Current research priorities for UK occupational physicians and occupational health researchers: a modified Delphi study

Abstract

Manganese (Mn) is a known neurotoxicant, and given its health effects and ubiquitous nature in metal-working settings, identification of a valid and reproducible biomarker of exposure is of interest. Global metabolomics were previously utilised to determine metabolites that differ between occupational groups defined by Mn exposure status, in hopes of informing a biomarker of exposure. Nine metabolites were found to differ between exposure groups in urine samples collected October 2014. To test the reproducibility of these metabolites, these nine metabolites were investigated in a second set of urine samples collected January 2015 from the same workers.Levels of the nine metabolites found in October 2014 were compared to the January 2015 data using principal components analysis and descriptive measures. Also, an elastic net regression was fit using the nine metabolites from the October 2014 data; this model was tested in the January 2015 data.Four of the nine ions remained significantly different between exposed and unexposed workers in the January data, though levels of most ions also exhibited regression to the mean. The elastic net model was able to correctly classify exposure status in 66% of the January samples; slightly better than classification by chance alone.Metabolomics is a novel technique for exposure assessment, but few studies have looked at the reproducibility of metabolomics data by collecting repeat samples from the same workers. This analysis found several ions that do seem to remain stable over time, and identification of these ions should be pursued as potential biomarkers of Mn exposure.

Methodological Challenges in the Economic Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Programmes

“…It did so by exploring the challenges in correctly measuring three effects that are typically not encountered (or deemed less relevant) in other healthcare domains: Productivity losses, intangible effects, and effects of the legal and fiscal context. As such, it contributes to previous work [ 8 , 15 ] that offered broader methodological guidelines in OHS, and it answers to the call for more research on economic evaluation in occupational health [ 70 ].…”

Guidance on conducting and reviewing systematic reviews (and meta-analyses) in work and organizational psychology

“…It appears from reviews published in EJWOP and other reviews I have read (and conducted) that cost effectiveness/return on investment type analyses are often absent from many systematic reviews. This impression is borne out at least in the health and wellbeing field by a recent study indicating such economic considerations are a research priority identified by occupational health professionals (Lalloo, Demou, Smedley, Madan, Asanati & Macdonald, 2018). Going forward, it would be helpful if systematic reviews and primary intervention studies were to give more attention to these economic considerations.…”

Challenges to and facilitators of occupational epidemiology research in the UK

“…A systematic search of the literature revealed limited evidence regarding these issues (e.g. Coggon, 2005;Hotopf and Wessely, 2005;Lalloo et al, 2019a;Lalloo et al, 2019b;Lalloo et al, 2018;Rushton and Betts, 2001). This study hence aimed to identify current challenges and facilitators of OE research in the UK, and to assess the perceived impact of the challenges.…”