We investigated the relationship between perceived supervisor support for health (PSSH) and presenteeism by adjusting for psychological distress and employee work engagement. These are the mediators of the two paths shown in the job demands-resources model. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey among 15,158 non-managerial employees from seven companies in Japan considered to have relatively high perceived organizational support for health (POSH). PSSH was evaluated with a single question, “My supervisor supports employees to work vigorously and live a healthy life”, on a four-point scale. Presenteeism was estimated using the quantity and quality method. Multilevel logistic regression analyses nested by company were conducted. Lower PSSH was more likely to be associated with presenteeism, but after adjusting for psychological distress evaluated by K6 and for work engagement, the relationship between PSSH and presenteeism weakened. Our results suggested that lower PSSH is linked to presenteeism through both psychological states because of its role as a resource, and other independent factors, even with relatively high POSH. Increased PSSH could act as a measure against presenteeism in the workplace. To achieve this, it is important to create an environment where supervisors can easily encourage employees to improve their health.

Background: The number of people with diabetes is increasing and resulting in major economic losses. Presenteeism accounts for the majority of economic losses, so measures against presenteeism are important. This study investigated the relationship between severity of type 2 diabetes and presenteeism. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among workers over 40 years of age. Participants were classified as normal group or diabetic treatment group using their medical examination results and health insurance claims data. Diabetic treatment groups were described by degree of treatment control: Good (HbA1c < 7%), Intermediate (7% ≤ HbA1c < 8%), and Poor (8% ≤ HbA1c). Therapy type was also divided into monotherapy and combination therapy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to predict presenteeism loss using the Quantity and Quality method. Results: Data on 13,271 workers were analyzed. Presenteeism loss was significantly higher in all treatment control groups compared with the normal group, particularly for the intermediate and poor control groups. The monotherapy group did not differ from the normal group, but presenteeism loss was significantly higher in the combination therapy group than the normal group. Conclusions: Presenteeism loss in workers with diabetes may be affected by diabetes severity, and even if treatment control were good, presenteeism loss could occur when the number of anti-diabetic drugs was high. Therefore, it is important to provide early intervention and continuous support as a preventive measure against not only diabetes and diabetes-related complications but also presenteeism.

The course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) varies between individuals, and the relationship between cognitive and functional decline and the deterioration of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is still poorly understood. Until recently, it was challenging to monitor subsequent changes in these symptoms because there was no single composite scale available that could simultaneously evaluate activities of daily living (ADL), BPSD, and cognitive function (CF) states. The present authors developed a new, brief assessment scale, the “ABC Dementia Scale” (ABC-DS), which is based on item response theory and facilitates concurrent measurement of ADL, BPSD, and CF states. We previously presented the reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity, and responsiveness of the ABC-DS. We obtained the evidence through three clinical trials featuring 1,400 subjects in total. In the present study, we performed a secondary analysis of the data obtained in the previous study. We conducted hierarchical cluster analyses that allowed us to classify 197 AD patients in terms of similarities regarding ADL, BPSD, and CF domain scores, as measured by the ABC-DS. Consequently, the scale identified subgroups of patients with global clinical dementia ratings of 1, 2, and 3. Considering our results in conjunction with the clinical experiences of the AD expert among the present authors regarding longitudinal changes in ADL, BPSD, and CF, we were able to propose potential progression pathways of AD in the form of a hypothetical roadmap.

Aim Most patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience poor food intake and/or loss of appetite, which accelerates cognitive impairment. Several reports have shown that rivastigmine improves appetite in AD patients. The present study investigated the efficacy of a rivastigmine transdermal patch for the treatment of low food intake in AD patients. Methods AD patients, recruited through the Attitude Towards Food Consumption in Alzheimer's Disease Patients Revive with Rivastigmine Effects study, were recognized as experiencing either a loss of appetite or poor food intake. A rivastigmine transdermal patch was administered to study participants for 16 weeks. Patients’ food intake, bodyweight, Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and any adverse events were recorded. Results A total of 38 patients with AD (age 86.2 ± 5.4 years) were examined. Their mean Mini‐Mental State Examination score was 10.1 ± 7.0 at baseline. A significant increase in food intake amount (54.9 ± 98.0 g, P < 0.01) and food intake ratio (9.3% ± 17.6%, P < 0.01) was observed by week 1, improvements that were maintained throughout the study duration. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that no independent variables were significantly associated with changes in food intake amount or ratio. Patients in the higher Mini‐Mental State Examination subgroup showed a trend change in food intake amount, although this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07). Conclusions The present study suggests that a rivastigmine transdermal patch might improve poor food intake or loss of appetite in patients with AD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; ••: ••–••.

Objectives: Enhancing employees’ perceived organizational support (POS) is crucial for organizations, and one effective approach is enhancing supervisors’ POS. However, there is limited research focusing specifically on enhancing supervisors’ POS. We aimed to investigate the influence of occupational health staff’s involvement for supervisors on their POS. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted using an online survey targeting supervisors in various industries across Japan. We assessed supervisors’ POS using 8 effective items of the Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Data were collected on the involvement of occupational health staff in providing supervisors with training on workplace health management and guidance on addressing specific subordinates with health concerns. The association between this involvement and POS was assessed through multiple regression analyses. Results: The study involved 541 supervisors with occupational health staff at their workplace in the final analysis. Training from occupational health staff was significantly associated with an increase in POS at follow-up after adjustment for potential confounders, including demographic variables and POS at baseline. Similarly, guidance from occupational health staff was also significantly associated with increased POS. This effect was particularly notable in small workplaces. Conclusions: Our study indicates that occupational health staff’s involvement in supporting supervisors can contribute to enhancing supervisors’ POS, especially in small workplaces. These findings suggest that by developing structured systems and establishing specific roles for occupational health staff, organizations may effectively enhance supervisors’ POS.