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Author: Wickizer, Thomas
Resulting in 3 citations.
1. Dembe, Allard E.
Yao, Xiaoxi
Wickizer, Thomas
Shoben, Abigail
Dong, Xiuwen Sue
A Novel Method for Estimating the Effects of Job Conditions on Asthma and Chronic Lung Disease
Journal of Asthma 51,8 (2014) 799-807.
Also: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/02770903.2014.917183
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Keyword(s): Asthma; Health, Chronic Conditions; Job Hazards; Occupational Information Network (O*NET); Working Conditions

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Objective: This study uses 32 years of longitudinal job history to analyze the long-term effect of exposure to specific workplace conditions on the risk of contracting asthma or chronic lung disease later in life. Our approach allows for the estimation of occupational respiratory risks even in the absence of direct environmental monitoring.

Methods: We employ a novel methodology utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), and ratings of job exposures from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which are based on 70 years of empirical data compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor. A series of multivariable logistic regression analyses are performed to determine how long-term exposure to a particular occupational O*NET indicator (e.g., working in an extremely hot or cold environment) is related to asthma and COPD risk.

Results: The risk of contracting COPD was significantly associated with long-term work in very hot or cold temperatures (OR = 1.50, CI: 1.07-2.10), performing physically demanding activities (OR = 1.65, CI:1.20-2.28), working outdoors exposed to weather (OR = 1.45, CI:1.06-1.99), and workplace exposure to contaminants (OR = 1.42, CI:1.05-1.96). In general, the effects of exposure were greater for COPD than for asthma. With respect to contracting asthma, only exposure to work in very hot or cold temperatures (OR = 1.35, CI:1.08-1.70) and performing physically demanding activities (OR = 1.23, CI:1.00-1.52) were statistically significant.

Conclusions: Use of O*NET job descriptors as surrogate measures of workplace exposures can provide a useful way of analyzing the risk of occupationally-related respiratory disease in situations where direct exposure measurement is not feasible.

Bibliography Citation
Dembe, Allard E., Xiaoxi Yao, Thomas Wickizer, Abigail Shoben and Xiuwen Sue Dong. "A Novel Method for Estimating the Effects of Job Conditions on Asthma and Chronic Lung Disease." Journal of Asthma 51,8 (2014) 799-807.
2. Dembe, Allard E.
Yao, Xiaoxi
Wickizer, Thomas
Shoben, Abigail
Dong, Xiuwen Sue
Using O*NET to Estimate the Association Between Work Exposures and Chronic Diseases
American Journal of Industrial Medicine 57,9 (September 2014): 1022-1031.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.22342/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Wiley Online
Keyword(s): Health, Chronic Conditions; Occupational Information Network (O*NET); Occupations; Working Conditions

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Background: A standardized process using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is applied to estimate the association between long-term aggregated occupational exposure and the risk of contracting chronic diseases later in life. We demonstrate this process by analyzing relationships between O*NET physical work demand ratings and arthritis onset over a 32-year period.

Methods: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth provided job histories and chronic disease data. Five O*NET job descriptors were used as surrogate measures of physical work demands. Logistic regression measured the association between those demands and arthritis occurrence.

Results: The risk of arthritis was significantly associated with handling and moving objects, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, bending and twisting, working in a cramped or awkward posture, and performing general physical activities.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of using O*NET job descriptors to estimate the aggregated long-term risks for osteoarthritis and other chronic diseases when no actual exposure data is available.
Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bibliography Citation
Dembe, Allard E., Xiaoxi Yao, Thomas Wickizer, Abigail Shoben and Xiuwen Sue Dong. "Using O*NET to Estimate the Association Between Work Exposures and Chronic Diseases." American Journal of Industrial Medicine 57,9 (September 2014): 1022-1031.
3. Dembe, Allard
Yao, Xiaoxi
Wickizer, Thomas
Shoben, Abigail
Dong, Xiuwen Sue
A Standardized Process for Using 0*NET to Estimate the Association between Work Exposures and Chronic Disease Occurrence
Presented: Boston MA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2013
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Keyword(s): Health, Chronic Conditions; Health/Health Status/SF-12 Scale; Job Hazards; Occupational Information Network (O*NET); Occupations

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to develop a general process using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to estimate the association between long-term occupational exposure and the risk of contracting chronic diseases later in life. To demonstrate the usefulness of this standardized process, we analyze the relationship between O*NET exposure ratings of physical work demands and the onset of arthritis over a 32-year period.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 (NLSY79) provided information about the work histories of 7,565 individuals and their health conditions. Five O*NET job descriptors (e.g., “handing and moving objects” and “bending or twisting the body”) were used as surrogate measures of physical work demands. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to measure the association between those demands and arthritis occurrence.

Results: The risk of contracting arthritis was found to be significantly associated with handling and moving objects (OR: 1.45), kneeling, crouching, and crawling (OR: 1.36), bending and twisting (OR: 1.49) and performing general physical activities (OR 1.47). The relationship between exposure to working in a cramped or awkward posture and arthritis was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: This study developed and tested a general methodology for using O*NET job ratings to analyze the strength of association between occupational exposure and chronic disease. This method can be applied broadly to many job hazards and a variety of common chronic conditions. The study also showed that O*NET can successfully serve as a surrogate measure for occupational exposure when no actual exposure data is available.

Bibliography Citation
Dembe, Allard, Xiaoxi Yao, Thomas Wickizer, Abigail Shoben and Xiuwen Sue Dong. "A Standardized Process for Using 0*NET to Estimate the Association between Work Exposures and Chronic Disease Occurrence." Presented: Boston MA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2013.