Development and validation of a biological risk assessment tool among hospital personnel under COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

The need for a biological disease risk assessment method to prevent the contagion of these diseases, particularly among healthcare personnel, is crucial. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a biological risk assessment tool for biological agents among hospital personnel under COVID-19 conditions. This cross-sectional study was performed on 301 employees in two hospitals. Firstly, we identified the items affecting the contagion of biological agents. Then, we computed the weight of the items using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method. We used the identified items and the estimated weights in the next step to develop a predictive equation. The outcome of this tool was the risk score of biological disease contagion. After that, we used the developed method to evaluate the biological risk of the participants. The ROC curve was also used to reveal accuracy of developed method. In this study, 29 items were identified and categorized into five dimensions, including environmental items, ventilation items, job items, equipment-related items, and organizational items. The weights of these dimensions were estimated at 0.172, 0.196, 0.255, 0.233, and 0.144, respectively. The final weight of items was used to develop a predictive equation. The area under ROC curves (AUC) was also calculated as 0.762 (95% CI: 0.704, 0.820) (p<0.001). The tools developed using these items had acceptable diagnostic accuracy for predicting the risk of biological diseases in health care. Therefore, one can apply it in identifying persons exposed to dangerous conditions.

Measurement of barriers to perform periodic examinations: development and psychometric properties scale.

Objectives. Due to recent changes in workplace risks, it is required to investigate the motivations of employees and employers for occupational examination performance. This study aims to develop a self-report scale to overcome prior methodological defects and evaluate barriers of performing periodic examinations. Methods. The study was conducted with 200 participants, including employers, occupational health inspectors, occupational physicians and occupational health experts working in the industrial sector, aged 25-70 years. The subjects supplied sociodemographic information and completed the experimental version of the instrument. Results. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) provided evidence for a five-factor model, including knowledge, quality, law, capability and service, with 62.68% variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) proved stability rates of both models (root mean square error of approximation [rmsea] = 0.062, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.906, incremental fit index [IFI] = 0.921, normed fit index [NFI] = 0.835, relative fit index [RFI] = 0.808). The scale also revealed appropriate levels of reliability (α = 0.916 and composite reliability [CR] >0.7) and validity (average variance extracted >0.5). Conclusion. The psychometric characteristics of the scale demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. This study developed this valid instrument to be used by health decision-makers for assessing barriers of performing periodic examinations.

Identification and analysis of human errors in emergency department nurses using SHERPA method.

BACKGROUND: Human errors are the underlying cause of many occupational accidents. In recent years, human errors have increased in the healthcare sector. AIM: This study aimed to identify human errors committed by emergency department (ED) nurses working at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan using the SHERPA method. METHOD: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study performed in the emergency department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital. Human errors were first identified and analyzed using the Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) technique and then studied using the SHERPA method. RESULTS: In total, 426 errors were identified including 263 action errors, 108 checking errors, 35 selection errors, 12 retrieval errors, and eight communication errors. Also, based on the levels presented in the risk matrix in terms of severity of consequences, the highest percentage (36.34%) belonged to the borderline category. CONCLUSION: The majority of identified errors were action errors, which can be reduced by providing appropriate instructions and training nurses, compiling reports and building error recording systems, improving management controls, and promoting a safety culture.

Occupational violence among female workers in an Iranian industrial area.

Few studies have examined violence against female workers in the industrial sector. This study explored the prevalence of various types of violence and associated factors among female workers in the industrial sector. This descriptive survey was conducted in eleven industrial sites in Kashan, Iran, from April through September 2014. We used a 78-item questionnaire to obtain data from 817 female workers. More than half of the participants reported having experienced at least one type of violence. The prevalence rates of verbal aggression, sexual harassment, and physical violence were 52.5%, 12% and 11.5%, respectively. Single female workers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.09-4.27), and age older than 35 years were (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.26-2.93) each significantly related to increased odds of verbal violence. Short duration of employment (≤ five years) was the most strongly associated factor for sexual harassment (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.7-2.94). Working the night shift was significantly associated with encountering verbal violence (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.69-3.06). The high prevalence of violence suggests that management in industrial workplaces should invest time and resources in addressing violence. Developing a reporting procedure and training programs are recommended in dealing with workplace violence risk.

Structural equation model of interactions between risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal complaints among Iranian hospital nurses.

BACKGROUND: Statistics indicate a high risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders among hospital nurses. The challenge is to understand the associations between musculoskeletal symptoms and various individual and occupational risk factors. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the direct and indirect interactions of various risk factors with musculoskeletal complaints in hospital nurses. METHOD: In a cross-sectional design, Iranian hospital nurses from Semnan University of Medical Sciences participated in a questionnaire survey reporting their perceived perceptions of various work-related risk factors and musculoskeletal symptoms. We tested our proposed structural equation model to evaluate the relations between latent and observed concepts and the relative importance and strength of exogenous variables in explaining endogenous musculoskeletal complaints. RESULTS: Measurement model fits the data relatively acceptable. Our findings showed direct effects of psychological, role-related and work posture stressors on musculoskeletal complaints. Fatigue mediated the adverse indirect relations of psychological, role-related, work posture and individual factors with musculoskeletal complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Structural equation modeling may provide methodological opportunities in occupational health research with a potential to explain the complexity of interactions among risk factors. Prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses must account for physical and psychosocial conditions.

Prevention of Acoustic Trauma-Induced Hearing Loss by N-acetylcysteine Administration in Rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Acoustic trauma is an injury to the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear due to excessive noise. This injury is the most prevalent cause of sensorineural hearing loss in humans, especially from occupational exposure. Previous studies have shown the essential role of free radical formation in the inner ear hearing loss caused by acoustic trauma. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) administration for reducing acute acoustic trauma in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TWENTY FOUR RABBITS WERE ASSIGNED TO FOUR GROUPS INCLUDING: control, noise plus saline, noise plus NAC administration (325 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection (IP), three days before exposure to noise and three days after noise exposure), and NAC alone. Auditory brain stem response (ABR) threshold was measured before exposure and one hour and 14 days after exposure. RESULTS: The saline plus noise group had on average a 49 decibel (dB) temporary threshold shift (TTS) and 23.9 dB permanent threshold shift (PTS) at the studied frequencies, while rabbits in the NAC administration plus noise group had a 31.5 dB TTS and 10.7 dB PTS averaged across the frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of NAC can provide appropriate protection against acoustic trauma-induced hearing loss in rabbits at all studied frequencies.