Title
Validation of a COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix (COVID-19-JEM) for Occupational Risk of a SARS-CoV-2 Infection at Work: Using Data of Dutch Workers
Author
van der Feltz, S.
Peters, S.
Pronk, A.
Schlünssen, V.
Stokholm, Z.A.
Kolstad, H.A.
van Veldhoven, K.
Basinas, I.
van Tongeren, M.
Burdorf, A.
Oude Hengel, K.M.
Publication year
2022
Abstract
Objectives A COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix (COVID-19-JEM) has been developed, consisting of four dimensions on transmission, two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work. This study aims to validate the COVID-19-JEM by (i) comparing risk scores assigned by the COVID-19-JEM with self-reported data, and (ii) estimating the associations between the COVID-19-JEM risk scores and self-reported COVID-19. Methods Data from measurements 2 (July 2020, n = 7690) and 4 (March 2021, n = 6794) of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey-COVID-19 (NWCS-COVID-19) cohort study were used. Responses to questions related to the transmission risks and mitigation measures of Measurement 2 were used to calculate self-reported risk scores. These scores were compared with the COVID-19-JEM attributed risk scores, by assessing the percentage agreement and weighted kappa (κ). Based on Measurement 4, logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between all COVID-19-JEM risk scores and self-reported COVID-19 (infection in general and infected at work). Results The agreement between the COVID-19-JEM and questionnaire-based risk scores was good (κ ≥ 0.70) for most dimensions, except work location (κ = 0.56), and face covering (κ = 0.41). Apart from the precarious work dimensions, higher COVID-19-JEM assigned risk scores had higher odds ratios (ORs; ranging between 1.28 and 1.80) on having had COVID-19. Associations were stronger when the infection were thought to have happened at work (ORs between 2.33 and 11.62). Conclusions Generally, the COVID-19-JEM showed a good agreement with self-reported infection risks and infection rates at work. The next step is to validate the COVID-19-JEM with objective data in the Netherlands and beyond.
Subject
Werknemers
Workers
Dutch
COVID-19
Job Exposure Matrix
Mitigation measures
Precarious work
SARS-CoV-2 infection
Transmission risk
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b194619c-094e-4db1-899a-3e9e6a9059b2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxac032
TNO identifier
970608
Source
Annals of Work Exposures and Health, Epub 18 March
Document type
article