Reliability and validity of persian version of job content questionnaire in health care workers in Iran

The effect of poor psychosocial work conditions on health status has widely been discussed in occupational literature. Job Content Questionnaire [JCQ] is a widely accepted instrument for evaluation of psychosocial work conditions. To determine the reliability and validity of Persian version of JCQ. The questionnaire was translated into Persian and back translated. 490 Iranian health care workers completed the questionnaire. After 4 weeks, 196 participants completed the questionnaire once again. Factor analyses revealed an acceptable level of structure validity for the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was more than 0.75 for all scales except for psychological demand [alpha =0.60] and job insecurity [alpha =0.27]. Reassessment of participants after 4 weeks revealed an acceptable level of reliability for all scales except depression. The Persian version of JCQ is reliable and valid for assessing work conditions among Iranian health care workers, although revision is needed for job insecurity and depression scales

Risk factors for road traffic injuries on Qazvin-Loshan road, 2005

Considering the lack of adequate basic information on risk factors for road traffic injuries in Iran, a study was conducted to determine the association between potential risk factors and the incidence of injuries in motor vehicle drivers. We performed a population-based case-control study on Qazvin-Loshan road. Risk factors related to injury incidence were compared between 175 cases and 175 controls. Cases were drivers recently injured in road accidents. Controls did not have any injury and were selected systematically while the study was being conducted. Injury was defined as trauma needing medical or surgical treatment. Information was obtained through police reports and interviews with cases and controls. Data were analyzed by two methods; bivariate analysis [crude] and by a multivariate unconditional logistic regression model. In bivariate analysis, risk factors for road traffic injuries risk were failure to wear seat belts or protective helmets, ejection from vehicle, severity of collision, number of crashes, motorcycle vs. other motor vehicle accidents, fire, rain and fog, and collision with fixed objects. In the logistic model, factors such as seat belt or helmet use with OR- 0.619 [0.376-1.018], ejection from the vehicle with OR= 2.952 [1.235-7.056], severe collision with OR= 5.413 [2.865-10.224], motorcycle vs. other motor vehicle accident with OR= 3.164 [1.05-9.537] and raining and fog vs. good weather with OR- 4.562 [1.663-12.514] were found to influence injury incidence. There was an interaction between severity of collision and weather status. Better speed control, use of seat belts or helmets, not using motorcycles for road travel and equipping vehicles with fire extinguishing capsules are recommended to reduce road accident injuries

[The effect of withdrawal status in predisposing habitual opioid users to traffic accidents: a case-crossover study]

Road traffic injuries are among the most important causes of death and disability in Iran, and the country has one of the highest prevalence of opioid drug use, especially among drivers. The effect of different situations related to opioid use needs great attention. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of driving in the withdrawal phase on the occurrence of traffic accidents leading to injury. This is a Case-Crossover study on injured drivers of crashed motor vehicles in Kerman. Drivers having skipped one habitual drug dose within one hour of the driving session were considered as being in withdrawal. We compared the drivers' situation at the time of accident with their regular driving habits. Among 75 drivers who had history of regular use of opium, 15 were in withdrawal phase at the time of accident. The relative rate of occurrence of traffic injuries while driving in these circumstances was 2.67 [95% confidence interval: 1.52 - 4.68]. According to these findings we can conclude that habitual opioid users are at greater risk of traffic accidents while driving in withdrawal status; this risk is more than two-fold relative to not being in withdrawal status