Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

93-98

Authors: T Rahimi Pordanjani * , A Mohamadzade Ebrahimi , H Rahimi Pordanjani

Background: Approximately, 90% of workplace accidents are due to human errors. The study of the relationship between individual differences and accidents and injuries are beneficial in the prevention of these accidents. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism and occupational accident rates in the petrochemical industry. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study. The study population consisted of line employees of Khorasan Petrochemical Company in Bojnourd, Iran (n = 1160); 300 employees were selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection tools consisted of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory and Incident Reporting Rate Scale. In order to analyze the data, regression analysis and to validate the results, confirmatory factor analysis were performed using AMOS 21 software. Results: Findings indicate that correlation coefficients between the five-factor personality traits and occupational accident rates were significant (P < 0.001). In stepwise multiple regression analyses, of the 5 independent variables, only the 2 variables of conscientiousness and agreeableness found permit entry into the regression equation (R2 = 0.186, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed the importance of conscientiousness and agreeableness as predictors of occupational accident rates. Therefore, in order to select people for working in high risk environments, such as the petrochemical industry, we should rely on these variables.

107-113

Authors: M Asadpour , R Vazirinejad * , A Esmaeili , Sh Bazyar , A Fallah

Background: Physicians and medical students are at risk of exposure to a broad range of viral pathogens through percutaneous injury, contact of mucous membrane with blood, and other potentially infectious body fluids. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of physicians and medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, regarding standard precautions. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional research based on a survey performed in 3 teaching hospitals affiliated with Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Subsequently, researchers distributed the questionnaires among the individuals who agreed to participate in the study. The participants were given instructions on completing the questionnaires. After completion of the questionnaires, they were collected and statistically processed with SPSS software using frequencies, percentages, the averages and standard deviations, and the independent t-test. All P values equal to or less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The response rate in this study was 95%. The mean age of subjects was 27.6 ± 5.3 years. The majority of subjects were female (62.1%), single (66.3%), and medical interns (78.9%). Most subjects were untrained on standard precautions (64.5%). The mean and standard deviations of KAP scores were 37.6 ± 7.4 (out of 46), 32.6 ± 4.5 (out of 45), and 33.06 ± 6.5 (out of 44), respectively. The independent t-test showed significant differences between knowledge and practice scores and marital status. It also showed significant differences between the practice score and training on standard precautions (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that the knowledge score was desirable, but the attitude and practice scores were not desirable. Thus, educational programs with the foundation of blood-borne infections, infection control, safety recommendations, and different aspects of standard precautions are recommended.

121-126

Authors: Kh Mahdavi , H Alinejad * , Z Hashemi , F Ghorbani , Gh Bazmandegan

Background: One of the factors that can improve self-concept and performance of staff is professional maturity. Professional maturity can also solve the problems of self-concept. The purpose of this paper was to identify the relationship between the dimensions of self-concept and professional maturity. Materials and Methods: This relative applicable study was performed on all the personnel (n = 2480) of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2013. Using Cochran’s formula, 332 individuals were selected randomly as the study sample. For data collection, two questionnaires, including professional maturity and various self-concepts questionnaires were applied. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: A statistically significant relationship was observed between professional maturity and the self-concept of the personnel. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of the relationship between professional maturity and self-concept were 0.407 and 0.360, respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of collective professional maturity were 0.372 and 0.341, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of the individual self-concept were 0.305 and 0.298, respectively. Conclusions: There was a positive relationship between professional maturity and self-concept in the personnel of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Moreover, among the three dimensions of self-concept, the relationship dimension had a greater impact on professional maturity. Considering the influencing variables, work experience has a significant relationship with professional maturity and educational level has a significant relationship with self-concept level.

138-145

Authors: S Mahdavi * , MR Mahdavi , M Safary , R Rashidi , T Dehghani , M Kosari

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are considered a major factor in health problems, human injuries, and loss of work time. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) and evaluate the prevalence of MSD among female hairdressers. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, the risk of MSDs was evaluated in 172 female hairdressers using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. Moreover, the prevalence of WRMSDs was investigated using a Nordic questionnaire. All obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software, and the logistic regression model. Results: The results showed that 58.7% of the hairdressers experienced pain in their lower back, 52.3% in their neck, 41.3% in their knees, and 20.3% in their ankle. The results of this study showed a significant correlation between BMI and MSDs in the elbow, hip, and thigh. The results of REBA indicate that about 46% of the 1032 postures were classified as high risk and about 14.9% as very high risk. In addition, the results of this study showed a significant correlation between REBA score and MSDs in the neck, wrist, hip, and thigh. Conclusions: With regard to the high prevalence of symptoms in the waist, neck, and wrist, it can be concluded that prolonged standing, uncomfortable working postures, strenuous movements, excessive shoulder flexion and shoulder abduction, trunk flexion and forceful exertion, and repetitive motion are considered important risk factors for MSDs.