Absenteeism

The use of a complementary medicine approach, and specifically of the popular medicine Oscillococcinum, for the treatment of influenza-like syndromes remains controversial. This brief paper analyses the currently available literature on this homeopathic preparation and the Cochrane Collaboration's 2006 systematic review, along with other recent studies, in order to clarify certain fundamental aspects of its use in the treatment of influenza.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to evaluate the use of aromatherapy massage and music as an intervention to cope with the occupational stress and anxiety that emergency department staff experience. The study also aimed to compare any differences in results between a summer and winter 12-week massage plan. BACKGROUND: Emergency nurses are subjected to significant stressors during their work and it is known that workloads and patient demands influence the role stress has on nurses.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize factors associated with physical inactivity among employees with access to workplace wellness program. METHODS: We examined data on physical inactivity, defined as exercise less than once a week, from the 2010 health risk assessment completed by employees at a major academic institution (N = 16,976). RESULTS: Among employees, 18% of individuals reported physical activity less than once a week.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physical therapy often is used in the management of work-related low back pain (LBP). Little information, however, is known about the types of interventions used by physical therapists in the management of this condition. The objective of this study was to describe the interventions used by physical therapists in the treatment of workers with acute or subacute LBP, with or without radiating pain below the knee. SUBJECTS: Clinical management questionnaires for workers without and with radiating pain were returned by 190 and 139 physical therapists, respectively.

The musculoskeletal injury (MSI) rate in the Richmond Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) increased significantly in 2000 and 2001 by 130%. As part of a quality initiative program, the problem was identified, assessed, and a plan was developed that involved the installation of ceiling-mounted patient lifts (CMPL) and the incorporation of a patient positioning sling. The evaluation process included a survey given to the ICU nursing staff prior to the implementation of the CMPL and repeated three, six, and 18 months after implementation.

OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines for the prevention and treatment of migraine in children. DESIGN: This was an observational, prospective, open, nonrandomized, noncomparative, multicenter study. SETTING/LOCATION: The study was conducted in 12 countries worldwide. SUBJECTS: Fifty-nine (59) physicians trained in the prescription of homeopathic medicines and 168 children, aged 5-15 years, with definite or probable migraine diagnosed using International Headache Society 2004 criteria were the subjects in this study.

The cost of care and the number of days lost because of work injury were analyzed from information gathered in a postal card survey sent to all Iowa back or neck injury claimants (sprain/strain) on record for 1984. Descriptive findings for the flow of care of the respondents were evaluated and a comparison made of the benefits and costs of care received by patients treated by chiropractic doctors (DCs), medical doctors (MDs) or osteopathic doctors (DOs).

This paper reports on time loss incurred by chiropractic (DC) and medical (MD) claimants with disabling low back work-related injuries in Oregon. Clinical categorization was accomplished using medical records and was based on reported symptomatology, objective clinical findings and functional impairment. The median time loss days for cases with comparable clinical presentation (severity) was 9.0 for DC cases and 11.5 for MD cases. Chiropractic claimants had a higher frequency of return to work with 1 wk or less of time loss.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares patients referred to chiropractic practices by medical doctors with patients who came directly to the chiropractors offices without referral. BACKGROUND: Because Norway has legislation requiring referral as a precondition for reimbursement by the national social security system, we have a unique opportunity to examine current practice when it comes to musculoskeletal conditions and to compare demographic, diagnostic and other data between the referred and nonreferred groups.

STUDY DESIGN: The administrative database maintained by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (United States) was used to compare health care use and indemnity costs within the natural history of work-related low back pain disability. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relative costs of health care services and indemnity at different phases of work disability. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Existing studies have compared total costs along the work disability continuum.