[Design, construction, and evaluation of portable local exhaust ventilation system to control electrosurgery smokes]

Background: Surgical smoke contains hazardous chemicals and biological agents. The use of standard surgical masks alone does not provide adequate protection against surgical smokes. Hence, the application of a local exhaust ventilation system to evacuate surgical smokes is recommended

Objective: To design, construct, and evaluate a portable local exhaust ventilation system to control electrosurgery smokes

Methods: This was an experimental study carried out at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, in 2010. A new local exhaust ventilation system containing a high efficiency air cleaner system, was designed, constructed, and evaluated in a simulated surgery process

Findings: When the distance between the system hood and the pollution sources was 5 cm and the air flow 22 cubic feet per minute, the total surgical smoke was attracted to the system hood at a velocity of 80 feet per minute. In a period of 60 minutes, the cleaning efficiency for particulate agents as well as the gasses and vapors emission was 99.77% indicating that the application of ventilation system prevented the entry of contaminants emission into the operating room

Conclusion: Based on results obtained through simulated surgery process, it was concluded that the ventilation system designed in this study completely blocked the emission of surgical smoke to air of operating room and personnel exposure

[Study of noise pollution in Qazvin [2010]]

Noise pollution is considered one of the major environmental problems of cities that its intensity has increased in recent years. Considering the harmful effects of noise pollution on public health, equivalent sound level evaluation and determination of noise pollution is very important in the urban environment. To determine the amount of noise pollution in different regions in Qazvin. This descriptive study was conducted in the summer of 1389 in Qazvin. Sound pressure levels were measured by the sound system gauge model 1053 H. The site map of the city was prepared. Based on the site map prepared, firstly, the city of Qazvin was divided into three regions including South, Central, and North areas. Secondly, the levels of sound pressure were measured in the main streets, intersections, and squares of the city according to the ISO 1999 method that approved by the Environmental Protection Organization. Equivalent sound level was reported in various places in Qazvin region, between 69.9- 72.8 db. Equivalent sound level in the middle and southern regions of the city, has been reported that about twice the northern city. In 90% of the total period of measurement, review of Ninetieth percentile sound level showed that sound pressure level was more than results of the limit recommended for residential and commercial areas. The values of equivalent sound level are reported higher than EPA standards for residential [50 dB] and commercial areas [65 dB]. Patterns of urban reform in Qazvin city have a slower development than the resource causing of noise pollution

[Review the proportion of university seats with body dimensions of students at the School of Public Health of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 1388]

Educating of students that have the ability to solve society problems, is considered as the most important task of universities. This important issue is achieved through effective education in a safe and stress free environment. Proper design of classroom seats proportional to anthropometric characteristics of students not only can improve academic quality but also prevent musculoskeletal disorders. In addition it may encourage students to practice correct sitting habits. This study was conducted to check the correlation of physical dimensions of students and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder with educational chair dimensions that provided by companies. This descriptive - analytical study was performed on 115 students of 18 to 27 years. 15 anthropometric parameters with sitting on the chair were measured by anthropometry page and anthropometric caliper gauge. Dimensions of two Types of seats provided in the classrooms were compared with the standard seat dimensions. Comparison of dimensions confirmed that seat dimension and students dimensions correspond with one another only in elbow length parameter and other parameters were not correspondent with each other. T-Test showed that there are significant differences between girl and boy parameters. Comparison of the results of measurement of physical dimensions and chair dimensions with results of emotional dissatisfaction questionnaire and body map chart showed that plastic chair is better then wooden type in term of comfort., chair kind and slope of back rest, and in using plastic chairs students do not have to change their sitting postures; however, due to incorrect design of foot rest and high effective depth of sea, discomfort and pain in lower limbs is higher in plastic chairs when compared with wooden chairs

[Predicting the stages of change in physical activity behavior of QUMS students with Pender's model]

Low level physical activity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases and evidences suggest that the level of physical activity is decreasing. Reversing the trend depends on a behavior change by most people. However, the association between various psychosocial determinants and physical activity are not well understood. The aim of this study was to predict the stages of change in physical activity behavior of QUMS students by Pender's model. This cross-sectional survey was carried out at Qazvin University of Medical Science in 2008. A total sample of 222 students completed a self-report questionnaire consisting of an exercise change. A test-retest method was applied to determine the reliability while the Cronbach's Alpha used to confirm internal consistency. Face and content validity were confirmed in this study. Also, ANOVA and Path analysis were performed to determine the association between these constructs and stage of physical activity behavior change. More than half of students were in inactive stage and exercised for 41.62 minutes a week on average. Exercise self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits were found to be significant predictors of the stage of exercise behavior change among medical students. Only self-efficacy and stages of change [P<0.001] could directly predict the significant variance of physical activity while other constructs from Pander's model indirectly influenced the physical activity behavior through mediating stages of change construct. Perceived benefits [P<0.001] directly and perceived barriers inversely [P<0.001] were predictor of stage of exercise behavior. Perceived health status could indirectly influence the stage of change via perceived benefit. Our results indicated that the change in stage of readiness for exercise is probably dependent on the student's perceptions of exercise self-efficacy, benefits and barriers as well as the perceived health status to engage in physical activity. Furthermore, the results of this study made moderate support for the health promotion model constructs to predict physical activity and exercise stage of change

[ effects of an educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and ergonomic behaviors]

Obviously, decreasing the work-related musculoskeletal disorders is well achieved through the application of ergonomic design principles however, there are occasions in which the existence of some barriers [technical and economical] can preclude ergonomic improvement and therefore, some organizations rely on correct task performance methods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of educational intervention on worker's knowledge increase, attitude change, and ergonomic habits promotion. In this interventional study, workers were randomly assigned to one of the two study groups: a case group receiving the ergonomic training [n=75], and a control group [n=75]. Ergonomic training program composed of five sessions of 30-45 minutes duration containing issues such as ergonomic science, human body mechanic, upright and awkward postures, pros and cons of upright posture maintenance, and solutions for removal of obstacles, stretch exercise for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, and workstation adjustment. Data were gathered before and 3 months after intervention by self-reporting questionnaire and checklist. Reliability was assessed by test-retest method and the internal consistency evaluated by Cronbach's Alpha. Statistical analysis was performed using X[2] test, McNemar test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Worker's knowledge significantly increased from 7.97 +/- 2.91 to 14.07 +/- 1.98 and the attitude change from 14.29 +/- 6.5 to 21.63 +/- 4.7 three months after educational intervention [p> 0.05]. No significant change was observed in control group. Regarding the ergonomic risk factors, our findings were indicative of significant change in general body and feet posture, trunk, neck, and wrist and hands postures while other ergonomic risk factors remained unchanged Results from this study emphasize on necessity of integrated educational-managerial and engineering approach to promote the workplace ergonomic condition as well as considering the substantial role of psychosocial factors such as knowledge and attitude and focusing on personal skills for improving ergonomic habits to achieve a higher level of health promotion among human power