How Effectively Safety Incentives Work? A Randomized Experimental Investigation

Background@#Incentive and penalty (I/P) programs are commonly used to increase employees' safety outcomes, but its influence on employees' safety outcomes is under-investigated. Moreover, under developed economies lack safety culture and there is dearth of literature focusing on empirical studies over there [1]. Based on these gaps, this study attempts to see the impact of I/P programs on safety outcomes in a developing country. @*Methods@#The study was carried out in three stages, where Stage I revealed that selected 45 organizations were deficit of safety culture and practices, while only three firms were found good at safety practices. At Stage II, these three firms were divided in two clusters (groups), and were probed further at Stage III. At this stage group, one was manipulated by providing incentives (experimental group) and employees' responses in terms of safety motivation and performance were noticed. @*Results@#It was observed that the experimental group's safety motivation and performance had improved (both for immediate and 1-month later performance). The results were further probed at Phase 3 (after 3 months), where it was found that the benefits of I/P programs were not long lasting and started replenishing. @*Conclusion@#Findings of the study helped researchers conclude that safety incentives have only short-term influence on safety outcomes, while a long-term and permanent solution should be found.

How Effectively Safety Incentives Work? A Randomized Experimental Investigation

Background@#Incentive and penalty (I/P) programs are commonly used to increase employees' safety outcomes, but its influence on employees' safety outcomes is under-investigated. Moreover, under developed economies lack safety culture and there is dearth of literature focusing on empirical studies over there [1]. Based on these gaps, this study attempts to see the impact of I/P programs on safety outcomes in a developing country. @*Methods@#The study was carried out in three stages, where Stage I revealed that selected 45 organizations were deficit of safety culture and practices, while only three firms were found good at safety practices. At Stage II, these three firms were divided in two clusters (groups), and were probed further at Stage III. At this stage group, one was manipulated by providing incentives (experimental group) and employees' responses in terms of safety motivation and performance were noticed. @*Results@#It was observed that the experimental group's safety motivation and performance had improved (both for immediate and 1-month later performance). The results were further probed at Phase 3 (after 3 months), where it was found that the benefits of I/P programs were not long lasting and started replenishing. @*Conclusion@#Findings of the study helped researchers conclude that safety incentives have only short-term influence on safety outcomes, while a long-term and permanent solution should be found.

Comparative study of alterations in tri-iodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4] hormone levels in breast and ovarian cancer

The present study was designed to investigate variations in the levels of thyroid hormones [T3, T4] in breast and ovarian cancers patients. A total 120 subjects were recruited [without thyroid history] divided into three groups; A, B and C. Group A as control with healthy individuals. While group B and group C were consisting of breast cancer and ovarian cancer patient respectively. Blood samples [5 ml] were taken and analyzed to estimate the levels of serum T3 [tri-iodothyronine] and T4 [thyroxin] hormones. Statistically significant difference [P=0.000* and P=0.017*] was obtained among all groups. A significant increase in T3 [P=0.000*] and T4 [0.005*] levels was observed among breast cancer patients as compared to healthy controls. While for ovarian cancer patients conflicting results were found for T3 and T4 levels in the serum i.e. insignificant difference was found in T3 [P=0.209] and T4 [P=0.050] as compared to control. Our results showed that in the breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients the thyroid hormone [T3 and T4] level has been altered from the normal ranges as compared to the normal healthy individuals. We conclude that hyperthyroidism has profound effects on breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells proliferation

Effect of head positioning on outcome after Burr hole craniostomy for chronic subdural haematoma

To determine the effect of position of the patient's head after burr hole craniostomy on the outcome of chronic subdural haematoma, in terms of haematoma efflux, hospital stay and recurrence rate. Quasi experimental. Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from February 2007 to February 2008. Sixty patients were divided in two equal groups of 30 patients each. Group A patients were kept flat after the burr hole craniostomy and group B patients were kept with head end of bed elevated by 30°. The results were statistically analysed through software SPSS 14. The mean age was 59.98 +/- 13.7 years. There was predominance of males [M:F=3.2:1]. The location of haematoma was frontoparietal in majority [72%], right sided in 31 [51.6%], left sided in 20 [30%] and bilateral in 9 [15%] patients. Average daily output was 152 ml in group A and 142 ml in group B. Haematoma efflux was found to be sufficient in 26 [86.6%] patients of group A and 27 [90%] of group B. Wound infection occurred in 2 patients of group A and 1 in group B. Seizures occurred in 2 patients of group A and 3 of group B. Although, there was longer hospital stay for group A vs. group B [p=0.002], recurrence rate was insignificant amongst the two groups as 10% vs. 13% [p=0.688]. Assuming a 30° head up position soon after operation in cases of chronic subdural haematoma does not significantly affect the outcome and recurrence

Head trauma due to earthquake October 2005 - experience of 300 cases at the combined military hospital Rawalpindi

To assess the spectrum and management of he ad injuries among earthquake victims. Case series. The study was conducted at Surgical Ward II, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from October 2005 to December 2006. Three hundred consecutive cases of head injury, secondary to earthquake were included in the study. Plain X-rays of skulls were undertaken in clinically stable patients with head injuries. Cases with altered level of consciousness and compound depressed fractures were advised CT scan of head. Pus swabs were taken from open wounds. Proformas were maintained for every patient. Head injury was classified as mild, moderate and severe, and each patient was treated accordingly. One hundred and twenty three [41%] patients were children under 10 years of age. Adults below 55 years were 69 [23%] and above 55 years were 108 [36%]. Mean age was 32.2 years [SD + 6.7]. Female to male ratio was 1.1:1. One hundred and sixty five [55%] cases were of mild head injury, 103 [34.3%] patients had moderate head injury and 32 [10.7%] patients had severe head injury. Majority [48.7%] of patients was managed conservatively. Minor surgeries were done in 17% of patients and major surgeries were done in 34.3% of patients. Glasgow Outcome Scale assessment was made at the end of 6 months and 1 year. Mortality increased from 3.3% to 7% in one year time. Patients at the extremes of age are more vulnerable to trauma and should be given timely attention in disaster management plans. General and trauma surgeons should be well-versed with the techniques and indications of burr hole evacuation of life threatening intracranial haematomas in situations, where early evacuation is unattainable

Prevalence of myopia in students of Srinagar City of Kashmir, India

Myopia is a common ocular disorder Prevalence data with regard to myopia is scarce in India and almost nonexistent in Kashmir To determine the prevalence of myopia in Srinagar City and to evaluate risk factors associated with the disease. 38 schools in the Srinagar were selected randomly and students were examined by our optometrist team. Children with refractive error of-0.25 D to-5.9 D were considered myopic, while those with-6 D and above were considered high myopic. X[2] Tests were used as appropriate to test whether potential risk factors were significantly associated with myopia. Odds ratios [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] were calculated for risk factors that were independently associated with myopia in this population. A total of 4, 360 students of mean age 12.11 [95% confidence interval [CI]=11.99-12.22: range, 7-18] participated in the study. Myopia was found in 4.74% students. Increasing age was associated with the increased risk of having myopia. Girl students were more likely to have myopia than boys [OR=1.52]. The prevalence of myopia among girls was more than that of boys. Students from low socioeconomic conditions were having higher prevalence of myopia than their counterparts from higher socioeconomic counterparts. Reduced vision because of myopia is an important health problem in students in Srinagar City. Most of these students do not have the necessary correction spectacles. Effective strategies are needed to eliminate the cause of a significant visual problem