'I think positivity breeds positivity': a qualitative exploration of the role of family members in supporting those with chronic musculoskeletal pain to stay at work

Background: It is proposed that family members are important sources of support in helping those with chronic musculoskeletal pain to remain at work, but the phenomenon remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to examine the extent and nature of support provided by family members in this respect. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from workers and their ‘significant others’ spouses/partners/close family members) in two un-related studies focused on working with pain; one conducted in the United Kingdom (n = 10 dyads) and one in the Netherlands (n = 21 dyads). Thematic analysis techniques were applied to both sets of data independently, and findings were then assimilated to establish common themes. Results: Findings were broadly similar in both studies. Workers acknowledged significant other support in helping them to manage their pain and remain at work, and their descriptions of the type of support provided and required were echoed by their significant others. Three common themes were identified - ‘connectivity’, ‘activity’ and ‘positivity’. Worker and significant other responses were largely congruent, but significant others provided more in-depth information on the nature of their support, their concerns and the impact on their relationship. Conclusions: This research presents novel insights about the specific contribution made by significant others in helping their relatives with chronic musculoskeletal pain to stay at work. These findings add to the under-represented ‘social’ dimension of the biopsychosocial model currently applied to our understanding and treatment of pain, and point to harnessing support from significant others as a potentially effective management strategy

Hydrogenation of Polyesters to Polyether Polyols

The amount of plastic waste is continuously increasing. Besides conventional recycling, one solution to deal with this problem could be to use this waste as a resource for novel materials. In this study, polyesters are hydrogenated to give polyether polyols by using in situ-generated Ru-Triphos catalysts in combination with Lewis acids. The choice of Lewis acid and its concentration relative to the ruthenium catalyst are found to determine the selectivity of the reaction. Monitoring of the molecular weight during the reaction confirms a sequential mechanism in which the diols that are formed by hydrogenation are etherified to the polyethers. To probe the applicability of this tandem hydrogenation etherification approach, a range of polyester substrates is investigated. The oligoether products that form in these reactions have the chain lengths that are appropriate for application in the adhesives and coatings industries. This strategy makes polyether polyols accessible that are otherwise difficult to obtain from conventional fossil-based feedstocks. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

The South African Defence Force and Horse Mounted Infantry Operations, 1974-1985

The South African Defence Force (SADF) made effective use of the horse mounted soldier in the Namibian Independence War or ‘Border War’, 1966 to 1989, in Namibia (South West African) and Angola, in a conflict usually depicted as a series of high profile mechanised infantry operations. Nevertheless, the legacy of the horse-mounted infantryman of the South African War era commando was evident in this unit, which proved competent in the counter-insurgency patrol in the Area of Operations, and subsequently domestic deployment during civilian struggle during the State of Emergency. This article offers an exploration of the Potchefstroom Equestrian Centre’s contribution to horse and rider training and the military use of horses in counterinsurgency and urban peace enforcement operations in the period c.1974-1985.</p

Arbeidsparticipatie met chronische pijn:wat kan de omgeving bijdragen?

Er zijn steeds meer aanwijzingen dat partner en familie van een patiënt/werknemer met chronische pijn aan het bewegingsapparaat een belangrijke invloed hebben op diens arbeidsparticipatie. Tot dusverre waren vooral de negatieve gevolgen van interactie met naaste familie onderzocht. Recent onderzoek maakt duidelijk dat partner en familie tevens positief kunnen bijdragen aan arbeidsparticipatie. Dat opent perspectieven voor verbeterde vormen van arbeidsrevalidatie

Combining economic and social goals in the design of production systems by using ergonomics standards

In designing of production systems, economic and social goals can be combined, if ergonomics is integrated into the design process. More than 50 years of ergonomics research and practice have resulted in a large number of ergonomics standards for designing physical and organizational work environments. This paper gives an overview of the 174 international ISO and European CEN standards in this field, and discusses their applicability in design proces

Direct and indirect costs of tuberculosis among immigrant patients in the Netherlands

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In low tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries TB affects mostly immigrants in the productive age group. Little empirical information is available about direct and indirect TB-related costs that patients face in these high-income countries. We assessed the direct and indirect costs of immigrants with TB in the Netherlands.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey at 14 municipal health services and 2 specialized TB hospitals was conducted. Interviews were administered to first or second generation immigrants, 18 years or older, with pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB, who were on treatment for 1–6 months. Out of pocket expenditures and time loss, related to TB, was assessed for different phases of the current TB illness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total 60 patients were interviewed. Average direct costs spent by households with a TB patient amounted €353. Most costs were spent when being hospitalized. Time loss (mean 81 days) was mainly due to hospitalization (19 days) and additional work days lost (60 days), and corresponded with a cost estimation of €2603.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even in a country with a good health insurance system that covers medication and consultation costs, patients do have substantial extra expenditures. Furthermore, our patients lost on average 2.7 months of productive days. TB patients are economically vulnerable.</p

Staying at work with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain:a qualitative study of workers' experiences

BACKGROUND: Many people with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CMP) have decreased work ability. The majority, however, stays at work despite their pain. Knowledge about workers who stay at work despite chronic pain is limited, narrowing our views on work participation. The aim of this study was to explore why people with CMP stay at work despite pain (motivators) and how they manage to maintain working (success factors). METHODS: A semi-structured interview was conducted among 21 subjects who stay at work despite CMP. Participants were included through purposeful sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and imported into computer software Atlas.ti. Data was analyzed by means of thematic analysis. The interviews consisted of open questions such as: "Why are you working with pain?" or "How do you manage working while having pain?" RESULTS: A total of 16 motivators and 52 success factors emerged in the interviews. Motivators were categorized into four themes: work as value, work as therapy, work as income generator, and work as responsibility. Success factors were categorized into five themes: personal characteristics, adjustment latitude, coping with pain, use of healthcare services, and pain beliefs. CONCLUSIONS: Personal characteristics, well-developed self-management skills, and motivation to work may be considered to be important success factors and prerequisites for staying at work, resulting in behaviors promoting staying at work such as: raising adjustment latitude, changing pain-coping strategies, organizing modifications and conditions at work, finding access to healthcare services, and asking for support. Motivators and success factors for staying at work may be used for interventions in rehabilitation and occupational medicine, to prevent absenteeism, or to promote a sustainable return to work. This qualitative study has evoked new hypotheses about staying at work; quantitative studies on staying at work are needed to obtain further evidence