Health of teleworkers: a scoping review on the assessment of the work-from-home environment

Inappropriate telework environments, including work-from-home (WFH) settings, have been linked to physical and mental health problems. However, no systematic assessment has been conducted regarding the WFH environment (WFH-E). The aim of this study was to clarify the current methods used to assess the WFH-E and its association with health- and work-related outcomes through a scoping review.

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Ichushi for literature published since 2010 on WFH-E assessment. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, assessment methods were summarized using 18 items categorized into 9 domains. Additionally, associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes were reviewed.

Of 1669 articles collected, 37 studies published from 2020 were ultimately included in this review. Thirty-four articles involved subjective assessments, and 9 involved objective assessments. The most frequently assessed item was artificial lighting, followed by thermal conditions and noise. Items such as color, greenery, building materials, and odor were rarely assessed. Most studies showed significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes.

Studies on the WFH-E increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, showing significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes. However, most assessments were subjective, with objective assessments remaining rare. Additionally, the assessment items were limited and biased, indicating that interior design elements were insufficiently assessed. Developing additional objective and comprehensive methods for assessing the WFH-E is needed.