Development and validation of Malaysian noise and chemical exposure questionnaire towards hearing among hospital workers.

INTRODUCTION: Questionnaire is one of the effective, easy, and quick preliminary tools, which is widely used in today's healthcare assessment. It is important to have a suitable questionnaire according to the target population and also one that is culturally appropriate based on the intended countries' laws and regulations. The objective of the study is to develop and validate a Malaysian version of noise and chemical exposure questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was developed and validated by experts and undergone a viability pilot study that involved a total of 60 workers, divided into two groups, 30 workers for the non-exposed (control group) and 30 workers who were exposed (target group) to both noise and chemicals in their workplace. The workers were recruited from a hospital in Kuantan, Pahang. The workers were requested to complete the Malaysian version of the questionnaire, disseminated through email and the WhatsApp platform. RESULTS: The final questionnaire consisted of 62 items, which was reviewed by experts. The validity process of the internal consistency showed good reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.76 and Pearson Correlation of r=0.638, ρ<0.01. The null hypothesis is rejected, there is an association between workers working at high risk workplace and risk of developing chemical-induced hearing loss. Thus, questionnaire can serve as a preliminary tool to select workers with a significant exposure for further evaluation. CONCLUSION: The noise and chemical exposure questionnaire is valid and suitable to be used in Malaysia as it is in the native Malay language and abides by the culture, laws, and regulation of the country.

Studies on zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

Leishmaniasis (cutaneous, CL. and visceral, VL.) is an increasing public health problem in the Mediterranean Region. From a practical point of view, ZCL is the most important and distributed form in Egypt. Consequently, it was aimed to study the status of ZCL among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate. The results showed that (i) rodent populations are more or less common in Al Arish City (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), Bir Lehfan (Gerbillus pyramidum) and Abo Oegela (G. pyramidum. Meriones crassus and Jaculus jaculus). (ii) Phlebotomus papatasi the main vector of ZCL is common in nearly all areas in North Sinai. (iii) ZCL. was identified (smear and/or culture as well as IHAT) among five workers out of 30 (16.7%). (iv) isolates recovered from P. papatasi trapped in Sad Al Rawafei and G. pyramidum trapped in Abo Oegela proved biochemically (isoenzyme cellulose acetate electrophoresis) to be Leishmania major indistinguish from each other. Discussion and recommendations were given.