Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

157-164

Authors: M Khorsandi , N Sharafkhani * , M Shamsi , M Ranjbaran

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is an important occupational injury. Musculoskeletal injuries, especially CLBP, are prevalent in the nurses, and can lead to reduced productivity, work absenteeism, and work disability. The purpose of this study was to determine nurses' knowledge of the risk factors of low back pain (LBP) and their self-efficacy in coping with the risk factors, and to evaluate CLBP preventive behaviors in nurses. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional research was performed on 133 nurses selected randomly from 3 government hospitals affiliated with Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. The data collection tool was a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice of the nursing staff in CLBP preventive behaviors. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical methods and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the nurses was 32.1 ± 5.3. Our findings showed that in terms of LBP the nursing staff had average level of knowledge with a mean score of 60.2 ± 19.69 out of 100, average level of self-efficacy with a mean score of 55.9 ± 10.6 out of 100, and poor practice with a mean score of 43.9 ± 6.9 out of 100. The correlation between knowledge, and self-efficacy and practice was not significant, but self-efficacy showed a significant correlation with practice and being married (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to our study, most participants lacked appropriate knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice with regard to CLBP preventive behaviors. Since back pain strongly affects the performance and service quality of the caregivers, the Iranian Ministry of Health and the related universities should make necessary educational and managerial arrangements to present educational programs aimed at CLBP prevention in the form of university courses, posters, films, workshops, and etcetera.

174-182

Authors: MH Beheshti , R Hajizadeh *

Background: The employees of welfare centers, due to the special conditions of their work, may be exposed to excessive occupational stress and workload. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of workload and occupational stress on the general health of female employees of public welfare centers. Materials and Methods: This was a correlational research on 63 female employees of 3 welfare centers. The data were collected using the Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI), NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software by computing the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and the stepwise regression. Results: The general health score of 66% of staff of the welfare centers was higher than the cutoff point, as limit determinant of health and non-health. Among the different dimensions of general health, social disorders obtained the highest score; 74% of staff had social problems. The workload score of 12% of women was higher than 70 (high workload) and the workload score of 71.42% of women was between 40 and 70 (intermediate). Mean score of General Health Care of mentally ill disabled, and elderly employees was, respectively, 21.12, 27.21, and 24.90. The Occupational Stress Inventory score of the study population was 151.04, indicating that welfare employees were not exposed to high rates of stress in their work environment. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that authorities should pay special attention to ergonomics factors affecting the general health of welfare employees, especially with respect to social disorders. Moreover, personality traits should also be considered in employing of individuals

188-194

Authors: Z Salem , M Sheikh Fathollahi * , Z Hashemi , M Shahabinejad

Background: It seems that weight gain and body composition changes occur during the first year of college. The aim of this study was the comparison of body composition among freshmen medical sciences students one term after entering Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, South East of Iran. Materials and Methods: All freshmen medicine (n = 73) and nursing-midwifery students (n = 57) of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences who had registered for the fall of 2013 were participated in this descriptive study. After obtaining written consents from the participants, their demographic information was collected. Then, using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), body composition of all the students was measured and recorded. Data were analyzed using independent two-sample t-test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. Results: The difference between medical and nursing/midwifery students in terms of changes in body fat percentage (1.92 ± 2.87 versus -0.29 ± 2.21, respectively) (P < 0.001) and body water content (-0.13 ± 1.34 versus 0.35 ± 1.20, respectively) (P = 0.038) was statistically significant. Moreover, the difference in changes of fat free mass was statistically significant across the two groups (P = 0.026). Body fat percentage had decreased in the native students compared to the nonnatives (P < 0.001). The frequency of students with malnutrition and minimum fat percentage criteria had decreased, while it had increased to the recommended range at the end of the first semester. Conclusions: There was a statistically significant difference between medical and nursing/midwifery students in terms of fat percentage, fat free mass, and total body water content. It seems that the differences between the two groups might be because of being native or nonnative students.

203-207

Authors: M Rezaeian *

Background: We are living in an era in which different branches of science are growing very rapidly. Therefore, retrieving and summarizing all new valid findings on a specific subject is one of the most important priorities of scientists. The aim of the present article is to categorize different review studies within the health domain based on their approach to retrieving and summarizing original findings. Methods: The most relevant articles have been selected and summarized in order to accomplish the aim of the study. Results: Narrative reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses from published data, and individual participant data meta-analyses are different types of review studies. More recently, prospectively planned pooled analyses have also been introduced. Conclusions: Diverse types of review studies have been developed one by one over the course of time based on their approaches to retrieving and summarizing original findings. Therefore, they have their own especial applications and scientists of different disciplines need to know their advantages and disadvantages.

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.

12-19

Authors: D Shahimoradi , R Vazirinejad *

Background: Today application of computer in the life of people is very common and those who work with computer in especially long – term are faced with musculoskeletal pains. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors of musculoskeletal and Joint pains among computer users in Rafsanjan city in the years 2012-13. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 420 computer users were recruited in Rafsanjan city between 18 April 2012 and 19 January 2013. The data were collected by a checklist, in face to face interview sessions. Data were analyzed in SPSS and parametric and nonparametric tests were used where appropriate. Results: Cervical pain was associated with position of desk, chair and keyboard. There were significant association between shoulder pain and position of the keyboard, low back pain and chair position, carpal tunnel syndrome and mouse usage. The prevalence of cervical pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, wrist pain, hand pain, low back pain, elbow pain, back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, among respondents were 38.3%, 38.3%, 27.1%, 21.2%, 18.8%, 24.5%, 15.7%, 26.4% and 21.2%, respectively. In this study, there was significant association between exercise and all variables of carpal tunnel syndrome, elbow pain, back pain, low back pain and shoulder pain. Conclusions: It can be concluded that prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in computer users in our study were very common. Improving the position of desk, chair, mouse and keyboard could help with reducing cervical pain, shoulder pain, back pain, low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

27-36

Authors: H Vivien , Z Hashim * , P Ismail , S Md Said , D Omar , S Bahri Mohd Tamrin

Background: This study has used biomarker of exposure-effect continuum to examine the biological characteristics of organophosphate (OP) toxicity and its genotoxic effect among rice farmers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 pesticide exposed rice farmers and 160 adults from the fishing village as the unexposed group. They share the common socio-economical background for inter-individual comparison in human toxicology assessment. In this study depression of blood cholinesterase is used as a biomarker of exposure to OP toxicity. Two genotoxic assays (micronuclei and comet assay) were conducted as a biomarker of genotoxic effect among the adult population. In this context, micronuclei assay is used to indicate the chromosome breakage and comet assay to estimate the possible DNA damage. Results: The study showed a significant difference of blood cholinesterase level (p=0.001) between the exposed-unexposed groups. Besides, the results showed that farmers had at least 2-2.5 folds of significant increase (p=0.001) in MN frequency (in 1000 cells) and comet tail length (µm) compared to the unexposed group. In addition, regression analysis among farmers showed that blood cholinesterase level decreased with the genotoxic effects. A small variation (R2=0.148) of MN frequency could be explained by the depression of blood cholinesterase level; however, a significant reduction (p=0.001), with strong changes (R2=0.712) in comet tail length was attributed to the depression of blood cholinesterase levels. Risk factors like age, body mass index, smoking status and years of working showed the different strength of the relationship with these genotoxic effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that chronic exposure to OP shows an inhibition to blood cholinesterase level, which is associated with the potential DNA breakage as indicated by comet assay. Age, smoking and years of working are the contributing factors influencing the biomarker of effects.

44-53

Authors: A Ahmadi Orkomi * , B Tavakoli , A Noorpoor

Background: Cement industry has many process units. Basically all of these units can be considered as a source of noise. Since noise pollution is defined based on its offensive hearing effects, the importance of the noise sources depends directly on the number of workers in the unit. Materials and Methods: An experimental study has been done at Tehran cement factory to recognize and analyze the major noise pollution source machineries. In this survey, first, the mean A-weighted sound pressure level and the number of workers in each unit have been measured and the obtained data has been analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Afterwards, based on the mentioned ISO, some experiments have been done to calculate the A-weighted acoustic power level of the crusher which emits the highest level of noise. Results: The noisiest units have been recognized and some applicable suggestions have been offered to reduce the sound exposure level. Also by calculating the sound power levels and considering the design parameters which affect the sound power generated by the crusher, an empirical equation has been presented to calculate the acoustic power level as a function of horsepower, number of hammers and the weight of each hammer. Conclusion: The acoustic measurement results show that the crusher, cement mill and row mill units are the three major noise emission sources. In another experiment, based on ANSI S1.36 and ISO 3746 guidelines, the sound power level of the crusher unit has been measured indirectly. Afterwards, by using a multiple regression algorithm and minimizing the mean square error, an empirical equation has been proposed to correlate the acoustic power level as a function of the horsepower and the mass of all hammers of the crusher.

60-66

Authors: Z Zamanian , K Nikeghbal * , H Ebrahimi , S Purshahidi

Background: It has been prover that the prevalence of experiencing job related stress is very high among the dentists. This stress can be the result of factors such as poor lightening of dental office and noise. This stress can cause emotional distress and threaten dentists’ physical health and affect the quality of their life. This study is conducted to determine dentists’ professional quality of life and job-related stress and two important workplace factors that can affect them which are lighting and noise. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study the researchers visited the dental offices in Shiraz city and measured lighting and noise of the places, also dentist's quality of life and job stress were determined using McGill quality of life questionnaire and job-stress questionnaire. Results: The relationship between quantitative variables was determined by using regression test and the multiple regression test was used for the modeling process. The average of local noise caused by dental drills and other parameters was 75.5 and 74.5 in public and private offices. In 2.2% of dental offices lightening condition was below the standard levels. Results show that 58.9% of dentists participating in this study experience good or fairly good quality of life. Conclusion: The results suggest that workplace environmental situation and dentists’ professional stress and quality of life are correlated. So adjusting effective workplace parameters to the standard levels can lead to increase in the dentists’ quality of life.

76-81

Authors: M Rezaeian *

Background: The most common method of collecting data in any area of human health research is to apply a questionnaire. However, if extreme cautiousness is not taking into account while designing a questionnaire, the gathered data might be ineffective. Therefore, the aim of the present article is to discuss some of the most important set of guidelines in designing a questionnaire. Materials and methods: To fulfil the aim of the study, it has been tried to search the relevant literature by looking at different search engines and also carry out hand searching. It has also been tried to elaborate any selected guidelines by examples relevant to occupational epidemiology. Results: The literature highlights that there are at the very least ten common-sense guidelines that one should take into account for designing a valid and reliable questionnaire. Conclusions: By following the proposed guidelines it is hoped that a deigned questionnaire is able to elicit the responses that one might need.