Screening for common mental disorders and substance abuse among temporary hired cleaners in Egyptian governmental hospitals, Zagazig city, Sharqia governorate

Informal employment is common in developing countries, including Egypt. This type of employment may have significant consequences on mental health. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of common mental disorders and substance abuse among temporary hired hospital cleaners. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 242 adult temporary cleaners and 209 permanent cleaners working in 4 governmental hospitals in Zagazig City, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. All participants were invited to complete a structured questionnaire through a semi-structured interview which included the self-reporting questionnaire 20 items [SRQ-20] and the work stress scale. Assessment of drug use included urine-based screening tests for common substances abused. The prevalence of job stress, common mental disorders and substance abuse, particularly tramadol and cannabis [Bango], was significantly higher in the studied temporary cleaners compared to permanent cleaners. Risk factors associated with increased susceptibility of the temporary cleaners to common mental disorders were family history of substance abuse, high crowding index, history of physical illness, low educational level, and smoking; while being unmarried, male sex, family history of mental disorder, age > =40 years, smoking, and length of service > =8 years, were associated with substance abuse among the same group. Temporary hired hospital cleaners suffered from impaired mental health more than permanent cleaners. Therefore, expanding the coverage of current laws and occupational safety and health standards to cover workers in the informal sector especially in developing countries is recommended

Detection of helicobacter pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal disorders among Zagazig university hospitals waste collectors: a comparative cross- sectional study

Hospital work, involving direct patient contact and poor sanitary conditions, constitutes a major risk factor for acquisition of H. pylori infection. 1] determining the prevalence and occupational risk of, pylori infection among hospital waste collectors, 2] identifying some of its associated risk factors, 3] investigating the validity of some non-invasive tests for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in comparison with the gold-standard invasive test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, 4] comparing the diagnostic performance of salivary H. pylori IgG with that of serum H. pylori IgG, and 5] determining the percentages of upper gastrointestinal [GIT] symptoms and the endoscopic findings among hospital waste collectors and assessing their relation to H. pylori infection. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 hospital waste collectors and 78 security and administrative workers from Zagazig University Hospitals as a control group. All participants filled pre-constructed questionnaires and were subjected to H. pylori stool antigen and serum and salivary anti-H. pylori IgG tests; while only 110 workers underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy and rapid urease test. The results revealed absence of significant occupational risk of H. pylori infection acquisition among hospital waste collectors compared to the controls. Moreover, Male sex, smoking habit, low socioeconomic status, poor personal hygiene, and family history of upper GIT complaints were the risk factors significantly associated with active H. pylori infection. Fecal antigen test had the highest sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of H, pylori infection compared to the other non-invasive tests. Moreover, there was a fair degree of agreement between salivary and serum H. pylori IgG tests regarding their diagnostic performance [0.34]. Also, absence of statistical significant differences between both studied groups regarding the percentages of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and different endoscopic findings was revealed. Finally, current H. pylori infection was found to be significantly associated with different types of gastritis; however, normal mucosa by endoscopy didn't exclude the presence of H, pylori infection. So, improving the overall standard of living in our country, environmental sanitation, introducing effective anti-infective sanitary regulations at work, mass screening through either stool antigen or serum IgG or salivary IgG tests to detect infected persons, and proper treatment of infected persons are mandatory

Work stress among a group of nurses at Zagazig University Hospitals; a cross sectional study

Nursing is an extremely stressful occupation. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the possible risk factors of work stress and to identify some of its physical and psycho-behavioral health effects among nurses at Zagazig University Hospitals. 108 nurses were randomly selected from four different departmental strata, where each stratum had nearly the same working conditions, and a control group composed of 100 apparently healthy subjects were selected from the administrative departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University. All subjects were interviewed using a pre-constructed questionnaire; furthermore, they were investigated by measuring their blood pressure and random blood glucose level during work time. The highest percent of the studied nurses were found to have moderate stress [65.7%]; moreover, a very remarkable percent of them [13.9%] suffered from severe stress according to the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale. Working at Causality, Intensive Care, and Emergency Departments, problems with supervisors, excess work load as well as excess working hours, young age, residing away from the hospitals, rotatory work shifts, and low job rank along with short duration of employment with insufficient experience were found to be the most significant risk factors associated with stress among the studied nurses. Moreover, the studied nurses showed a significantly higher prevalence of both short and long term physical and psycho-behavioral stress health effects compared to the control group. It could be concluded that work stress is a major and progressive problem that endangers the health of nurses and the quality of health care provided to the clients at Zagazig University Hospitals, which points to the importance of applying a suitable stress reduction program for proper control

Occupational pulmonary health effects among a group of aluminum foundry workers: a cross sectional study

Aluminum is an extremely versatile metal. Inhalation of aluminum dust and / or fumes can induce a wide range of pulmonary health effects, including airways disorders, cancer, and parenchymal diseases. This cross sectional study was conducted to determine the adverse pulmonary health effects of occupational aluminum exposure and some of the associated personal and occupational risk factors among a group of aluminum foundry workers. 33 male aluminum foundry workers, from different work sections, and 28 apparently healthy subjects, as a control group, were included in this study. All participants were interviewed using a pre-constructed questionnaire based mainly on the modified British Medical Research Council questionnaire; furthermore, they were subjected to serum aluminum level estimation, spirometry, and chest radiological examinations [chest X-ray was done for all participants, while High Resolution Computed Tomography [HRCT] was done for those with free chest X-ray films or with early parenchymal changes]. Significantly higher serum aluminum level along with significantly higher prevalence of both acute work-related symptoms and chronic respiratory symptoms were observed among the studied aluminum foundry workers compared to the control group. Moreover, spirometric examination of the studied aluminum foundry workers revealed mixed pattern of pulmonary dysfunction suggesting both obstructive ventilatory problems and restrictive parenchymal disorders. Chest X-ray films of furnace and rolling-mill workers showed excess fibrotic strands at upper and mid-zones of both lung fields; while, chest X-ray films and HRCT of the finishing aluminum foundry workers showed mild to moderate fibrotic changes. On the other hand, there were no detected abnormalities in chest X-ray films of the administrative aluminum foundry workers; while, their HRCT chest examination revealed fine reticulo-nodular opacities noticed at upper and mid-zones of both lungs. Moreover, there were no detected abnormalities in chest X-ray films and HRCT of the control group. It could be concluded that, unprotected occupational exposure to different aluminum forms can impair the pulmonary health of aluminum foundry workers. Moreover, serum aluminum can be a useful biomarker for assessing workers' exposure. Finally, HRCT was found to be more valuable than chest X-ray in early diagnosis of aluminum-induced lung fibrosis. Periodic medical examinations and biological monitoring of aluminum foundry workers along with improving working conditions are recommended