Tailored physiotherapeutic intervention study for musculoskeletal disorders among video display terminal users.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the most common complains among video display terminal (VDT) users and are responsible for an important burden of disease in white collars. METHODS: From May 2017 to March 2018, 69 VDT users working at Trieste hospitals were recruited for a training session aimed to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in white collars workers. Thirty-three were assigned to the intervention group, whereas 36 comprised the control group. The intervention group received three personalized 1-hour-one-to-one sessions with a physiotherapist and a thorough evaluation of their workstation. Data were collected at baseline (T0), at 2 months (T1) and at 6 months (T2) using a standardized questionnaire and analyzed with the software STATA. RESULTS: Overall pain significantly decreased in cases at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Headache significantly decreased in cases at T1 (p < 0.05). Body awareness significantly increased in cases both at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Headache was positively correlated with an increased perception of pain (Coef 6.85, CI95% 3.2-10.5; p < 0.001), while the intervention determined a significant reduction of overall pain during the follow up (OR 0.97, IC 0.95-0.99, p = 0.013). Cases showed a significant increase of the cranial-vertebral angle at the 6 months follow up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A tailored physiotherapeutic intervention has showed a statistically significant decrease in osteoarticular pain and an increased body awareness in VDT users undergoing a personalized training session.v.

[Exposure to passive smoking in local health units of northern Italy before and after the enforcement of the smoking ban]. / Esposizione a fumo passivo nei locali di una ASL del Nord Italia prima e dopo l'entrata in vigore della legge sul fumo.

OBJECTIVE: to assess smoking habits, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and smoking attitudes of workers toward different possible institutional restrictions before and after the implementation of the new Italian legislation about the public health protection from passive smoking (L 3/2003). DESIGN: Descriptive study based on self-reported questionnaires (2004 and 2005) and indoor measurement of particulate matter (PM, 2004 and 2006). SETTING: Local health authority n.1 Triestina (1,067 employees). PARTICIPANTS: 746 workers in 2004, 200 workers in 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: percentage of smokers and opinions about different firms of control of smoking (absolute prohibition, smokers' reserved locals). Indoor mean levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in workplaces. RESULTS: smoking employees in 2004 and in 2005 were 28% and 31% (difference non statistically significant). Employees exposed to ETS has been reported decreased from 58% to 47% (p= 0.006). Major reduction has been reported in the offices, while exposure in examination rooms resulted higher in comparison to the offices, both in 2004 and in 2006 Among smokers 43% are available to external helps in order to quit or reduce smoking. Levels of PM2.5 were, in 2006, constantly smaller then those measured in 2004. The same for PM10 (a less specific tobacco smoke indicator) except for the value recorded in one room, slightly higher then in 2004. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that ETS in the surveyed Local Health Authority has been reduced but not eliminated. It is necessary to implement further interventions finalized to defend health of not smoking people: a greater respect of the law, specific health promotion campaigns and free therapeutic interventions in workplaces.