[Design and development of an ergonomic chair for Iranian office workers]

Working in sitting posture, specially using a poorly designed chair is one of the critical risk factors in developing low back pain. Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] and has been reported to occur in 50-90% of all adults with recurrent rate of up to 90%. The objective of this study was to design and develop ergonomic chair for Iranian office workers. In this study, chair-related anthropometric dimensions of 303 Iranian office workers were measured in both genders. ANSI-HFES 100/1988 standard protocol was used for chair design. Finally, using a usability test, the designed ergonomic chair was assessed by 60 men and women office workers. Using anthropometries measurements and ergonomic criteria for chair design and also considering technical limitations, an ergonomic chair was made. Then this ergonomic chair was compared with old made chair designs. Office workers' assessments between old chair design and new one showed a significant difference. In this study, design and development of construction of an ergonomic chair was successfully made which could be applicable to Iranian office workers in order to provide their comfort and well being

Pattern and inclination of adolescents towards substance abuse

Narcotic drug abuse and illicit use of drugs is a major, complicated multifactorial phenomenon affecting most of the societies today. Incidence of drug abuse among adolescents is very high. Adolescents become addicted to substances more quickly than adults. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of drug abuse among male adolescents in Hamadan. This study was a descriptive study and samples [n=400] were collected on the basis of snowball sampling method. Information was collected individually through completion of a researcher-designed questionnaire including demographic and epidemiological indices, perceived familial support, religiosity, and locus of control. The results showed that smoking [93%], alcohol [92.5%], marijuana [64.3%], and opium [57.8%] use were very high, while LSD [4.8%] and Cocaine [2.3%] use was rare. 77.8% of adolescents began drug abuse between 12 and 18 years of age. Moreover, sensation seeking [26.5%], individual interest [24.8%], and peer pressure [22%], were the main reasons for drug abuse. As initial smoking, alcohol and marijuana use play an important role in determining the future addiction of adolescents to narcotics, yearly surveillance programs in the country and evaluation of etiological factors of narcotic addiction need to be studied carefully. All of the preventive and school programs designed for the young should take into account environmental, demographic and policy factors in addition to personal factors so that the programs have a maximum effect