buurten: Een wijkgerichte aanpak voor thuiswonende ouderen in Rotterdam

__Abstract__ Door de dubbele vergrijzing en noodzaak van kostenbesparing in de zorg wordt steeds meer een appèl gedaan op ondersteuning van ouderen door informele netwerken. Vrijwel alle ouderen willen zo lang mogelijk zelfstandig blijven leven in hun eigen buurt. Een sterk ondersteunend netwerk is een belangrijke voorwaarde om dat doel te bereiken. In Rotterdam is sinds mei 2011 het project ‘Even Buurten’ actief waarin professionals uit zorg en welzijn via een integrale wijkaanpak proberen de sociale netwerken rondom thuiswonende ouderen te versterken. Dit met als doel om (vroeg)signalering mogelijk te maken en concrete hulp en ondersteuning te bieden aan kwetsbare ouderen. Uitgangspunt hierbij is de wens van de oudere zelf, wat hij of zij zelf nog kan doen, zonodig met ondersteuning uit het informele netwerk en –pas als dat niet voldoende blijkt te zijn– professionele ondersteuning. Onderzoekers van de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR), instituut Beleid en Management Gezondheidszorg (iBMG) evalueren het Even Buurten project onder leiding van Professor Anna Nieboer. Doel van deze rapportage over de tussentijdse bevindingen van de evaluatie is i) inzicht geven in de relaties tussen kenmerken van ouderen zoals, geslacht, opleidingsniveau, etnische achtergrond, kwetsbaarheid en welzijn en buurtkenmerken zoals sociale cohesie, veiligheid en kwaliteit van de buurt, ii) de behoeften van (kwetsbare) ouderen beschrijven als het gaat om hun fysieke en sociale omgeving, iii) inventariseren in hoeverre een integrale wijkaanpak als Even Buurten bijdraagt aan de kwaliteit van leven van kwetsbare ouderen, iv) nagaan wat de kosten en baten zijn van de inzet van spillen in de buurt, v) beschrijven wat de ervaringen van de spillen zijn in het Even Buurten project en vi) rapporteren welke barrières er zijn bij deze wijkgerichte aanpak

Even Buurten: De complexiteit van een wijkgerichte aanpak

De inzet van een integrale wijkaanpak wordt steeds vaker aanbevolen als middel om een ondersteunend klimaat te bieden aan het groeiend aantal zelfstandig wonende ouderen met een (complexe) hulpvraag. Binnen een integrale wijkaanpak werken de gemeente(n), zorg- en welzijnsorganisaties en informele zorgverleners samen om de beschikbare zorg in de wijk te coördineren zodat beter kan worden ingespeeld op de specifieke behoeften van de kwetsbare ouderen. Hoewel een integrale wijkaanpak steeds vaker wordt aangeprezen als middel om zelfstandigwonende ouderen te onde

Dairy foods and osteoporosis: an example of assessing the health-economic impact of food products

__Abstract__ Osteoporosis has become a major health concern, carrying a substantial burden in terms of health outcomes and costs. We constructed a model to quantify the potential effect of an additional intake of calcium from dairy foods on the risk of osteoporotic fracture, taking a health economics perspective. Introduction: This study seeks, first, to estimate the impact of an increased dairy consumption on reducing the burden of osteoporosis in terms of health outcomes and costs, and, second, to contribute to a generic methodology for assessing the health-economic outcomes of food products. Methods: We constructed a model that generated the number of hip fractures that potentially can be prevented with dairy foods intakes, and then calculated costs avoided, considering the healthcare costs of hip fractures and the costs of additional dairy foods, as well as the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to hip fractures associated with low nutritional calcium intake. Separate analyses were done for The Netherlands, France, and Sweden, three countries with different levels of dairy products consumption. Results: The number of hip fractures that may potentially be prevented each year with additional dairy products was highest in France (2,023), followed by Sweden (455) and The Netherlands (132). The yearly number of DALYs lost was 6,263 for France, 1,246 for Sweden, and 374 for The Netherlands. The corresponding total costs that might potentially be avoided are about 129 million, 34 million, and 6 million Euros, in these countries, respectively. Conclusions: This study quantified the potential nutrition economic impact of increased dairy consumption on osteoporotic fractures, building connections between the fields of nutrition and health economics. Future research should further collect longitudinal population data for documenting the net benefits of increasing dairy consumption on bone health and on the related utilization of healthcare resources

Current and Future Incidence and Costs of Osteoporosis-Related Fractures in the Netherlands

This study aims to estimate the incidence and costs of osteoporosis-related fractures in The Netherlands in 2010 and project them to 2030. The incidence and costs of five different types of fractures (spine, hip, upper extremity, lower extremity, wrist/distal forearm, other) were derived from claims data of all Dutch healthcare insurers. Given that fracture-codes in claims data do not indicate whether fractures are related to osteoporosis, we used a large dataset with DXA measurements to attribute fractures to osteoporosis. Future projections used four scenarios: (1) demographic, (2) demographic ? annual trend in incidence rates, (3) demographic ? annual trend in incidence rates ? annual trend in costs, and (4) treatment. Of all registered fractures, 32 % was attributed to osteoporosis (36 % in women and 21 % in men). Over time (2010–2030) the increase in incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures was estimated to be 40 % (scenario 1); for the hip 60–79 % (scenario 1–2). In 2010, approximately €200 million was spent on treatment of osteoporosis-related fractures, most on fractures of the hip followed by wrist/distal forearm. In both men and women, the excess costs due to osteoporosis-related fractures were highest for hip fractures (€11,000–€13,000 per person), followed by spine fractures (€6000–€7000).The costs for osteoporosisrelated fractures were projected to increase with 50 % from 2010 to 2030 (scenario 1); for the hip 60–148 % (scenario 1–3). Pharmacotherapeutic prevention can lead to costsavings of €377 million in 2030 (scenario 1 and 4 combined). The projected increase in incidence and costs of osteoporosis-related fractures calls for a wider use of prevention and treatment