Table 3.

Occupational accidents and work-related illness among young Nordic skilled workers

Author, (Year)	Data source, population	Industry gender	Exposure	Effect	Results	Study design and quality
Occupational accidents among young Nordic skilled workers (N = 1)
Nielsen et al (2013) Denmark	Single and group interviews with 26 young adult workers from 6 various sized supermarkets (aged 18–24 years).	Retail industry N = 5 skilled workers	Skilled workers and other groups of young workers	How safety and risk are experienced and practiced	Skilled workers do not regard themselves as “young risk-taking workers”. They work full-time, and experience is an essential factor when dealing with “skilled workers.” Their sense of risk is described as an integral part of their ways of positioning themselves as experienced employees who master practices. They have less routine work than other young workers. They also might have responsibilities for others—also in relation to risk and safety.	Focus group interviews Qualitative 16/20 = 80%
Work-related illness among young Nordic skilled workers (N = 14)
Gerhardsson et al (2013) Sweden	Male machine shop and construction workers (n = 142) with mean age 20.9 years and non–vibration-exposed workers (n = 41) of same age.		Exposure to hand-arm vibration at work	Early neurosensory effects tested by vibrotactile perception thresholds (VPTs): Semmes–Winstein monofilament test (cutaneous sensation level)	Despite a short cumulative vibration exposure, elevated vibrotactile perception thresholds and abnormal results from the cutaneous sensation test were observed in the exposed group of young workers.	Cross-sectional study Validity: Internal 16/26 = 62% External 5/8 = 63%
Gustavsson et al (2010) Sweden	A sample of nurses three years after they graduated n = 933, median age 31 years, 90% women.		Psychosocial work factors (job stress, work attitudes, and job performance)	Early career burnout (the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory)	Results show that low mood, low levels of job performance, and health problems were associated with early career burnout. The consequences of burnout and the relative importance of different predictors are less discussed.	Cross-sectional study Validity: Internal 8/26 = 31% External 7/8 = 88%
Hoffmann et al (2003) Denmark	All male former famers. (n = 14). Cases: Former farmers, mean age 26 years, who had stopped working because of lower airway symptoms Controls: Former farmers of mean age 27 years.		Respirable dust exposure working in swine confinement buildings	Inflammatory response and plasma C3D levels (before exposure, 1 hour, 4 hours, and 1 day after exposure start.)	There was complement activation in response to respiratory dust, more so among cases than controls. Acute exposure with work-related levels of organic dust containing endotoxin leads to a weak systemic inflammatory response.	Case–control study Validity: Internal 26/38 = 61% External 3/8 = 38%
Hollund et al (2001) Norway	Female hairdressers (n = 100) of mean age 33 years, female office workers (n = 95) of mean age 44 years. Age separate analyses done with only those aged <30 years (n = 45 hairdressers and n = 15 office workers).		Chemical exposure in hairdressing	Airway symptoms (wheezing, runny eyes and nose, and breathlessness)	Hairdressers aged >30 years reported more airway symptoms the past year than the control group. Hairdressers are exposed to low levels of various irritating chemicals every day. The acute symptoms related to the exposure to hairdressing chemicals are very high.	Cross-sectional study Validity: Internal 15/26 = 58% External 7/8 = 88%
Hultell & Gustavsson (2011) Sweden	Newly educated teachers (n = 1290) of mean age 32 years for men and women. A 2-year follow-up from the last year of education till the first year of work (2006–2008).		Psychosocial work factors (job demands and job resources)	Burnout and work engagement	Job demands were strongly associated with burnout, whereas job resources were more strongly related to work engagement. The predictors with greatest relative influence on both burnout and work engagement were unmet expectations and mastery of skills. No significant gender difference in work engagement or burnout was found	Prospective study Validity: Internal 25/39 = 64% External 5/8 = 63%
Laflamme et al (1997) Finland	Male and female nursing auxiliaries aged 16–65 years (n = 148773). Separate analyses for the age group 16–24 years. Follow-up period of 10 years.		Age (time in the nursing auxiliary profession)	Overexertion injuries (sprains and strains that occurred in conjunction with activity at work, i.e., lifting of patients)	Injuries of all types are more severe with increasing age. Younger female auxiliaries are however at greatest risk of sustaining the most frequent kind of overexertion injury associated with the occupation, namely, back injuries due to heavy lifting. Few injuries were sustained by males, limiting the conclusion for male nurses. The results suggest that preventive programs should be targeted so as to address several different overexertion injury patterns, depending on age group and gender.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 25/39 = 64% External 8/8 = 100%
Lind et al (2007) Sweden	Female hairdressing graduates from vocational school in the period 1970–1995 (n = 3665, median age 29). Controls from the general population (n = 5034, median age 31 years).		Chemical exposures. The number of hair treatments per week	Hand eczema and skin atopy	Hairdressers are highly exposed to skin-damaging substances. A higher incidence of hand eczema was found in hairdressers than in controls. Measures to prevent the development of hand eczema among hairdressers should be given high priority.	Cross-sectional study Validity: Internal 15/26 = 58% External 6/8 = 75%
Lysdal et al (2011) Denmark	Hairdressing graduates from 1985 to 2007 (n = 5324). Men 4%, women 96%. Age 22 years and above, some analyses separately for the age group 22–32.		Hand eczema and atopic dermatitis	Career change	75% of the hairdressers were of the age group 15–24 at the onset of hand eczema. 45.5% gave hand eczema as a reason for career change. Important to implement preventive measures as information and training to raise awareness of their occupational exposures and to promote the use of suitable gloves and proper skin care.	Cross-sectional study Validity: Internal 16/26 = 62% External 6/8 = 75%
Skogstad et al (2005) Norway	Male divers (n = 47) mean age 25.6 years). Followed up over a 6-year period.		Pressure effects and noise under occupational diving	Impaired hearing and changes in hearing threshold	Mild increase in hearing thresholds and reduction in the divers hearing were found. There was no significant difference in hearing changes between high- and low-exposure groups. The result suggests that a mild hearing impairment can occur in young professional divers.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 31/39 = 79% External 4/8 = 50%
Tyssen et al (2000) Norway	Medical students graduating in 1993–94 were followed up in their last year of school and first year of work. (n = 371, mean age 29 years, 56% women).		Work-related factors in hospital the first year in the profession.	Mental health problems	Job stress (OR, 1.05) is related to mental health problems among young doctors even when previous mental problems and personality traits were controlled for. The results suggest that more support during internship is needed. No gender difference in mental health among junior doctors.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 24/39 = 62% External 7/8 = 88%
Tyssen et al (2001) A Norway	Medical students graduating in 1993–94 were followed up in their last year of school and first year of work. (n = 371, mean age 29 years, 56% women).		Work-related factors (study stress and job stress) and personality	Suicidal thoughts and attempts	Suicidal thoughts and vulnerability (neuroticism and personality) as students predicted postgraduate suicidal ideation. Preventive efforts should be directed both at the students' abilities to cope with stress and at mental health services for young doctors. No gender difference in suicidal thoughts among junior doctors.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 24/39 = 62% External 7/8 = 88%
Tyssen et al (2001) B Norway	Medical students graduating in 1993–94 were followed up in their last year of school and first years (3–4) of work. (n = 396 mean age 31 years, 56% women).		Factors in medical school	Postgraduate mental health problems	In multivariate analyses, the medical school variables were inadequate for predicting mental health deterioration. The medical school stress instrument may however be used for selecting students suitable for group-oriented interventions. No gender difference in mental health problems.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 26/39 = 67% External 6/8 = 75%
Tyssen et al (2005) Norway	Medical students graduating in 1993–94 were followed up in their last year of school and first year of work. (n = 371, mean age 29 years, 56% women).		Individual (personality) and organizational factors (sleep deprivation and learning environment)	Work-related stress	The predictors of job stress were personality trait (neuroticism), perceived skills, number of hours sleep when on call, and learning environment. In terms of prevention, both individual and organizational factors should be considered. No gender difference in work-related stress among junior doctors.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 24/39 = 62% External 6/8 = 75%
Wahlström et al (2008) Sweden	Male students graduated from vocational school in 2001–2003 (n = 586, mean age 20.7 years). Follow-up period 6–12 months.		Work-related hand and arm vibration and ergonomic stressors	Musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and upper limbs	Daily vibration exposure duration >1 h at baseline increased the risk of neck pain at follow-up.	Prospective study Validity: Internal 24/39 = 62% External 6/8 = 75%

OR. odds ratio.