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PubMed2004

Work environment and job satisfaction. A psychometric evaluation of the Working Environment Scale-10.

BACKGROUND: The working environment in mental health wards has been shown to have profound effects on the health and work stability of mental health workers. Despite an apparent need for regular measurement of work environment, development of short and reliable instruments for such measurements has been largely neglected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Working Environment Scale-10 (WES-10). METHODS: During the period 1990 through 2000, a total of 640 staff members on 42 wards for psychotic patients completed the WES-10. To establish the number of subscales, a factor analysis was carried out. The internal consistency of the subscales was calculated as Cronbach's alpha. We also collected data concerning satisfaction with the ward, its patients and staff, and for how long the respondents had worked and expected to continue to work at the ward. RESULTS: We identified four subscales named: Self Realization, Workload, Conflict and Nervousness. The psychometric properties of the subscales proved to be acceptable. All the subscales were significantly correlated with at least one satisfaction item, and/or the time the staff expected to continue at the ward. Most notably, the Self Realization subscale was strongly correlated to general satisfaction with the ward, and to the time the staff expected to work on the ward in the future, while Conflict was strongly negatively correlated with liking for staff. CONCLUSION: The WES-10 appears to measure four clinically meaningful subscales. It seems well suited for use in further research and for evaluation of clinical milieus.

Health Personnel↗
PubMed2004

Reassessing treatment environments after two decades: client and staff perceptions of an Italian community mental health service environment, then and now.

Community-based psychiatric services and programs developed in accordance with the 1978 Italian psychiatric reform have now been in operation for a quarter of a century. The paper presents the results of a study in which three treatment environments of South-Verona, i.e. a general hospital psychiatric ward, a community mental health center (CMHC) and two residential facilities have been investigated using the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS) and the Community Oriented Programs Environment Scale (COPES). Staff and patient ratings have been collected in the three environments thus allowing comparisons between respondents and settings. For the ward and the CMHC, whose staff had already been interviewed almost twenty years before, a comparison between studies was also possible. Results seem to show that original policies, attitudes and staff commitment have successfully survived the passage of time with only minor adjustments and that the single-staff module of South-Verona may have effectively contributed in this respect.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1983

The genetical response to natural selection by varied environments. II. Observations on replicate populations in spatially varied laboratory environments.

From each of two populations of Drosophila melanogaster, collected two months previously, from Chateau Tahbilk, S. Australia and Groningen, The Netherlands, duplicate populations were initiated in each of four environments which differed in their degree of environmental heterogeneity. Differing combinations of three food media based on oatmeal/treacle, potato or fig were used to simulate levels of environmental heterogeneity within the populations. The polymorphic loci, Adh, Est-6, G-6pdh, alpha-Gpdh, Pgm, Lap-D and Aph in both the Chateau Tahbilk and Groningen derived populations and 6Pgdh, which was only polymorphic in the populations which came from Chateau Tahbilk, were monitored in the experiment. The populations maintained a size of about 2500 adults and were sampled after 16 and 32 generations. Large changes of phenotype frequency were shown by all loci. Despite a frequent divergence of phenotype frequencies between duplicate cages, systematic effects of occasion and environment were present and allele frequencies at many loci were shown to be changing at a faster rate than could be due to random genetic drift. Genetic heterozygosity differed between environments but was not positively correlated with degree of environmental heterogeneity.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The Therapeutic Environment Screening Survey for Nursing Homes (TESS-NH): an observational instrument for assessing the physical environment of institutional settings for persons with dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an observational instrument that describes the ability of physical environments of institutional settings to address therapeutic goals for persons with dementia. METHODS: A National Institute on Aging workgroup identified and subsequently revised items that evaluated exit control, maintenance, cleanliness, safety, orientation/cueing, privacy, unit autonomy, outdoor access, lighting, noise, visual/tactile stimulation, space/seating, and familiarity/homelikeness. The final instrument contains 84 discrete items and one global rating. A summary scale, the Special Care Unit Environmental Quality Scale (SCUEQS), consists of 18 items. Lighting items were validated using portable light meters. Concurrent criterion validation compared SCUEQS scores with the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol (PEAP). RESULTS: Interrater kappa statistics for 74% of items were above.60. For another 10% of items, kappas could not be calculated due to empty cells, but interrater agreement was above 80%. The SCUEQS demonstrated an interrater reliability of.93, a test--retest reliability of.88, and an internal consistency of.81--.83. Light meter ratings correlated significantly with the Therapeutic Environment Screening Survey for Nursing Homes (TESS-NH) lighting items (r =.29--.38, p =.01--.04), and the SCUEQS correlated significantly with global PEAP ratings (r =.52, p <.01). DISCUSSION: The TESS-NH efficiently assesses discrete elements of the physical environment and has strong reliability and validity. The SCUEQS provides a quantitative measure of environmental quality in institutional settings.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Cognitive change in aging: identifying gene-environment correlation and nonshared environment mechanisms.

We describe gene-environment processes that may help account for individual differences in successful aging. Our emphasis is on successful aging in the cognitive domain, wherein individuals come to use a variety of strategies to cope with changes in cognitive capacities. We focus on the role of executive control in particular and define gene-environment correlation and nonshared environmental mechanisms. The quantitative genetic methods used to identify these mechanisms are described, with examples from research in childhood, where such studies are now common. Future work will be most effective if it is guided by life-span development frameworks that address these processes, such as the developmental genotype-->environment theory of Scarr and McCartney and the selection/optimization/compensation theory of Baltes and Baltes.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Genetics, lighting environment, and heritable responses to lighting environment affect male color morph expression in bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei.

Determining the degree to which variation in traits is controlled by genetics and/or environment is fundamental to understanding adaptation. In this study, we examine the genetic and environmental influences on color pattern expression in male bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei. This is a compelling system because both male color patterns and vision physiology are correlated with basic properties of the environment. Across populations, males with blue anal fins are more abundant in waters with low transmission of UV and blue wavelengths. Here, we present results from two paternal half-sib breeding experiments (one in the laboratory, one in the greenhouse) in which offspring were raised under light treatments that mimicked natural variation in the spectral composition of light. In both experiments, we found that red-versus-yellow expression is controlled by an autosomal locus of large effect where yellow (Y) is dominant over red (y). There was little blue expression in the laboratory. In the greenhouse, we found higher expression of blue anal fin morphs when males were raised in tea-stained water (low transmission UV/blue) than when raised in clear water (high transmission UV/blue). We also found genetic effects of sires and an interaction between sire and lighting environment (i.e. heritable plasticity). These results show that a relatively simple, environmentally dependent, epistatic interaction can produce a large amount of variation in male color patterns that presumably function in sexual selection.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Comparing the second-order factor structure of the Family Environment Scale across husbands' and wives' perceptions of their family environment.

The Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1986) is one of the most widely used environmental measures in clinical and family research. Clinicians and researchers often use the FES for comparing spouses' perceptions of their family environment, under the assumption that the underlying structure of the FES is the same for husbands and wives. However, no studies have actually compared the structure of the FES across spouse responses to the FES. Additionally, a review of the literature generally suggests a lack of consensus regarding the factor structure of the FES. Using confirmatory factor analyses, we examined whether the second-order factor structures of the FES, as identified in the literature, were consistent across spouses' perceptions of their family environment. Husbands and wives in 130 nonclinical families responded to Form R of the FES. The findings supported the two-factor solution presented by Fowler (1981) and by Boake and Salmon (1983), and did not differ across responses by husbands and wives. In contrast, responses by husbands and wives to the FES could not be modeled using the three-factor solutions presented by Moos and Moos (1986) and by others. The importance of using a measure that is structurally the same across different groups of respondents is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Post-occupancy evaluation: an environment-behaviour technique for assessing the built environment.

This paper reviews the development, structure and process of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) as an environment-behaviour approach to assessing built environments of all sizes and types. It illustrates the use of POEs with three examples from the Health Care sector: The Canadian Hospital Evaluation Program, the Weiss Institute, and 18 independent-living apartment units. A comparison is made between POEs and the approach currently used by occupational therapy (OT) for environmental assessments. Recommendations suggest that OT's approach could be extended and strengthened through 1) incorporating POE methods and existing data from environment-behaviour studies; 2) the use of standard assessment procedures and well-validated measures; and 3) the development of a data bank on OT environmental assessments.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Registered nurse and registered practical nurse evaluations of their hospital practice environments and their responses to these environments.

In 2003, over 13,000 Ontario nurses were surveyed to explore how they evaluated their hospital work environments and their responses to these practice environments. The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare these nurses' evaluations and responses. Sixty-five percent of nurses who were mailed surveys completed and returned a survey. Significant differences were found between registered nurse and registered practical nurse characteristics such as mean age, full-time employment rates, mean years of nursing experience and proportion enrolled in university or college educational programs. Both groups reported weak professional practice environments; however, there were some significant differences between the evaluations by registered nurses and those of registered practical nurses. Although both groups reported weak job satisfaction and moderate levels of burnout, there were significan differences in other responses. Study findings have implications for managing and leading nurses and for strengthening human resources practices.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

A physio-anthropological approach in evaluation of human adaptability to living environment: in the case of artificial light environment.

Attention has been focused on human adaptability to human-adopted artificially modern and comfortable environments which may not always match the adaptability by the physiological state of humans. This discrepancy was found to induce a slight tension in the human body on evaluation with a physio-anthropological approach. Although a standard methodological approach has yet to be established, the present study attempted to evaluate human adaptability to artificial light environment, based on evaluations from three major possible perspectives: a) central nervous system, b) autonomic nervous system and c) biological rhythm. In order to detect the slight tension, human volunteers were exposed to an artificial light environment, and the appropriate physiological parameters were then examined from photic signal pathways in a brain. The findings revealed that a higher color temperature of fluorescent lamps induced a slight tension, although many other factors remained to be elucidated.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological messages from the physical environment: the drug and alcohol treatment center environment.

The physical environment of drug and alcohol treatment centers provides a rich source for both subtle and obvious messages to clients. Photographs were taken in a sample of typical treatment centers, showing how different elements of the environment communicate messages to clients. Many of the messages from the physical environment prove to be inappropriate, confusing, or inconsistent with espoused treatment philosophy.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed2003

Clinical environment as a learning environment: student nurses' perceptions concerning clinical learning experiences.

The aim of this study is to describe student nurses' perceptions of clinical learning experiences in the context of the clinical learning environment. We use the phenomenological approach by Colaizzi. The data was collected by unstructured interviews. Altogether 16 student nurses were asked to describe the significance of clinical learning experiences and good and bad learning experiences. Four elements sum up these clinical learning experiences: the appreciation and support the students received, the quality of mentoring and patient care, and students' self-directedness. Student nurses valued clinical practice and the possibilities it offered in the process of growing to become a nurse and a professional. A good clinical learning environment was established through good co-operation between the school and the clinical staff. It was concluded that the school should be able to provide a suitable clinical learning environment at the right time, so that theory and practice would complement each other. The teacher was the expert on nursing education, the aims set for each practice, as well as student nurses and their skills, but then again the nurse mentor knew the ward on which students were practicing. This was why collaboration between nurse mentors and nurse teachers was considered very necessary.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMed2001

The work environment justice fund: five years of funding work environment justice in Massachusetts.

This article provides an assessment of the impact of five years of funding on work environment justice in Massachusetts. It first outlines the economic, historical, and political context in the 1990s in Massachusetts. Next, it describes the distribution of the Work Environment Justice Fund grants in detail by amounts presented, types of organizations and grants funded, and geographic representation of grantees. A discussion of the lessons learned from the work funded by the WEJF introduces a summary of major accomplishments of the grantees. The report concludes with recommendations for continuation and expansion of funding for grassroots work environment justice in Massachusetts.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The application of Title V of Legislative Decree 626/94 to the hospital care environment: a new model of approach to the prevention and safety in work environments service].

The paper reports the results of a study carried out by a Prevention and Safety of Working Environments Service in checking the application of Law 626/94, especially Chapter V, in hospital environments. Via the study it was possible to identify the risks due to manual handling of patients and therefore to manage compliance with the requirements and obligations of the said Law, as regards health surveillance of exposed subjects (programme to ascertain specific job fitness) and development of plans aimed at reducing the specific risks. The project proposed by the EPM Research Unit was submitted to the health administrations via the control service (Prevention and Safety in Working Environments Service) with the aim of experimenting a new method of assessment of risk due to patient handling. In this context, the control service combined enforcement with a more influential role of safety consultant, thereby playing a more modern role of encouraging employers to undertake preventive measures, alongside the traditional role of safeguarding workers' health.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

A bibliography for the conclusions to the special issue of Science of the Total Environment concerning 'The water quality of UK rivers entering the North Sea'. Sci. Tot. Environ., this volume.

In this document, a bibliography for the conclusions to the special issue of Science of the Total Environment concerning 'The water quality of UK rivers entering the North Sea'. Sci. Tot. Environ., this volume, is presented. It comprises a list of the papers presented in five special issues in learned journals, three in Science of the Total Environment (this volume and volumes 194/195, 1997 and 210/211, 1998) as well as Hydrological Processes (1999, vol 13: Special Issue, River Basin Sediment Dynamics, eds. Anderson, M.G., Peters, N.E. and Walling, D.E.) and Marine Pollution Bulletin [1999, vol 37(3-7) Special Issue: Flux of Materials between Rivers and Coastal Waters, eds. Stebbing, A.R.D., Huntley, D. and Leeks, G.J.L.]. The bibliography comprises six main sections with subsections for specific water quality issues. These are as follows: Section 1 deals with the introduction to LOIS and contained in this section is background material over the nature of the programme, the study area, remit, water quality issues and international context. Section 2 provides the main meat to the bibliography and it splits into Section 2.1 historical and Section 2.2 current water quality issues. Within Section 2.2 there are subsections dealing with specific current aspects of water quality (Section 2.2.1, major ions; Section 2.2.2, pH, dissolved carbon dioxide and dissolved oxygen; Section 2.2.3 nutrients; Section 2.2.4, trace elements; Section 2.2.5 micro-organics; Section 2.2.6 sediments; Section 2.2.7 biology). Section 3 deals with hydrology and climate variability, Section 4, modelling, Section 5 load estimation and Section 6 conclusions. A full listing of the LOIS programme is available from the LOIS programme office, CCMS, Plymouth Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, UK (e-mail lois@ccms.ac.uk).

Carbon↗
PubMed1992

Health and the environment: a global challenge. WHO Commission on Health and Environment.

A healthy environment is not only a need, it is also a right; the right to live and work in an environment conducive to physical and mental health is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone shares the responsibility for ensuring that this right is duly acknowledged. The responsibility for action lies with individuals and with business. Governments have the responsibility of setting up the strategic and institutional framework within which action is taken. There are three main global objectives: achieving a sustainable basis for health for all--by slowing down population growth as soon as possible, and promoting life-styles and patterns of consumption among affluent groups and countries that are consistent with ecological sustainability; providing an environment that promotes health--by reducing the risk of physical, chemical and biological hazards and ensuring that everyone has the means to acquire the resources on which health depends; making all individuals and organizations aware of their responsibilities for health and its environmental basis.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1992

The high-risk infant environment. Part 2. The role of caregiving and the social environment.

Neonatal intensive care units are essential for the successful care of very immature and sick infants. The technology of NICUs has contributed significantly to the reduction of neonatal mortality and improvement of neonatal outcome. While the outcome for high-risk neonates has vastly improved over the past three decades, a number of infants sustain injuries and complications that result in long-term disabilities. It is now clear that some of the long-term problems of high-risk infants are a result of the environment and care practices and are not attributable to the original disease or condition that necessitated intensive care. There is accumulating evidence that environmental factors and care practices can interact with disease processes in ways that can increase morbidity, and possibly mortality. In addition to developmental and behavioral problems, there is growing evidence of effects on visual function and perhaps other sensory systems. Many of the environmental and care factors may cause delay in recovery and increase NICU time or unnecessary discomfort, yet not produce long-term disabilities or problems, as currently assessed. Many of the potential behavioral and developmental problems, as well as many of the potential problems with visual, auditory, and other modes of sensory discrimination, are not included in the usual follow-up assessments. The absence of data or the limitations of existing studies are not a cause for comfort or the assumption that the environment and care practices are safe or not harmful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Environment↗
PubMed1986

Initial environment influences amphetamine-induced stereotypy: subsequently environment change has little effect.

Saline-treated and amphetamine-treated (7 mg/kg, ip, immediate) male rats from a Sprague-Dawley substrain were observed in two test environments designed to elicit different investigative responses in normal rats. Snout contact with the substrate was generated by placing the rat in a small enclosed cage. Absence of snout contact was induced by placement of the rat on a square elevated platform. Detailed ethological records were kept of locomotion, rearing, sitting, grooming, gnawing, and sleeping throughout the 90-min session. Amphetamine-treated rats incorporated environmentally contingent bodily postures into their forms of stereotyped behavior. The postures were characteristic of those evinced initially by the saline-treated rats in the same test environment. The control rats showed appropriate changes in their investigative behavior when the apparatus was changed at 10 and at 30 min postinjection. The amphetamine-treated rats, however, were completely unresponsive to such changes at 30 min and only partially so at 10 min postinjection. It was concluded that there is a temporal gradient of decreasing readiness to modify repetitive behavior after a single, large dose of amphetamine.

Amphetamine↗