University of Connecticut Study on Aging, Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work Capacity

项目总结/摘要 康涅狄格大学关于衰老、肌肉骨骼疾病和工作能力的研究（UConn-SAM） 基于这样的前提，即预防性工作场所行动可以维持积极的工作生活， 无能它补充并扩展了一项为期6年的纵向研究（R 01 OH 008929），该研究招募了更多 6家制造公司的1000多名老龄劳动力参与者。目前的研究发现， 以及最近记录劳动力压力加剧和延迟退休的不祥趋势。的程度 照顾老年人的责任及其对健康和满足工作体力需求的能力的不利影响 这是以前没有报道过的发现。目前这项提案所涉及的尚未回答的问题包括： 更准确地澄清关键的调查结果，并为干预研究奠定基础， 使工作场所与老龄化的劳动力更加兼容，并更好地协调社会机构， 提供符合劳动力需求的服务。这项建议有几个长期目标，将实现 三年以上： 1.重新评估2016-2018年的研究人群，以进一步描述相关性的轨迹 工作和非工作暴露以及健康影响之间的关系。 2.最终确定并验证最佳的调查和体检方案，以长期评估老龄化 工作环境中的劳动力。 3.通过进行直接观察、重点小组和 专业评估，确定支持健康的劳动力老龄化的因素。 这些目标中的最后一个将涉及评估工作场所设计和组织变革的可行性 并与地区老龄化机构合作，开发新的、更有效的老年人护理方法。 干预研究往往是不确定的，因为实际的行为，利益的波动性，和工作场所 即使有可用的导频数据，灵活性也从来不是先验地充分知道的。通过参与性 方法，使工人，管理人员和机构代表参与，再加上调查，我们希望 显著提高我们和其他研究人员干预项目成功的可能性。

Project Summary/Abstract   The University of Connecticut Study on Aging, Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work Capacity (UConn-SAM) is based on the premise that preventive workplace actions can sustain active working life and deter premature incapacity. It supplements and extends a 6-year longitudinal study (R01OH008929) that has enlisted more than 1000 aging workforce participants in 6 manufacturing companies. The current work has uncovered large and ominous recent trends that document heightened workforce stress, and delayed retirement. The extent of eldercare responsibilities and its adverse impacts on health and ability to meet the physical demands of work were previously unreported findings. The unanswered questions that this current proposal addresses involve more precise clarification of critical findings and setting the groundwork for intervention studies that would enable workplaces to be more compatible with an aging workforce and to better align social agencies and available services with workforce needs. This proposal has several long-term goals which will be accomplished over three years: 1. Re-evaluate the study population from 2016-2018 to further characterize the trajectory of associations between work and non-work exposures and health effects as our cohort ages. 2. Finalize and validate the best survey and physical testing regimens for long-term assessment of an aging workforce within the work environment. 3. Develop and pilot feasible workplace interventions by performing direct observations, focus groups and specialized assessments that define factors supporting healthy workforce aging.   The last of these goals would involve assessing the feasibility of workplace design and organizational change and working with the Area Agency on Aging to develop new and more effective approaches to elder care. Intervention studies are often inconclusive because the actual behavior, volatility of interests, and workplace flexibility are never adequately known a priori, even when there is available pilot data. By using participatory methods that engage workers, managers, and agency representatives, coupled with surveys, we expect to significantly improve the likelihood of success in intervention projects for ourselves and other investigators.