title: [Methodological aspects of risk assessment of work related stress. Italian experience of R Karasek JCQ application, a multiphase approach].
abstract: Due to a new legislation, the assessment of work stress has become compulsory in Italy for all the enterprise. Work stress is become a leading health problem in work settings all over Europe. The two major approaches, the expert-based direct observations and the measurements of the perceived job strain, are briefly introduced emphasizing on strengthens and weaknesses. Among the methods to assess perceived job stress, the Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire has been extensively used in Italy, and the available results support its use because reliable and able to pick up major constrictiveness at work. In addition, because it is now possible to have reference levels, comparisons are possible for either public or private enterprises. Acknowledging the complexity of carrying out reliable assessment of work stress, a multiphase approach is emphasised: first an analysis or current data can be used to estimate the levels of turnover, down-sizing, outsourcing, extra hours, shift work, sickness absenteeism, changes of job titles, work accidents and work-related diseases. At a second step, on groups of workers selected because recognised at risk at the first phase and on control groups, the JCQ can be used to assess workers stress perception. Finally, when constrain conditions emerge,further investigations are required, including: intervention of experts in work organisation analysis, clinical psychological examinations of selected workers, to separate between work-related and personal psychological problems and health consequences.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy. marco.ferrario@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cesana
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace