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Based on earlier studies, farmers have poorer work ability compared to workers in most other occupations. The aim of this study was to explore if organic production has a positive effect on producers' work ability while controlling for demographic and production characteristics. This study used telephone interview data collected by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 2014-2015. The material consisted of 2,164 farmers: 231 in organic production and 1,933 in conventional production. Work ability was measured with a single question regarding the farmers' current work ability compared with their lifetime best on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning unable to work. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Organic production had a negative effect on work ability, while larger farm size, experiencing economic uncertainty rarely/never/occasionally (vs. often), age under 55 years, having occupational health coverage, and experiencing low amounts of physical strain or mental strain had positive effects in a multivariable model. While this study could not consider potential biases from the farmers' existing health status at the time of switching to organic production and other sources, it is clear that greater attention needs to be paid to improving worker health, safety, and wellness in organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study discussing the problems of Work-related stress in working societies and its management by Finnish Enterprises. Topics discussed include the assessment of work-related stress methods in 40 enterprises in the metropolitan area of Finland in May 2010 through questionnaire, increased work-related stress in workplaces due to competition-related changes in working life, and emphasizing the importance of preventing stress factors by the European social partners.

Aims and objectives Evidence-based guidelines are currently the most relevant source of information in practice. The adherence to and use of guidelines is often influenced by attitudes towards the guidelines themselves, which have not been sufficiently explored in occupational health. This study examines the attitude of Finnish occupational nurses' and doctors' attitudes towards evidence-based guidelines. Methods Ten occupational doctors and eight occupational nurses were interviewed in Southern Finland on their attitudes towards evidence-based guidelines in 2009. Results The nurses were not very familiar with the concept of evidence-based medicine. Rather, they used recommendations developed in their workplace or by their employer. The evidence base of these recommendations was not clear. The doctors considered the evidence-based guidelines reliable and practical, but did not always act according to them. Participants felt that they did not have time to check guidelines during their working hours. Participants wished for clearer, shorter guidelines on occupational health care topics, which would help in their practical daily work and clarify roles in teamwork. Conclusions Based on these positive attitudes, the use of guidelines may be more common than it seems. The viewpoints of all occupational health professional groups should be taken into account in guideline development, particularly on the availability and usability of the guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Construction work consists of numerous factors that influence workers' occupational health and that load the musculoskeletal system in particular. Musculoskeletal disorders are responsible for over a third of all sick leaves lasting over nine days in the construction industry. Occupational health services (OHS) were organized for 85% of the construction workers in our study. The proportion of construction workers who had suffered from chronic or repetitive neck and shoulder, shoulder or arm, or low-back disorders was 55.6%, 44.8% and 42.1%, respectively. Those who felt that they had received enough information, advice or guidance from OHS concerning work posture, work performance or work tools were more often those who had not suffered from shoulder or arm disorders (60.9% vs. 39.1%, p=.024, respectively) or low-back disorders (63.6% vs. 36.4%, p=.034, respectively) during the last month than those who had. Those who had received enough support from OHS concerning maintenance of work ability were more often workers who had not suffered from low-back disorders during the last month than those who had (63.3% vs. 36.7%, p=.004, respectively). OHS should focus more on workers who would really benefit from their activities at a particular time and in a particular situation (primary, secondary or tertiary prevention) and who are themselves devoted to improving their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a qualitative study conducted on physicians and nurses of Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Finland to assess work-related stress management. According to the study, there is a need for structured guidelines for the management of work related stress. It also informs that the roles of the physicians, nurses and psychologists should be clarified in teamwork.

Abstract: In Finland, occupational health services have been developed based on the 1979 law that was updated in 2002. Cooperation among OH specialists, researchers, authorities, OH-units, interest groups and clients is characteristic of the development of farmers'' occupational health services (FOHS). The systematic planning and development of FOHS have been conducted since 1979 by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in collaboration with the Social Insurance Institution (SII) and the Farmers'' Social Insurance Institution (FSII). In 1985, the National Board of Health issued an ordinance initiating FOHS in municipal health care centres according to the proposals of the research team. Thereafter, FOHS have been continually evaluated and developed. In addition, farmers'' health hazards at work and their work related diseases, mortality and accidents have been studied in follow-up surveys in 1979, 1982, 1986, 1992 and 2004. A training program for FOHS personnel started in 1981. The functional adequacy and productivity of FOHS was studied in the surveys of 1989, 1995, 2000 and 2004. A recommendation for applying Good Occupational Health Practice-ordinance (GOHP) in FOHS was issued in 2000. Experiences, needs and expectations of farmers in relation to FOHS were studied in 1992, 2001 and 2004. The results of the survey of the year 2004 and the statistics of the SII an FSII show that functional adequacy of FOHS had improved from the level observed in 1996. The coverage of FOHS has increased from 32% in 1999 to 41% in 2004 of all insured farmers. According to the statistics of the SII the functional adequacy of FOHS has increased. The checking of working conditions is something that has increased in particular. Coverage of FOHS has also increased in some regions. The main limitations for GOHP in FOHS are still the lack of resources and training of OH personnel in many OHS units and the inactivity of farmers as well as local FOHS advisory boards. The most important challenges are to improve the effectiveness and coverage of FOHS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Work disability is a complex issue that requires preventive efforts from healthcare systems and individuals, and that too often results in disability pensions (DP). While many studies have attempted to characterize risk factors of work disability, many showing for example a link between socioeconomic positions, working conditions and frequent attendance to OH primary care it is not known if frequent attendance is associated with DP despite the sociodemographic factors. This study aims to address this gap and examine the association between frequent attendance to OH primary care and DP, when adjusted by sociodemographic factors., Methods: This study combines routine medical record data of an occupational health service provider with comprehensive national registers. Medical record data were used to define groups of frequent attenders to OH primary care (FA) (1-year-FA, 2-year-FA, persistent-FA and non-FA) from 2014 to 2016. The sociodemographic factors (including i.e. educational level, occupational class, unemployment periods) were derived from Statistic Finland and DP decisions were derived from Finnish Centre for Pensions. Association of frequent attendance to OH primary care with DP decisions were analyzed and adjusted by sociodemographic factors., Results: In total, 66,381 patients were included. Basic and intermediate education along with manual and lower non-manual work predicted frequent attendance to OH primary care. Unemployment in 2013 did not predict frequent attendance to OH primary care. Frequent attendance to OH primary care was associated with DP within next two years, even when adjusted for sociodemographic factors. The association of frequent attendance to OH primary care with DP grew stronger as high service use persisted over time., Conclusions: Frequent attendance to OH primary care is associated with DP risk in the near future despite the underlying sociodemographic differences. Patients using OH primary care services extensively should be identified and rehabilitative needs and measures necessary to continue in the work force should be explored. Sociodemographic issues that co-exist should be explored and considered when planning interventions., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Occupational health service (OHS) is the main provider of primary care services for the working population in Finland. We investigated whether socioeconomic differences in the utilization of OHS predict sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders. We used register linkage data covering the employees of the City of Helsinki aged 18-34 years ( N = 6545) and 35-54 years ( N = 15,296) from 2009 to 2014. The outcome was medically certified long-term (over 11 days) SA due to mental disorders. Cox regression analyses were performed to obtain hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Employees with low socioeconomic position (SEP) used OHS more frequently. The number of OHS visits independently predicted SA due to mental disorders. HRs were 1.59 (95% CI 1.35, 1.86) for those with frequent visits and 1.73 (95% CI 1.30, 2.29) for those with a clustered visit pattern among 18-34 year old employees; and 1.46 (95% CI 1.18, 1.81) and 1.41 (95% CI 1.14, 1.74) among 35-54 year old employees, respectively. In both age groups, lower education and routine non-manual worker position indicated the highest probability of SA. Low SEP predicts both high OHS utilization and subsequent SA due to mental disorders. Medical records may be used to accurately predict future SA, and the results indicate that preventive measures should be targeted particularly to younger employees with lower SEP.