Introduction Although previous studies have related occupational exposure and epicondylitis, the evidence is moderate, and mostly based on cross-sectional studies. Suspected physical exposures were tested over a three year period in a large longitudinal cohort study of workers in the United States. Method In a population-based study including a variety of industries, 1107 newly employed workers were examined; only workers without elbow symptoms at baseline were included. Baseline questionnaires collected information on personal characteristics and self-reported physical work exposures and psychosocial measures for the current or most recent job at 6 months. Epicondylitis (lateral and medial) was the main outcome, assessed at 36 months based on symptoms and physical examination (palpation or provocation test). Logistic models included the most relevant associated variables. Results Of 699 workers tested after 36 months who did not have elbow symptoms at baseline, 48 suffered from medial or lateral epicondylitis (6.9%), with 34 cases of lateral epicondylitis (4.9%), 30 cases of medial epicondylitis (4.3%), and 16 workers who had both. After adjusting for age, lack of social support, and obesity, consistent associations were observed between self-reported wrist bending/twisting and forearm twisting/rotating/screwing motion and future cases of medial or lateral epicondylitis (odds ratios 2.8 [1.2;6.2] and 3.6 [1.2;11.0] respectively in men and women). Conclusion Self-reported physical exposures that implicate repetitive and extensive/prolonged wrist bend/twisting and forearm movements were associated with incident cases of lateral and medial epicondylitis in a large longitudinal study, although other studies are needed to better specify the exposures involved.

Objective: To explore posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom prevalence and health characteristics among jail correctional officers, a generally understudied population of public safety workers.Method: A Conservation of Resources (COR) inspired framework explored relationships to PTSD symptoms among jail officers (N=320) employed in Midwest U.S. jails.Results: More than half (53.4%) of jail officers screened positively for PTSD. Hierarchical regression analysis indicate burnout was a significant predictor of symptoms of PTSD (B = .25, p < .001). Self-efficacy (B = −.42, p < .01), emotional labor (B = .20, p < .01), and an anxiety-or depression-related diagnosis (B = .92, p < .001) remained significant predictors of PTSD-related symptoms in the final step. Conclusion:Our findings highlight the potentially high prevalence and impact of PTSD among jail officers, and offer implications for public safety workplace health interventions.Officers employed in jails, short-term correctional facilities with high resident turnover, work in conditions with high exposure to critical incidents and workplace stressors. Jail officers are at high risk for fatal and non-fatal inmate-to-staff and inmate-to-inmate violent incidents including criminality, gang activity, contraband, manipulation, and rape that contribute to sustained periods of alertness or hyper-vigilance. 1 Common organizational stressors include inadequate training, low staffing, overtime, poor leadership, and excessive punitive discipline. 1 While posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been highlighted among prison officers, 2 little research has been undertaken among this more narrow population of jail correctional officers as a consequence of their particular work setting.

Objective: To examine National Corrections Collaborative (NCC) activities, as an outreach initiative, to advance corrections workplace health and safety research, practice, and policy through a series of applied Research to Practice (r2p) meetings informed by the Total Worker Health ® (Total Worker Health ® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) (TWH) strategy. Methods:We mapped the coalescence of correctional worker health concerns, federal and national professional organization initiatives, and research activities that formed the NCC in 2014. Results:During the NCC's 5-years of TWH activities, attendance increased, partner composition expanded, and themes of concern evolved. Partners were motivated to participate and work together towards building evidence for health and safety r2p. Conclusions:A unified plea to the academic and federal research communities for assistance with better evaluation instruments, data linkages, and for adopting an integrated TWH approach to workforce health and wellbeing continue to drive NCC r2p activities.