Work-related population health indicators.
OBJECTIVE
To provide evidence-based recommendations for work-related population health indicators.


METHODS
Drawing on a framework of work-related experiences, we systematically reviewed studies that assess the association between these experiences and health and reviewed related measures at the population level that could be used as indicators.


RESULTS
We recommend (and grade the strength of evidence supporting our recommendation for) the following indicators for which data are already routinely collected: unemployment rate (strong), long-term unemployment rate (limited), and permanent lay-off rate (limited). As well, we recommend and grade our support for the following new indicators: insecurity associated with pending job loss (limited), with possible major organizational change (limited), and with actual major organizational change (limited); and job strain (medium).


CONCLUSIONS
These evidence-based indicators can be used to monitor work-related determinants of health and thus to inform the conceptualization, development, and evaluation of policies and programs related to these determinants.
Institute for Work & Health, 250 Bloor St. East, Suite 702, Toronto, ON M4W 1E6. jlavis@iwh.on.ca
J N
JN
Lavis
C A
CA
Mustard
J I
JI
Payne
M S
MS
Farrant
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance