title: Job stress: an in-depth investigation based on the HSE questionnaire and a multistep approach in order to identify the most appropriate corrective actions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial hazards and work-related stress have reached epidemic proportions in Europe. The Italia law introduced in 2008 the obligation for Italian companies to assess work related stress risk in order to protect their workers' safety and health. The purpose of our study was to propose an accurate measurement tool, using the HSE indicator tool, for more appropriate and significant work-related stress' prevention measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 204 visual display unit (VDU) operators: 106 male and 98 female. All subjects were administered the HSE questionnaire. The sample was studied through a 4 step process, using HSE analysis tool and a statistical analysis, based on the odds ratio calculation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The assessment model used demonstrated the presence of work related stress in VDU operators and additional "critical" aspects which had failed to emerge by the classical use of HSE analysis tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The approach we propose allows to obtain a complete picture of the perception of work-related stress and can point out the most appropriate corrective actions.
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Research Unit of Occupational Medicine.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Sio
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Research Unit of Occupational Medicine.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cedrone
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Traglia
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Degree Course in Techniques of Prevention in the Workplace.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sanità
authors.affiliation: Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Research Unit of Occupational Medicine.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandolesi
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts & the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stansfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Occupational medicine; Psychosocial risks; Risk assessment; Vdu operators; Work related stress