Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

139-145

Authors: E Taban , S Shokri , M Yazdani Aval Mr, M Rostami Aghdam Shendi , HO Kalteh * , F Keshizadeh

Background: Occupational stress has physical and psychological consequences, and is a major cause of job dissatisfaction among employees, which can reduce the quality of services provided. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between job stress and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among computer users in hospitals (private & governmental) of Gorgan, Iran, in 2014. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study participants consisted of 94 hospital computer users. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and Osipow’s Occupational Stress Inventory. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The mean score of the subjects studied was 159±77.24. The results revealed that 6.38% of the staff had mild stress, 68.9% mild to moderate stress, 24.47% had moderate to high stress, and none of the employees had high occupational stress. There was no significant relationship between job stress and MSDs of the neck, shoulders, back, elbows, and hands and wrists, but the relationship between stress and MSDs of the waist was significant (P=0.03). Conclusions: The prevalence of MSDs in the studied hospital computer users was high and stress in the workplace can have an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

154-162

Authors: Z Bahrami Nejad , S Salajegheh * , A Sheykhi

Background: Determining quality requirements and quality dimensions is one of the most reliable ways of providing high quality services. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between quality requirements and quality dimensions according to the points of view of physicians, nurses, and patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in hospitals under supervision of Medical Sciences Universities, in 4 provinces of Tehran, Fars, Lorestan, and Yazd (Iran). A group of 432 physicians and nurses answered the Quality Requirements Questionnaire which includes the 4 components of competitive, ethical, professional, and accountability requirements. Furthermore, 500 patients answered the Quality Dimensions Questionnaire, including the 11 dimensions of security (safety), professionalism, empathy (friendship), politeness, reliability, accountability, working speed, competency, accessibility, flexibility, and tangibles. The Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression method were used to analyze the data in SPSS software. Results: The mean quality requirements and quality dimensions scores in the studied hospitals were, respectively, 3.75 and 3.61, both of which were at a higher than medium level. Moreover, the results of Pearson correlation coefficient suggested that the competitive, professional, and ethical components of quality requirement had a significant and direct association with quality dimensions. However, there was no significant association between the accountability component and quality dimensions variables. Furthermore, based on the results of multiple regression and the determination coefficient, it is possible to claim that approximately 13% of variance in quality dimensions depend upon the mean of components of quality requirements. Conclusions: It can be concluded that work commitment, attention to work, respect for ethical principles, and fair competition at the work place between physicians and nurses lead to the provision of safe and high quality services in hospitals.

176-181

Authors: Z Ghomian , S Yousef Nezhad * , K Jahangiri , A Khodadadizadeh

Background: Following the outbreak of eltor cholera in Iraq’s Kurdistan, Iran was threatened through the western border. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the health system response of Marivan city in Kurdistan Province (Iran) as a risky gateway for the outbreak of eltor cholera epidemic in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was implemented in Marivan in October 2012 in 6 steps with different methods of data gathering including situation analysis, and document and literature review. Case finding is important in controlling disease outbreak. We mention to case finding in the health system.in Marivan city. Results: During the Eltor epidemic in Marivan, Control measures, training actions, and coordination measures had been within and outside the organization such as the health system, municipality, police, industries, mine and trade, terminals and transportation, local radio, agriculture, and water and sewerage. To create an intersectional coordination for disease control, job description of the offices was issued by the governor to them, and the health system response was appropriate and timely in controlling the Eltor epidemic. Conclusions: After the outbreak of Eltor in Iraq and following the announcement of standby status by Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), the health system of Marivan took steps to deal with the Eltor epidemic. We proposed the improvement of control measures and organizational coordination to control the probable outbreak. The appropriate strategies were presented to improve the performance of the health system and treatment in similar situations.

190-197

Authors: M Afshari * , S Khazaei , M Mohammadian , A Mohammadian Hafshejani

Background: In recent decades, ‎due to the increase in users of roads and inadequate attention to the creation and development of appropriate passageways for traffic, there has been a growing trend in traffic accidents and casualties caused by them. The traffic accidents among pedestrians to take necessary measures in a timely fashion should be well studied. This study was conducted with the goal of survey traffic accidents among pedestrians in 2014. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Accidents Record Program ‎regarding 2013. In this study, all traffic accidents in which the injured person was referred to a public or private ‎hospital in the country to receive health services or was transferred to the hospital by EMS 115 and ‎received remedial measures on an outpatient or inpatient basis in all provinces were considered‎. The incidence of pedestrian-vehicle accidents‎ was calculated per ten thousand. Map GIS software package was used for the mapping of occurrence of events and Microsoft EXCEL and Stata software were used for data analysis. Results: In this study, the 82066 pedestrians who were injured in road accidents consisted of a total of 53240 men and 28826 women. The rate of traffic accidents was higher in men than in women (64.87% and 35.13%, respectively) and the majority of individuals affected were in the age group of 20 to 24 years. Most pedestrian-vehicle ‎accidents had occurred on the street (89.8%). Conclusion: Pedestrians are at risk of the irreversible outcomes of traffic accidents; therefore, effective and regular training on the prevention of injury and secure environment is essential to reduce injuries.