Social distancing by working-from-home is an effective measure to decrease the spread of COVID-19. However, this new work pattern could also affect the well-being of workers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the magnitude of occupational health problems and lifestyle changes among workers who have only recently started working from home. A cross-sectional study was conducted using online self-administered questionnaires during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. The participants were from any organization that allowed working from home. The demographic data including the analysis of the characteristics of working from home, the occurrence of occupational health problems, and the lifestyle changes caused by working from home were analyzed. A total of 869 workers were included as study participants. The highest prevalence of physical health problems among all workers was identified to be weight gain at a rate of 40.97% (95% confidence interval = 37.69–44.24), and the highest prevalence of psychosocial problems was identified to be cabin fever at a rate of 31.28% (95% confidence interval = 26.66–35.90%) among full-time working-from-home workers. The health effects that were significantly related to the intensity of working from home (p for trends <0.05), either positively or negatively, included body weight changes, ergonomic problems, indoor environmental problems, and psychosocial problems. Meanwhile, the lifestyle changes related to work intensity included eating pattern, sleep habits, and exercise. Working from home can affect workers' well-being in various aspects. Hence, occupational health providers must prepare for risk prevention and health promotion in this “new normal” working life pattern and for future pandemics.

To determine the magnitude, distribution and associated ergonomic factors of upper extremities musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSD) among workers of electronic assembly in Thailand. This was a cross-sectional study. 591 of 853 workers in an electronic and electrical appliance assembly factory in Bangkok, Thailand, participated in this study. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic data and ergonomic factors was collected from October 2010 to January 2011. Clinical examination of each worker was performed by an occupational physician. The criteria for diagnosis of UEMSD came as a result of a consensus reached by a group of orthopedists. The associated factors were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression. The point prevalence of clinically diagnosed UEMSD was as follows: radial styloid tenosynovitis — 13.03% (95% CI: 10.31–15.75), trigger finger — 9.48% (95% CI: 7.11–11.84), carpal tunnel syndrome — 8.12% (95% CI: 5.91–10.33), lateral epicondylitis — 3.38% (95% CI: 1.92–4.85), and medial epicondylitis — 1.69% (95% CI: 0.65–2.73), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio with statistical significance associated with UEMSD was as follows: high force of wrist — 1.78 (95% CI: 1.06–2.99), awkward posture of wrist — 2.37 (95% CI: 1.28–4.37) and contact stress at wrists — 1.75 (95% CI: 1.02–3.00) to develop radial styloid tenosynovitis. For trigger finger, the ratios were awkward posture of fingers — 2.09 (95% CI: 1.12–3.90) and contact stress on finger — 1.86 (95% CI: 1.04–3.34). For medial epicondylitis, it was an awkward posture of using elbows — 3.14 (95% CI: 1.10–8.95). However, this study did not find any associations between repetitive motion and any UEMSD. UEMSD are most commonly found in electronic assembly workers. The relevant parties should provide comprehensive ergonomic resolution for these workers.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in Thai Urban Females Breast cancer;active smoking;passive smoking;urban female;risk factor; The incidence of urban female breast cancer has been continuously increasing over the past decade with unknown etiology. One hypothesis for this increase is carcinogen exposure from tobacco. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the risk of urban female breast cancer from tobacco smoke exposure. The matched case control study was conducted among Thai females, aged 17-76 years and living in Bangkok or its surrounding areas. A total of 444 pairs of cases and controls were recruited from the Thai National Cancer Institute. Cases were newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed as breast cancer while controls were selected from healthy women who visited a patient, matched by age ${\pm}5$ years. After obtaining informed consent, tobacco smoke exposure data and information on other potential risk factors were collected by interview. The analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression, and presented with odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CI). From all subjects, 3.8% of cases and 3.4% of controls were active smokers while 11.0% of cases and 6.1% of controls were passive smokers. The highest to lowest sources of passive tobacco smoke were from spouses (40.8%), the workplace (36.8%) and public areas (26.3%), respectively. After adjusting for other potential risk factors or confounders, females with frequent low-dose passive smoke exposure (${\leq}7$ hours per week) from a spouse or workplace had adjusted odds ratio 3.77 (95%CI=1.11-12.82) and 4.02 (95%CI=1.04-15.50) higher risk of breast cancer compared with non-smokers, respectively. However, this study did not find any association of breast cancer risk in high dose passive tobacco smoke exposure, or a dose response relationship in cumulative passive tobacco smoke exposure per week, or in the active smoker group. In conclusion, passive smoke exposure may be one important risk factor of urban female breast cancer, particularly, from a spouse or workplace. This risk factor highlights the importance of avoiding tobacco smoke exposure as a key measure for breast cancer prevention and control.

“From a person who likes to tease friends and gossip about others, I changed recently. I just put myself in their shoes.”

To identify the situation and possible work-related cancer risks among healthcare workers in cancer centers. This research was a 14-year retrospective cohort study of 2,331 healthcare workers at the National Cancer Institute and 7 regional cancer centers in Thailand. The study period consisted of a total of 18,939 person-years of observation. The demographic data, such as occupation and work area were collected by self-administered questionnaires or by use of a proxy. The cases were identified by the diagnoses of physicians. The incidence rates for each type of cancer, occupation and work area among the population of this study were compared with the general working population, based on national cancer statistics. The results were reported in terms of Standard Incidence Ratio (SIR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI), using Fisher's exact method. There were 12 different types of cancer identified in 35 cases during the 14 years of the study and breast cancer was found to be at the highest number. The overall cancer incidence rates were 221.04 and 173.43 per 100,000 person-years, in males and females, respectively. Leukemia showed statistically significant levels of high SIR among the female healthcare staffs (SIR = 11.54; 95% CI = 2.38-33.72). With regard to occupation, only the male physicians showed significant SIR = 6.02; 95% CI = 1.41-19.93, while this study did not identify significant SIR levels in any of the work areas. This study found that the risk of leukemia was higher than expected among healthcare workers and that physicians may have an increased risk of cancer compared to the general working population, which may be a work-related reflex. However, interpretations should be made with caution due to the small number of cases.

Purpose: This study investigated the effectiveness of a new counseling program integrating cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to promote emotional regulation (ER) among undergraduate students with depression.Design/methodology/approach: An interventional mixed method design was employed with the development of a qualitative method-based program using experimental and qualitative research. The sample consisted of 792 third-year undergraduate students at a public university in Bangkok. A total of 34 students with depression voluntarily enrolled and were divided into 2 groups. The 17 students in the experimental group received integrated counseling, while those in the control group received brochures. The effectiveness was evaluated using the self-assessment section on the ER scale and the Beck Depression Inventory form before and after counseling. When the program ended, qualitative research was conducted using in-depth interviews. In terms of quantitative research, the data were analyzed using one-way MANOVA and the qualitative research data used content analysis.Findings: The mean scores for ER and depression in the experimental group before and after counseling were significantly different (p-value <0.05). Results were also significantly different from the control group (p-value <0.05). Students with depression showed improvements in ER in all six components after joining the program, including awareness, clarity, acceptance, impulse, goals and strategies.Originality/value: Integrated counseling is an effective program that can increase ER and reduce depression among adolescents and can be an alternative program for depressive patients or other mood-regulating problems to promote ER.