Papers by Vita Ligaya Dalgaard
Poster presentations, Oct 22, 2021
(ABR), dichotic digit test (DD). We examined auditory fatigue through the EchoScan test. Results ... more (ABR), dichotic digit test (DD). We examined auditory fatigue through the EchoScan test. Results Exposed workers had worse thresholds bilaterally at 4 kHz (p=0.0253 in right ear-RE; p=0.0436 in left ear-LE). Ipsilateral acoustic reflex levels were different between groups at the frequencies of 500 Hz (p=0.02 in RE; p=0.04 in LE) and 1 kHz (p=0.04 in LE). The only differences detected by the ABR was for the interpeak interval III-V (p=0.03 in RE; p=0.02 in LE). DD means (exposed= 89.5 ±13.33; control= 96.40±4.46), were only different in the LE (p=0.05). Echoscan detected a difference (p=0.0317) between the means of the exposed (4.58±6.8) and control (0±4.62) groups, indicating possible hearing fatigue in the exposed group. Conclusion Each of the hearing tests indicated differences between the groups, suggesting that occupational co-exposure to low noise and low concentrations of solvents can be harmful to hearing functions. The temporary effect of the exposure was detected by the EchoScan and the acoustic reflex of the stapedius muscle. The permanent effects were identified mainly at the level of the high brainstem and in the auditory ability of binaural integration. The EchoScan, can facilitate the early identification of auditory effects, while these are still temporary.
Oral Presentations, Oct 22, 2021
67.94), followed by knee injuries with a mean of 44.77 days (SD 62.03). Low back injuries had the... more 67.94), followed by knee injuries with a mean of 44.77 days (SD 62.03). Low back injuries had the shortest duration with a mean of 27.31 days (SD 45.49). There were different patterns of regional variation within jurisdictions. In three jurisdictions, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, higher CV values were observed for shoulder injuries (10.98, 12.03 and 15.65 respectively) and lower CVs observed for knee injuries (6.34, 9.77, 14.19 respectively). In contrast, in Alberta and Saskatchewan CVs were lower for shoulder injuries (4.47 and 4.92 respectively) and higher for low back injuries in Alberta (CV=8.27) and knee injuries in Saskatchewan (CV=13.49). Conclusion Findings suggest that variation across regions differs by jurisdiction and injury cohorts. This variation may reflect differences in approaches to treatment for specific injuries across jurisdictions. Further analysis will examine the association between work disability duration and workers' compensation healthcare utilization and spending in these cohorts.
Stress, Aug 19, 2020
Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The pr... more Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The primary aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine potential long-term consequences of previous ongoing work-related stress in terms of cognitive functioning four years after initial professional care seeking. We tested a group of patients with work-related stress complaints with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Patients were examined at a department of occupational medicine and tested at baseline, one-year follow-up and four-year follow-up. At each time point, we compared the performance of patients with healthy controls matched pairwise on sex, age and length of education. This paper presents the results from the four-year follow-up. Patients improved on their neuropsychological test performance during the four years but the main improvements took place during the first year. At baseline, the main impairments in the patient group concerned executive function and mental speed. At four-year follow-up, patients displayed slightly lower scores on the neuropsychological tests relative to controls but only the difference on immediate memory was significant corresponding to a small effect size (Cohen's d). More than half of the patients who participated in the four-year follow-up reported that they felt only slightly or partially recovered. The level of work participation among the former patients improved considerably during the four-year follow-up period.
Occupational Medicine
BackgroundStudies indicate that workers’ compensation claim processes may affect patients’ health... more BackgroundStudies indicate that workers’ compensation claim processes may affect patients’ health negatively. However, few studies focus on patients with mental health claims, and the claim process varies between countries.AimsThe aims of this study were to examine whether being notified to the Danish Labour Market Insurance with an occupational mental health condition was associated with changes in visits to the general practitioner (GP), use of medicine and annual income.MethodsStudy participants were 965 patients with a mental disorder examined at a department of occupational medicine. Of these, 669 patients were notified with an occupational mental disorder, 296 were not. Health-related outcomes, including GP visits and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs, were estimated at baseline during the year of medical examination, while annual income was estimated a year before the examination. The follow-up was the year after the year of examination for all outcomes. Outcomes were colle...
Stress, 2020
Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The pr... more Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The primary aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine potential long-term consequences of previous ongoing work-related stress in terms of cognitive functioning four years after initial professional care seeking. We tested a group of patients with work-related stress complaints with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Patients were examined at a department of occupational medicine and tested at baseline, one-year follow-up and four-year follow-up. At each time point, we compared the performance of patients with healthy controls matched pairwise on sex, age and length of education. This paper presents the results from the four-year follow-up. Patients improved on their neuropsychological test performance during the four years but the main improvements took place during the first year. At baseline, the main impairments in the patient group concerned executive function and mental speed. At four-year follow-up, patients displayed slightly lower scores on the neuropsychological tests relative to controls but only the difference on immediate memory was significant corresponding to a small effect size (Cohen's d). More than half of the patients who participated in the four-year follow-up reported that they felt only slightly or partially recovered. The level of work participation among the former patients improved considerably during the four-year follow-up period.
Stress, 2020
Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The pr... more Patients on sick leave due to work-related stress often present with cognitive complaints. The primary aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine potential long-term consequences of previous ongoing work-related stress in terms of cognitive functioning four years after initial professional care seeking. We tested a group of patients with work-related stress complaints with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Patients were examined at a department of occupational medicine and tested at baseline, one-year follow-up and four-year follow-up. At each time point, we compared the performance of patients with healthy controls matched pairwise on sex, age and length of education. This paper presents the results from the four-year follow-up. Patients improved on their neuropsychological test performance during the four years but the main improvements took place during the first year. At baseline, the main impairments in the patient group concerned executive function and mental speed. At four-year follow-up, patients displayed slightly lower scores on the neuropsychological tests relative to controls but only the difference on immediate memory was significant corresponding to a small effect size (Cohen's d). More than half of the patients who participated in the four-year follow-up reported that they felt only slightly or partially recovered. The level of work participation among the former patients improved considerably during the four-year follow-up period.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2018
Purpose Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions aimed at reducing work-related stres... more Purpose Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress indicate that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is more effective than other interventions. However, definitions of study populations are often unclear and there is a lack of interventions targeting both the individual and the workplace. The aim of this study was to determine whether a stress management intervention combining individual CBT and a workplace focus is superior to no treatment in the reduction of perceived stress and stress symptoms and time to lasting return to work (RTW) in a clinical sample. Methods Patients with work-related stress reactions or adjustment disorders were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 57, 84.2% female) or a control group (n = 80, 83.8% female). Subjects were followed via questionnaires and register data. The intervention contained individual CBT and the offer of a workplace meeting. We examined intervention effects by analysing group differences in score changes on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). We also tested if intervention led to faster lasting RTW. Results Mean baseline values of PSS were 24.79 in the intervention group and 23.26 in the control group while the corresponding values for GHQ were 21.3 and 20.27, respectively. There was a significant effect of time. 10 months after baseline, both groups reported less perceived stress and improved mental health. 4 months after baseline, we found significant treatment effects for both perceived stress and mental health. The difference in mean change in PSS after 4 months was − 3.09 (− 5.47, − 0.72), while for GHQ it was − 3.91 (− 7.15, − 0.68). There were no group differences in RTW. Conclusions The intervention led to faster reductions in perceived stress and stress symptoms amongst patients with workrelated stress reactions and adjustment disorders. 6 months after the intervention ended there were no longer differences between the groups.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2018
Purpose Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions aimed at reducing work-related stres... more Purpose Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress indicate that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is more effective than other interventions. However, definitions of study populations are often unclear and there is a lack of interventions targeting both the individual and the workplace. The aim of this study was to determine whether a stress management intervention combining individual CBT and a workplace focus is superior to no treatment in the reduction of perceived stress and stress symptoms and time to lasting return to work (RTW) in a clinical sample. Methods Patients with work-related stress reactions or adjustment disorders were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 57, 84.2% female) or a control group (n = 80, 83.8% female). Subjects were followed via questionnaires and register data. The intervention contained individual CBT and the offer of a workplace meeting. We examined intervention effects by analysing group differences in score changes on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). We also tested if intervention led to faster lasting RTW. Results Mean baseline values of PSS were 24.79 in the intervention group and 23.26 in the control group while the corresponding values for GHQ were 21.3 and 20.27, respectively. There was a significant effect of time. 10 months after baseline, both groups reported less perceived stress and improved mental health. 4 months after baseline, we found significant treatment effects for both perceived stress and mental health. The difference in mean change in PSS after 4 months was − 3.09 (− 5.47, − 0.72), while for GHQ it was − 3.91 (− 7.15, − 0.68). There were no group differences in RTW. Conclusions The intervention led to faster reductions in perceived stress and stress symptoms amongst patients with workrelated stress reactions and adjustment disorders. 6 months after the intervention ended there were no longer differences between the groups.
International Journal of Epidemiology
Work-a Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation, Jan 27, 2023
BACKGROUND: In Europe it is commonly accepted that psychosocial hazards may influence the mental ... more BACKGROUND: In Europe it is commonly accepted that psychosocial hazards may influence the mental health of employees. However, mental disorders such as depression are generally not acknowledged as an occupational disease covered by the workers compensation system. Studies indicate that workers compensation claim processes may affect employee’s health negatively due to a demanding case process. If filing a workers’ compensation claim can harm the employees’ health, it is highly relevant to pay attention to employees with mental health claims, as they are most likely vulnerable and face a very low chance of compensation. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how employees with work-related mental disorders experience the process of seeking workers compensation from the Danish Workers’ Compensation System. METHOD: Interview (N = 13) and questionnaire (N = 436) data from claimants were analysed. RESULTS: Analysis showed that even though many employees wished for the claim to influence the conditions at the workplace, there seemed to be a lack of preventive health and safety initiatives in the workplaces. Central stakeholders such as health and safety representatives were often not involved. Management involvement was often experienced negatively, and the Danish Working Environment Authority rarely conducted workplace inspections. Employees experienced inadequate information about the workers’ compensation process and experienced a lack of coordination between stakeholders. CONCLUSION: A more supportive and coordinated approach in the Workers’ Compensation System is recommendable. The processes in the system could be evaluated using the Social Insurance Literacy concept, to ensure sufficient support of the claimants and reduce potential harmful aspects of the process.
Foods
The link between acute stress, food pleasure and eating behavior in humans by employing measures ... more The link between acute stress, food pleasure and eating behavior in humans by employing measures of individual reward mechanisms has not been investigated as of yet. Having these insights is key to understanding why many people experience a change in eating behavior when experiencing stress. Thirty-five Danes (mean age 21.71 years) underwent a stress-inducing and relaxation-inducing task based on a randomized cross-over study design. Both tasks were combined with the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire, to investigate the effect of stress on specific measures of food reward. Furthermore, participants chose a snack, as a covert measure of actual food choice. The study found no effect on explicit liking, explicit wanting or relative preference. For implicit wanting, an effect was detected on high-fat sweet foods, with increasing scores for the stress-induced condition. Moreover, 54% chose a different snack following the stress-inducing condition. Interestingly, 14% chose to change the...
Poster Presentations, 2021
(ABR), dichotic digit test (DD). We examined auditory fatigue through the EchoScan test. Results ... more (ABR), dichotic digit test (DD). We examined auditory fatigue through the EchoScan test. Results Exposed workers had worse thresholds bilaterally at 4 kHz (p=0.0253 in right ear-RE; p=0.0436 in left ear-LE). Ipsilateral acoustic reflex levels were different between groups at the frequencies of 500 Hz (p=0.02 in RE; p=0.04 in LE) and 1 kHz (p=0.04 in LE). The only differences detected by the ABR was for the interpeak interval III-V (p=0.03 in RE; p=0.02 in LE). DD means (exposed= 89.5 ±13.33; control= 96.40±4.46), were only different in the LE (p=0.05). Echoscan detected a difference (p=0.0317) between the means of the exposed (4.58±6.8) and control (0±4.62) groups, indicating possible hearing fatigue in the exposed group. Conclusion Each of the hearing tests indicated differences between the groups, suggesting that occupational co-exposure to low noise and low concentrations of solvents can be harmful to hearing functions. The temporary effect of the exposure was detected by the EchoScan and the acoustic reflex of the stapedius muscle. The permanent effects were identified mainly at the level of the high brainstem and in the auditory ability of binaural integration. The EchoScan, can facilitate the early identification of auditory effects, while these are still temporary.
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Papers by Vita Ligaya Dalgaard