ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: This study aimed at ergonomic assessment of the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among microscopic surgeons , investigate the specification of ergonomic chairs and designing one for use during microscopic surgeries. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 27 micro surgeons out of 4 surgeons (ear, nose and throat), eye surgery, neurosurgery and plastic surgery in Khalili, Namazi, Shahid Chamran and Shahid Faghihi hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. The study was carried out in 4 steps. Objective evaluations included posture assessment by RULA and assessment of postural angles of the body (during performing microscopic surgeries) by Digimizer software. Subjective evaluation included the assessment of pain intensity and chair comfort using a visual analogue scale. next step was to determine the necessary anthropometric dimensions of the micro-surgeons. The fourth step was 3D modeling of the initial idea using Sketch Up 2017. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the final RULA scores of the surgeons’ postures were obtained 6.75 ± 0.5 and 6.5 ± 0.57 for the right and left sides of the body, respectively. Pain VAS scores after using normal chairs for microscopic surgeries were 5.32 (low-back pain), 4.42 (right shoulder/ arm pain) and 4.15 (left shoulder/ arm pain) which were their highest pain scores. The results of the assessment of postural angles by Digimizer software also showed a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the arm, forearm, wrist, neck, and trunk. Conclusion: In terms of ergonomics, the chair with the specifications listed may reduce physical fatigue and a potentially safer working environment for surgeons to create.
ABSTRACT
Background: Depression is one of the mental disorders which have become a public health problem throughout of the world. The objective of this study was to investigate depression and to determine its correlated factors among students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [SUMS]
Methods: 358 students of SUMS participated in this cross sectional study in 2012. The participants were selected by Proportion Partition sampling method. A two-part questionnaire was used as the data collecting tool. In the first part, demographic characteristics and in the second part the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] were included
Results: Mean score of depression in the studied population was 10.98. More than half of all the participants [54.7%] were symptomless; 41% of them were in the weak to moderate depression categories, and 4.2% in the strong and very strong categories. The data showed a significant relationship between scores of depression and marital status, academic grade, field content of study, use of psychoactive drugs, job outlook, problem with marriage and religious commitments. The depression scores in the married, religious and postgraduate participants and in those participants with course pleasure and excellent career perspective were lower than those in the other groups
Conclusion: Taking measures to reduce the factors leading to mental disorders is recommended. The involvement of students in socio-cultural, recreational and sport activities, reinforcement of consultation and clinical psychological services, and promotion of religious beliefs are instrumental in the enhancement of moral values and amelioration of depression among university students
ABSTRACT
Background: Anthropometry is a branch of Ergonomics that considers the measurement and description of the human body dimensions. Accordingly, equipment, environments, and workstations should be designed using user-centered design processes. Anthropometric dimensions differ considerably across gender, race, ethnicity and age, taking into account ergonomic and anthropometric principles. The aim of this study was to determine anthropometric characteristics of microscope users and provide a regression model for anthropometric dimensions
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric dimensions [18 dimensions] of the microscope users [N=174; 78 males and 96 females] in Shiraz were measured. Instruments included a Studio meter, 2 type calipers, adjustable seats, a 40-cm ruler, a tape measure, and scales. The study data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20
Results: The means of male and female microscope users' age were 31.64+/-8.86 and 35+/-10.9 years, respectively and their height were 161.03+/-6.87cm and 174.81+/-5.45cm, respectively. The results showed that sitting and standing eye height and sitting horizontal range of accessibility had a significant correlation with stature
Conclusion: The established anthropometric database can be used as a source for designing workstations for working with microscopes in this group of users. The regression analysis showed that three dimensions, i.e. standing eye height, sitting eye height, and horizontal range of accessibility sitting had a significant correlation with stature. Therefore, given one's stature, these dimensions can be obtained with less measurement
ABSTRACT
Background: Noise is one of the most important hazardous physical factors in industrial environments. This study aimed to determine the effects of noise exposure on serum cortisol level and some blood parameters among male workers of a steel production company
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 male workers in a steel production company. In order to assess the changes in blood parameters, such as serum cortisol level, lipid profile, and blood sugar, blood samples were taken from the participants before and after the work shift. Besides, CEL 440 sound level meter was used to measure the equivalent sound pressure level [L[Aeq]] and analyze the noise in octave band frequencies. Analyses of data were performed by SPSS software [version 16] using the Paired sample t-test
Results: The laboratory findings indicated an increase in serum cortisol at all exposure levels. However, the changes were not statistically significant. An increase was observed in blood sugar levels at all the three noise levels and the increment was statistically significant at 95 dB noise level
Conclusion: The present study showed that exposure to high sound levels leads to changes in biological parameters, although under the scenario explained in this study these changes did not reach statistical significant
ABSTRACT
Background: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of work shifts and mental workload on chronic fatigue among female nurses in Intensive Care Units of selected hospitals in Shiraz
Methods: The participants in this cross-sectional study were 118 female nurses working in Intensive Care Units of three hospitals in Shiraz with an average age of 304.8 +/- years. SP [Samn-Perelli] Mental fatigue scale and NASA task load index were rated for two weeks at the beginning and end of each work shift. The Checklist Individual Strenght [CIS] questionnaire was completed to assess the fatigue during the last two weeks
Results: Mean score of chronic fatigue was 69.2 +/- 13. Menal fatigue and mental workload per shift were significantly correlated with work shifts [P=0.001]. Mental workload [P=0.006, r=0.24] and mental fatigue caused by work shifts [P=0.001, r=0.42] were also significantly correlated with chronic fatigue
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that mental workload and work shifts influence the nurses' fatigue in Intensive Care Units. Therefore, using intervention strategies to reduce mental work load and modification of shift work system in this group seems to be necessary
ABSTRACT
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries that appear in the lower back, neck and upper and lower extremities mainly. This study was conducted to assess the risk of MSDs and determine of its associated factors in workers of a dairy products company
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 male employees [21-41yrs] using census sampling method participated. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire [NMQ] and QEC method for assessment of postures during the work. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including test of proportion, multiple logistic regression, and Fisher's Exact by SPSS software [Version 16.0]
Results: The results of this study showed that the lower back [37%], shoulders [36%], and hand/wrist [33%] had the highest prevalence of symptoms of disorders among workers. The results of multiple logistic regression showed a significant association between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in different regions of the body and age, job experiences, shift working and BMI. The results of assessment of physical exposure to musculoskeletal risks by QEC technique showed that in 52% of the studied workers, the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in Action Level [AL] 1, 9% in AL2, 30% in AL3, and 9% in AL4. Also, the finding revealed a significant relationship between the prevalence rate of MSDs and the risk level [low and high risk] achieved by QEC method
Conclusions: Prevalence of symptoms of pain in different regions of the body had an association with age, job experience, shift working and BMI. Corrective measures seemed essential in improvement of working condition in the studied workers
ABSTRACT
According to the literature, a large number of people working in industries and service providing personnel, such as firefighters, physicians, and nurses are shift workers. The spread of shift working in industrial societies and the incidence of the problems resulting from shift working have caused the researchers to conduct studies on this issue. The present study also aimed to investigate melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. The present study was conducted on 20 security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In order to collect the study data, blood samples were taken from the study subjects in different times of the day [1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22] and cortisol and melatonin levels were determined using the radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay techniques, respectively. The results showed that as the intensity of light increased at night, the plasma cortisol level increased, as well. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between the plasma cortisol levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. On the other hand, a significant difference was observed between the plasma cortisol levels in natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights. The study findings also showed that as the intensity of light increased at night, the plasma melatonin level decreased. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the plasma melatonin levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed between the plasma melatonin levels in the natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights. The present study aimed to investigate the subsequences of shift working in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and showed that occupational exposure to bright light could affect some biological markers, such as melatonin and cortisol secretion