Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

1-9

Authors: A Zaranejad , O Ahmadi * , E Yahyaei

Background: One of the challenges in construction is the occurrence of numerous accidents. In this regard, risk assessment can play an important role in reducing accidents. The aim of this study was to prepare comprehensive and quantitative checklists to determine the potential hazards in the construction phase. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive and analytical study was carried out on petrochemical projects in the south of Iran in 2014. After the inspection of more than 50 construction projects, two types of technical and managerial checklists were designed. The managerial and technical checklists were designed with seven and 32 major subjects, respectively. Finally prepared checklist and ET&BA method were compared in term of their risk identification capability. Results: The checklist and ET&BA methods, respectively, identified 300, 75, 125, and 48, and 107, 25, 12, and 0 risks related to hardware, design, mismanagement, and human error. Conclusions: The checklist method can identify and assess human errors, while the ET&BA method cannot. Moreover, this method was more efficient than the ET&BA technique in identification and assessment of hardware-related, design-related, and managerial risks. Moreover, the duration and cost of implementation of checklist method were significantly lower than ET&BA method. This technique can be introduced as a quantitative risk assessment method in construction phases of projects and its weaknesses can be improved by future studies.

20-25

Authors: Y Mehrifar , A Eskandarnia , H Pirami , H Mardanparvar *

Background: Laboratory activities must be planned and organized carefully because of the danger they may cause. The purpose of this study was to assess students’ awareness and comprehension of chemical hazard warning signs at the Departments of Chemistry of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out to assess students’ awareness and comprehension of chemical hazard warning signs. Data were collected from 175 students enrolled in Chemistry Laboratory Classes during the second semester of the year 2012-2013. The participants were selected randomly. The collected data was entered into SPSS software and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The results of the study revealed that the majority of the respondents (81%; n = 143) were familiar with hazard signs of laboratory chemicals. After obtaining information on their level of awareness about potential hazards of laboratory chemicals, the respondents were also requested to match chemical properties with the corresponding labels or pictograms. Conclusions: The results indicated that the students had a high level of familiarity and understanding of hazard warning signs. The study also surveyed the preferred labeling technique and revealed that the majority favored the use of both colors and signs.

31-37

Authors: M Shakerian * , F Sardari , T Kordafshari

Background: Children are the most sensitive and vulnerable group in terms of tooth decay. Any change or improvement in health-related knowledge and behavior in this group can have long-term and significant impacts on the health of the future generation. Thus, the present study was conducted with the aim to determine the relationship of knowledge of oral health-related issues with the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index in 12-year-old students of Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2016. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed on 460 students (230 boys and 230 girls) of 12 years of age from 10 elementary schools in Rafsanjan. The subjects were randomly selected. Data were collected through clinical examination, interviews, and a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; the first part contained a demographic characteristics form, and the second part contained the DMFT index and questions on knowledge of oral health-related issues. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (α = 0.05). Results: Mean DMFT index and knowledge score of the students were 2.66 ± 1.40 and 5.43 ± 1.82, respectively. Students with higher knowledge had lower DMFT index. Moreover, mean knowledge score of students with homemaker mothers was significantly higher compared to students with working mothers. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested a positive significant relationship between knowledge of oral health-related issues and DMFT index in 12-year-old students of Rafsanjan.

45-52

Authors: R Vazirinejad , A Jafarzadeh , SM Yassini , A Rahimdel , AR Sayadi *

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of psychological training combined‎ with gradual muscular stress relaxation technique on QOL of patients with MS. Materials and Methods: This triple-blind, controlled, clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients with MS who were members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Yazd Province, Iran. The subjects were selected through convenience sampling method and with the consideration of the inclusion criteria. The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups of experimental (30 persons) and control (30 persons). The experimental group received 12 sessions of psychological training combined with gradual muscular stress relaxation technique (2 sessions per week), but the control group received no intervention. The data collection tools used consisted of a demographic characteristics form and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) ‎ questionnaire. The questionnaires were completed before, immediately after, and 3 months after the training. Data were analyzed using the statistical tests of student’s t-test, Pearson correlation, and repeated measures. Results: QOL score in the experimental and control groups were 50.86 ± 14.78 and 56.25 ± 13.09 before the intervention (p=0.141), 68.49 ± 11.81 and 55.76 ± 13.37 immediately after the intervention, and 67.80 ± 11.90 and 55.06 ± 12.83 three months after the intervention, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P <0.0010). Moreover, repeated measures statistical test showed a meaningful increase in QOL score in the experimental group in the 3 measurements (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The implementation of psychological training intervention combined with gradual muscular stress relaxation method in patients with MS increases QOL. Therefore, it can be used as a beneficial intervention method for improving the QOL of patients with MS.