[Musculoskeletal injuries and their associated risk factors in office workplaces]

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] is high among office workers. Long time seated posture, working with computer, repetitive movements and inappropriate environmental conditions may have causal effects in these disorders. High prevalence rate of MSDs makes ergonomics assessment and working conditions improvement necessary. Designing an assessment checklist and calculating ergonomics indices can be useful in this evaluation. This study was conducted with the objectives of determination of prevalence rate, ergonomics assessment of working condition and determination of factors associated with MSDs among office workers. In this study conducted 400 randomly selected office workers participated. Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire was applied to determine prevalence rate of MSDs. Working conditions were assessed by the designed ergonomics checklist and ergonomic risk factors were identified. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including t-test, Chi-square and test of proportion by SPSS software [Version 12.0]. The highest prevalence rates of MSDs were reported in lower back and neck regions [49% and 47%, respectively]. Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant association between occurrence of MSDs and calculated ergonomics indices [p<0.05]. The mean of ergonomics index among those suffered from MSDs were less than other healthy workers indicating inappropriate ergonomics conditions. Calculation of OR also revealed that ergonomics conditions was associated with MSDs occurrence among workers [p<0.05]. Totally, 53.3% of the office workers studied had poor working conditions. Awkward working posture and inappropriate workstation design were recognized as the main risk factors in the office workplace. Most ergonomics problems were originated from bad postures and inappropriate design of workstation. Any interventional program for working conditions improvement should, therefore, be focused on these items. Inappropriate table height, improper position of monitor and other office equipment, lack of adjustability of seat and back rest of chair and deep seat were among factors to be considered for working condition improvement

[Musculoskeletal disorders risk assessment in patient transfers among hospital nurses using MAPO technique]

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders [WMSDs] are a serious problem among the nursing staff. Manual patient-handling tasks, such as lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients, are the major causes of WMSDs among nursing staff. The objective of the present study was risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders during patient transfers by the movement-and-assistance-of-hospital patient [MAPO] technique among hospital nursing staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences [SUMS], Shiraz, Iran. This cross-sectional study included 400 randomly selected nurses from 75 wards in 11 hospitals in Shiraz. Data were collected using demographic and Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaires and the MAPO index checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. The means of age and job tenure of the subjects were 30.76 +/- 6.44 and 6.92 +/- 5.75 years, respectively. The 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 88.2%. The results of assessment by the MAPO index revealed that more than 83% of the subjects were at risk, 20.5% of them exposed to high risk. Further analysis of the data indicated that the musculoskeletal disorders occurrence was significantly associated with the MAPO index score [p<0.05]. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were found to be associated with the MAPO index. Therefore, MAPO is an appropriate tool for musculoskeletal disorders risk identification and assessment due to patient handling in the nursing personnel. In any attempt to improve the working conditions, patient transfer aids, environmental factors, and proper training should be taken into consideration

[Shift work-related health problems among petrochemical industries employees]

Shift work is a major feature of working life that affects diverse aspects of human life. The objective of this study was to investigate shift workrelated health problems and their associated risk factors among employees of petrochemical industries. This cross-sectional study was carried out at 14 petrochemical companies in 2009. Study population consisted of 2357 workers [including 43.7% shift workers and 56.3% day workers]. Data on personal details, shift schedule and adverse effects of shift work were collected by anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 11.5. The level of significance was set at <5%. The mean of age in day workers and shift workers was estimated 36.26 +/- 8.20 and 34.96 +/- 8.08, respectively. Also, the mean of job tenure in both groups was estimated 10.83 +/- 7.50 and 10.15 +/- 7.55 years, respectively. Although, the results showed that health problems among shift workers was more prevalent than day workers, but the differences were only significant in relation to gastrointestinal and psychological disorders [P<0.05]. Multiple linear regressions indicated that in addition to shift working, other variants such as long working hours, type of employment, second job, age and education were associated with health problems. Prevalence rates of gastrointestinal and psychological problems among shift workers were significantly higher than those of day workers. Although, working in shift system was the main significant factor associated with the reported problems, other demographic and work variables were also found to have association

[Estimation of aerobic capacity [VO[2]-max] and study of its associated factors among male workers of industrial factories in Sepidan/Fars province, 2009]

Measurement of Maximum aerobic capacity [VO[2]-max] is important in physiologically fitting the job to the worker. This study was conducted to estimate VO[2]max of industrial workers and to determine its demographic associated factors. In this cross-sectional study, 184 randomly selected male workers of industrial sector of Sepidan/Fars province participated. A questionnaire consisted of two parts was used as data collecting tool. The first part was related to workers' demographic characteristics which was completed by interview. In the second part of the questionnaire, the value of the measured variables including height, weight, BMI and pulse rate were entered. VO[2]-max was measured by Tuxworth and Shahnavaz method. To investigate association between demographic variables and VO[2]-max, linear regression analysis was applied. T-test was used to compare mean value of VO[2]-max in different groups [based on the variables studied]. Workers' aerobic capacity was estimated to be 2.66 +/- 0.35 Lit/M. The results showed that there was no association between VO[2]-max and age while associations were found between VO[2]-max and weight as well as height and BMI. Statistical analysis revealed association between VO[2]-max and smoking. The results also demonstrated that VO[2]-max was higher among those workers who exercised as compared with other workers with no exercise [p=0.019]. Shift working, job satisfaction, and fatigue had no association with aerobic capacity. Aerobic capacity had association with weight, height, BMI, exercise and smoking

Validity and reliability of the Persian [Farsi] version of the Job Content Questionnaire: a study among hospital nurses

Stress is an increasingly important occupational health problem, even in developing countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Job Content Questionnaire [JCQ] is a widely used self-administered instrument to measure dimensions of job stress in the workplace. This study describes the preparation of a Persian [Farsi] language version of the questionnaire [P-JCQ]. In the first stage, linguistic validation was done by forward and backward translation. In the psychometric evaluation stage, the reliability and validity of the P-JCQ were explored among 107 hospital nurses in Shiraz city. Cronbach alpha coefficients for decision latitude and psychological job demands scales were 0.54 and 0.58 respectively and ranged from 0.64 to 0.85 for other scales. Exploratory factor analysis showed 3 meaningful factors that could explain support, psychological job demands and physical loads and hazard exposure. The P-JCQ has satisfactory linguistic validity and psychometric properties, provided the recommended factor pattern is used

Preterm delivery risk factors: a prevention strategy in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran

From 3 February-5 March, 2000, 1117 pregnant women attending 36 health centres in Shiraz were categorized as high risk [n = 519] and low risk [n = 598] based on the presence of preterm delivery risk factors. High-risk women received training on strategies to reduce the risk of premature delivery. The frequencies of preterm delivery in the low- and the high-risk groups were 3.0% and 14.6% respectively [P < 0.001]. The significant factors for preterm delivery were cervical dilation > 1 cm, premature uterine contractions, multifetal gestation and smoking. Premature delivery was significantly lower in the high-risk group compared with a similar group in a previous study who had not received training

Problems related to shiftwork for health care workers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

A cross-sectional study of shiftwork-related problems was carried out among health care workers at hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran. Data on personal details, shift schedule and adverse effects of shiftwork were collected from 432 randomly selected subjects by questionnaire. Sleep, social and subjective problems were more prevalent in shiftworkers than day workers. Irregular shiftwork schedules caused more social and subjective problems, as well as work dissatisfaction. Voluntary selection of shiftworking produced fewer health problems

Home accidents in rural and urban areas of Shiraz, 2000-02

Data on home accidents for a 3-year period [2000-2002] were collected from health houses, health centres and hospitals involved in a home accident prevention programme in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. A total of 15 402 accidents were registered, with a mortality rate of 1.3%. Accidents were more common in women than in men [52.1% versus 47.9%] and urban than rural areas [66.3% versus 33.7%]. Burns [66.5%], followed by injuries due to sharp objects [11.3%] were the most common causes. Accidents were more prevalent in children aged under 5 years, followed by 5-9 and 15-19 years of age