Modeling the Relationship between Safety Climate and Safety Performance in a Developing Construction Industry: A Cross-Cultural Validation Study.

This study attempts to validate a safety performance (SP) measurement model in the cross-cultural setting of a developing country. In addition, it highlights the variations in investigating the relationship between safety climate (SC) factors and SP indicators. The data were collected from forty under-construction multi-storey building projects in Pakistan. Based on the results of exploratory factor analysis, a SP measurement model was hypothesized. It was tested and validated by conducting confirmatory factor analysis on calibration and validation sub-samples respectively. The study confirmed the significant positive impact of SC on safety compliance and safety participation, and negative impact on number of self-reported accidents/injuries. However, number of near-misses could not be retained in the final SP model because it attained a lower standardized path coefficient value. Moreover, instead of safety participation, safety compliance established a stronger impact on SP. The study uncovered safety enforcement and promotion as a novel SC factor, whereas safety rules and work practices was identified as the most neglected factor. The study contributed to the body of knowledge by unveiling the deviations in existing dimensions of SC and SP. The refined model is expected to concisely measure the SP in the Pakistani construction industry, however, caution must be exercised while generalizing the study results to other developing countries.

Comparison of efficacy and safety of topiramate with gabapentin in migraine prophylaxis: randomized open label control trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of topiramate with gabapentin in the prophylaxis of migraine patients. METHODS: A 12-week randomised open label control trial was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi from January to March 2011 involving 80 outpatients who had a history of migraine. The sample was divided into two equal groups. Primary efficacy measure was changed into mean monthly migraine frequency. Secondary efficacy measure included reduction in severity and average duration of an attack. Chi square test and paired t-test were used to analyse the data through SPSS 15. RESULT: Reduction in mean monthly migraine frequency (10.67 +/- 4.25 to 1.82 +/- 2.02) in the topiramate group was significantly greater compared with (11.97 +/- 4.452 to 2.73 +/- 2.59) that in the gabapentin group (p < 0.001). Reduction in severity from 6.60 +/- 2.122 to 1.03 +/- 0.92 in the topiramate group was also significantly greater compared with 6.93 +/- 1.90 to 1.18 +/- 1.01 in the gabapentin group (p < 0.001). Reduction in the average duration of attacks from 25.77 +/- 22.32 hours to 1.05 +/- 1.06 hours in the topiramate group was significantly greater compared with 22.20 +/- 20.72 to 1.08 +/- 1.40 hours in the gabapentin group (p < 0.001). Weight loss and numbness were common adverse effects in the topiramate group. Dizziness, weight gain and somnolence were reported in the gabapentin group. CONCLUSION: Gabapentin appeared well tolerated in 30 (75%) patients compared to topiramate in 23(57.5%) patients. Both drugs were equally effective in migraine prophylaxis.