Postural ergonomics and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in neurosurgery: lessons from an international survey.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) affect a significant percentage of the neurosurgical workforce. The aim of the current questionnaire-based study was to examine the prevalence of WMSDs amongst neurosurgeons, identify risk factors, and study the views of neurosurgeons regarding ergonomics. METHODS: From June to August 2020, members of the "European Association of Neurosurgical Societies," the "Neurosurgery Research Listserv," and the "Latin American Federation of Neurosurgical Societies" were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire on the topics of WMSDs and ergonomics. RESULTS: A total of 409 neurosurgeons responded to the survey, with a 4.7 male to female ratio. Most of the surgeons worked in Europe (76.9%) in academic public hospitals. The vast majority of the participants (87.9%) had experienced WMSDs, mainly affecting the shoulder, neck, and back muscles. The most common operations performed by the participants were "Craniotomy for convexity/intrinsic tumors" (24.1%) and "Open lumbar basic spine" (24.1%). Neurosurgeons agreed that ergonomics is an underexposed area in the neurosurgical field (84.8%) and that more resources should be spend (87.3%) and training curricula changes should be made (78.3%) in order to alleviate the burden of WMSDs on neurosurgeons. Univariate analysis did not reveal any associations between the development of WMSDs and age, gender, tenure, average duration of operation, operating time per week, type of operation, and surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of WMSDs ought to be more closely addressed and managed by the neurosurgical community. More studies ought to be designed to investigate specific ergonomic parameters in order to formulate practice recommendations.

Ergonomics factors influencing school education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A literature review.

BACKGROUND: The school is one of the most critical social, educational, and training institutions and the main pillar of education in society. Education and, consequently, educational environments have the highest effect on the mentality, development, growth, welfare, concentration, performance, and learning efficiency of students. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to examine the effects of environmental ergonomics on the learning and cognition of pre-school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study was carried out as a review article using some keywords, namely "children", "learning", "pre-school", "COVID-19", "ergonomics", and "environmental factors". Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science were searched to find related articles. RESULTS: Factors like color, form, and layout of classrooms, lighting and ventilation, interior decoration, and educational equipment are effective in creating interest and motivation for students to learn. CONCLUSIONS: A review of these articles showed that the presence of ergonomics in educational spaces for children increases the quality of learning and reduces stress and anxiety, and by observing health protocols, a healthy and safe environment can be provided for students.

Cambios en la ergonomía en tiempos de COVID-19 en estudiantes de una universidad Peruana / Changes in ergonomics in times of COVID-19 in students of a Peruvian university

La enfermedad por COVID-19 ha traído consigo cambios que forman parte de la nueva normalidad. Muchos de estos cambios podrían repercutir de mala manera en la población y traer enfermedades o riesgo de comorbilidades como diabetes, estrés, obesidad o problemas ergonómicos. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los factores asociados a la ergonomía en estudiantes universitarios durante el contexto de clases virtuales en Lima, Perú debido a la COVID-19. Se realizó una encuesta virtual mediante la plataforma de Google Forms, a 121 estudiantes del primer ciclo en una universidad limeña. La encuesta contenía preguntas sobre los cambios ergonómicos percibidos durante las clases virtuales debido a la COVID-19. Respecto al peso, 43.85 % presentó variación, mientras que el 44,6% reportó que no. Sobre las molestias corporales y visuales el 83.5 % presentaron dolores musculares, mientras que el 16.5 % no tenían estas molestias. Entre estos prevalecían el dolor de espalda, cuello, cintura, hombros y piernas. Por otro lado, el 78.5 % presentaban incomodidad visual, mientras que el otro 21.5 % no lo presentó. Entre las molestias visuales más frecuentes estaban ardor, picazón, sensación de ojo seco, cansancio de la vista y lagrimeo durante las clases. El dispositivo más usado por los estudiantes para las clases virtuales fue la laptop (81 %). Respecto a los ejercicios físicos, el 46,3 % sí lo realizaban terminada las clases, y los estiramientos un 62.8 %. Igualmente, se evaluó la ingesta de líquidos, frutas y comida chatarra. De los encuestados, un 52.9 % no varió su ingesta de líquidos, el 60.3 % no varió el de frutas, y el 48.8 % disminuyó la ingesta de comida chatarra. Los problemas ergonómicos que se evaluaron, podrían estar relacionados con los altos periodos de tiempo que los estudiantes se exponen al uso de los equipos electrónicos debido a las clases virtuales y también al no tener un lugar fijo de estudio, por lo que se debería realizar otras actividades adicionales como hacer ejercicio y/o estiramientos después de clase, además de ingerir más frutas, líquidos y mantener un estilo de vida saludable.

The increasing attention that is given to the protection of health professionals and patients has stimulated researchers and organizations to create alternatives to improve safety practices in health services, including in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment. However, this theme still needs to be further explored in the MRI field. This paper aims to review the current literature, explore the approach to the MRI Safety Supervisor, to describe the role of the MRI Safety Supervisor and how it could serve as an agent to enhance the safety of health professionals and patients in the MRI environment. To achieve this, a narrative literature review was carried out in the electronic databases: ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scielo and Google Scholar, using as inclusion criteria, articles published in Portuguese and English between the years 2008 to 2019. The articles were filtered according to relevant aspects, such as authorship, title, year of publication, objectives, methodology and main results. Lastly, it considered aspects related to adverse events, international and national regulations on security and safety management in the MRI sector. Nevertheless, in the search for actions that effectively mitigate risks on this modality, it was observed that studies on the MRI Safety Supervisor are scarce, which reinforce the need for further studies on this matter.

Efficacy of text messaging apprentices to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training.

INTRODUCTION: Injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among masons. SAfety Voice for Ergonomics (SAVE) integrates training in ergonomic and safety problem-solving skills into masonry apprenticeship training. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of text messaging to reinforce SAVE program content. METHOD: SAVE effectiveness was evaluated at masonry apprenticeship training centers across the United States by comparing three experimental groups: (1) Ergonomics training, (2) Ergonomics and Safety Voice training, and a (3) Control. Apprentices received SAVE training with their standard instruction. To reinforce classroom training, refresher training was implemented by sending weekly text messages for six months. Half of the text messages required a response, which tested knowledge or assessed behavior, while the remaining reiterated knowledge. Apprentices (n = 119) received SAVE text messages. Response rates and percentage of correct responses were compared with chi-square tests and independent group t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis predicted apprentice response with selected demographic and work experience variables. Finally, feedback on of the use of text messaging was obtained. RESULT: Of 119 participants, 61% (n = 72) responded to at least one text message. Logistic regression revealed that being a high school graduate and a brick and block mason significantly affected the odds of responding. Sixty-nine percent of apprentices agreed that text messages reinforced SAVE content. CONCLUSION: Even though there was no training center requirement to respond, the high response rate suggests that text messaging can effectively be used to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training for both knowledge and behavior. Practical Application: The prevalent use of text messaging creates opportunities to reinforce health and safety training and engage workers, especially for populations that may be at various locations over time such as construction sites. Instructors and practitioners should consider the utility of text messaging for supporting their training and safety programs.

Association between Poor Ergophthalmologic Practices and Computer Vision Syndrome among University Administrative Staff in Ghana.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) and its associated ergonomic factors among university administrative staff in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 administrative staff of the University of Cape Coast. The procedure included a self-administered questionnaire, comprehensive ocular health examination, and assessment of computer workstation and lighting conditions. The prevalence of CVS among the subjects and the association between CVS and ergonomic practices were determined. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 31.0 ± 4.7 years, and the majority were males (56.0%). The prevalence of CVS was among 103 (51.5%)participants. Over a third of the respondents used computers for 6 or more hours daily. Significant association was found between CVS and poor ergonomic practices (χ = 15.175, p = 0.001). Conclusion: In addition to poor ergonomic office setup, university administrative staff spend several hours behind computer screens leading to the development of CVS. Increased awareness of CVS and adherence to recommended ergonomic practices are necessary to reduce the prevalence of CVS and ultimately enhance work satisfaction and productivity.

Ergonomic factors of school bags and their adaptation to the weight of students.

BACKGROUND: Students use a school bag to carry their school supplies which may not have the required standards and ergonomic factors. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to examine the ergonomic factors of schoolbags and their adaptation to the weight of elementary school students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 721 primary schoolchildren. To collecting data a checklist, which its final version was approved by the experts, was designed by researchers. Data were analyzed by using SPSS ver. 22 and Chi-square test, One-Way ANOVA, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: In this study, about 90.1% of students used a backpack to carry their items and most students carried backpacks with a weight up to 10% of their body weight. In 43.5% of the students, waist width was appropriate with backpack width at the bottom, and in 96.6% shoulder width was appropriate with backpack width at the top. Multivariate logistic regression showed that girls in compared to boys were more likely tolerated ratio of backpack weight to body weight, and also had more likely proportion of waist width and the backpack width at the bottom. The grades of the first, second, and fourth used more heavy backpacks. Students who their mothers were employee compared to housewives, carried heavier backpacks and had more likely proportion of waist width and the backpack width at the bottom. As the mother's age increased, the proportion of waist width and the backpack width at the bottom is diminished. CONCLUSION: The schoolbags weight of many students was more than the standard weight, and their schoolbags did not have the required standards. Educational interventions can increase the knowledge of students and parents about the ideal weight of a schoolbag and the criteria for choosing a proper school bag.

The association between janitor physical workload, mental workload, and stress: The SWEEP study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 2.38 million janitors are employed in the U.S. While high physical workload may explain a lost-work days rate 2.7 times greater than other occupations, little is known about the association between janitors' physical workload, mental workload, and stress. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the associations between physical (ergonomic) and mental workload exposures and stress outcomes among janitors. METHODS: Questionnaire data, focused on ergonomic workload, mental workload and stress, were collected from Minnesota janitors for a one-year period. Physical workload was assessed with Borg Scales and Rapid Entire Body Assessments (REBA). Mental workload assessment utilized the NASA Task Load Index (TLX). Stress assessments utilized single-item ordinal stress scale (SISS) and Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) measures. Descriptive and multivariable analyses, including bias adjustment, were conducted. RESULTS: Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ergonomic workload (task frequency) effects on SISS were: REBA (1.18 OR, 1.02-1.37 CI); Borg (1.25 OR, 1.00-1.56 CI); combined REBA and Borg (1.10 OR, 1.01-1.20 CI). Mental workload was associated with higher PSS-4 levels (0.15 Mean Difference, 0.08-0.22 CI) and a 3% increased risk for each one-unit increase in the SISS scale (1.03 OR, 1.02-1.05 CI). CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrated a moderate effect of physical and mental workloads on stress among janitors.

Analyzing working conditions for classical guitarists: Design guidelines for new supports and guitar positioning.

BACKGROUND: When performing, classical guitarists interact with many elements which constitute their own "workstation". One of those elements is the support for guitar positioning. Support dimensions, form and materials may determine posture and affect the musician's comfort and performance. OBJECTIVE: To propose design requirements for new supports for guitar positioning, based on postural assessment, anthropometric criteria, self-efficacy and comfort perception. METHODS: Nine healthy Classical Guitar students were recruited. A postural assessment was undertaken using REBA, and 3DSSPP software with three different supports for guitar positioning. After the use of each support, a questionnaire about self-efficacy and comfort perception was completed by the participants. RESULTS: The higher scores of risk and a significant difference (ANOVA, p =≤05) regarding the left leg elevation were found with footstool usage. However, this one was identified by participants as the best support in terms of self-efficacy and comfort assessment. CONCLUSIONS: To improve performance and prevent physical injuries for guitarists, there is a need for designing guitar positionings supports based on ergonomics principles. This paper proposes eleven guidelines for designing these supports.

Visual fatigue during control room work in process industries.

BACKGROUND: Working in front of computer screens is visually demanding and related to adverse eye symptoms. Occurrence of glare further increases visual fatigue. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents results from an examination of visual ergonomics in control room environments at two Swedish process industries. METHODS: Visual conditions were examined and evaluated in nine control rooms and eighteen process operators answered questions about their perceived workload and visual experiences. RESULTS: When working in the control rooms, the mental workload was rated significantly higher by the participants, compared to experienced performance. The operators further experienced significantly higher visual fatigue and blurred vision compared to double vision and sore eyes. Visual demands were increased in conditions where contrast glare was present, as well as frequent changes of focusing distances, and low contrast between background and characters in computer screens. CONCLUSIONS: Suboptimal visual working conditions in the control rooms contributes to increased visual demands on the operators. Presence of glare is leading to visual fatigue and an unnecessary high mental load. The findings support the relevance of considering principles of general and visual ergonomics when designing and organizing work in control rooms. Workstation design should also be flexible to allow for individual and contextual adjustments.

Functional parameters, wrist posture deviations and comfort: A comparison between a computer mouse and a touch pen as input devices.

BACKGROUND: Performing common computer tasks such as pointing, clicking, and dragging requires repetitive movements that cause musculoskeletal disorders in the wrists and hands. Given the growing use of touch screens and touch pens, further studies on the ergonomics of these devices are needed. This study aimed to compare a touch pen and an ordinary computer mouse in terms of movement time, error rate, wrist posture, and comfort of use. METHODS: Performance parameters (movement time and error rate), wrist postures, and comfort when using a mouse and a touch pen were measured based on ISO 9241-9 standard with the help of 27 participants. For data analysis, paired t test was performed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: Using the touch pen resulted in better performance parameters than using the mouse (p < 0.05). Wrist extension and flexion were lower when performing the task with the computer mouse than with the touch pen (p < 0.05). When using the touch pen to perform the task, ulnar deviation and radial deviation were lower (p < 0.05). The overall comfort was higher when using the mouse than the touch pen. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the touch pen had better performance parameters than the ordinary mouse and also resulted in lower ulnar and radial deviations. Given the impact of habit and proficiency on users' comfort in using input devices, it is reasonable to expect users becoming more comfortable by using touch pens on the long term.

Physical ergonomic risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome among rubber tappers.

This study evaluated physical ergonomic risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among rubber tappers in Thailand. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire and Phalen's test and Tinel's sign were used to identify 133 cases with CTS and 401 non-CTS controls. Video recordings and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment used to evaluate the level of ergonomic risk in right and left hand postures. Significant physical ergonomic risk factors of CTS were higher number of trees tapped at or below knee level and collecting latex. Among right-handed tappers, tapping at higher than chest level involved significantly higher proportion of right wrist flexion and/or extension, and left wrist radial and/or ulnar deviation and twist than tapping at a lower level.

Ergonomic practices and musculoskeletal disorders among ophthalmologists in India: An online appraisal.

INTRODUCTION: Ergonomics in ophthalmology is neither taught during professional training nor does it readily receive consideration or priority in clinical practice. Owing to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among ophthalmologists, ergonomic awareness, and practices are vital in averting this modern epidemic. OBJECTIVE: To assess the ergonomic practices and prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders among ophthalmologists in India. METHOD: An online survey was conducted among ophthalmologists who were registered with the All India Ophthalmological Society of India using a pre-tested and validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorder in the 377 participants was 75.3% (284; 95% confidence interval: 70.6-79.5). Low back pain (149, 52.9%) was the most commonly reported symptom. Musculoskeletal disorder-attributed productivity loss was reported by 58.45% (166) of the respondents. Musculoskeletal disorder was most frequently associated with less than 10 years of work experience (odds ratio: 1.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.3, p = 0.01) and lack of good clinic (odds ratio: 1.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.7, p = 0.03) and operation room ergonomic practices (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.9, p = 0.03). Only 27.9% (105) of the respondents had accessed information related to ergonomics in ophthalmic practice. CONCLUSION: The self-reported musculoskeletal disorder among ophthalmologists in India is quite high and significant enough to cause some degree of productivity loss. It is thus imperative to emphasize the implementation of good ergonomic practices, especially among relatively young ophthalmologists.

Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability. OBJECTIVE: This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children's physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents' awareness of their child's current physical activity levels. METHODS: In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child's activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts. RESULTS: Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports. CONCLUSIONS: Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children's daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives.

Usability and Feasibility of a Smartphone App to Assess Human Behavioral Factors Associated with Tick Exposure (The Tick App): Quantitative and Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) technology takes advantage of smartphone features to turn them into research tools, with the potential to reach a larger section of the population in a cost-effective manner, compared with traditional epidemiological methods. Although mHealth apps have been widely implemented in chronic diseases and psychology, their potential use in the research of vector-borne diseases has not yet been fully exploited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the usability and feasibility of The Tick App, the first tick research-focused app in the United States. METHODS: The Tick App was designed as a survey tool to collect data on human behaviors and movements associated with tick exposure while engaging users in tick identification and reporting. It consists of an enrollment survey to identify general risk factors, daily surveys to collect data on human activities and tick encounters (Tick Diaries), a survey to enter the details of tick encounters coupled with tick identification services provided by the research team (Report a Tick), and educational material. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we evaluated the enrollment strategy (passive vs active), the user profile, location, longitudinal use of its features, and users' feedback. RESULTS: Between May and September 2018, 1468 adult users enrolled in the app. The Tick App users were equally represented across genders and evenly distributed across age groups. Most users owned a pet (65.94%, 962/1459; P<.001), did frequent outdoor activities (recreational or peridomestic; 75.24%, 1094/1454; P<.001 and 64.58%, 941/1457; P<.001, respectively), and lived in the Midwest (56.55%, 824/1457) and Northeast (33.0%, 481/1457) regions in the United States, more specifically in Wisconsin, southern New York, and New Jersey. Users lived more frequently in high-incidence counties for Lyme disease (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-7.2; P<.001) and in counties with cases recently increasing (IRR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.2; P=.03). Recurring users (49.25%, 723/1468) had a similar demographic profile to all users but participated in outdoor activities more frequently (80.5%, 575/714; P<.01). The number of Tick Diaries submitted per user (median 2, interquartile range [IQR] 1-11) was higher for older age groups (aged >55 years; IRR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-7.6; P<.001) and lower in the Northeast (IRR[NE] 0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.7; P<.001), whereas the number of tick reports (median 1, IQR 1-2) increased with the frequency of outdoor activities (IRR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This assessment allowed us to identify what fraction of the population used The Tick App and how it was used during a pilot phase. This information will be used to improve future iterations of The Tick App and tailor potential tick prevention interventions to the users' characteristics.

Association between occupational exposure and Dupuytren's contracture using a job-exposure matrix and self-reported exposure in the CONSTANCES cohort.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies highlighted an association between occupational exposure and Dupuytren's contracture (DC), they were often limited by the highly selected population. We aimed to study this association using a job-exposure matrix (JEM) and self-reported exposure in a large cohort. METHODS: From CONSTANCES, a French population-based prospective cohort, we retrieved sex, age, social position, alcohol/tobacco intake and diabetes. Lifetime exposures were assessed by two different methods: with the biomechanical JEM 'JEM Constances', we assessed exposure to vibration and/or forearm rotation for participants whose work history was available, and from a self-administered questionnaire, we retrieved self-reported exposure to arduous work and/or carrying heavy loads. Surgery for DC was collected from the French Health Administrative database from 2009 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for confounders were built to assess association between surgery for DC and occupational exposures. RESULTS: Work history was retrieved for 23 795 subjects among whom 98 underwent surgery for DC. Adjusted OR (aOR) was 2.08 (1.03-4.2) for being ever exposed to vibration and/or forearm rotation for subjects <60 years and 1.20 (0.69-2.08) for subjects ≥60 years. Data for self-reported exposure were available for 81 801 participants among whom 367 underwent surgery for DC. aOR for being exposed more than 20 years to arduous work and/or carrying heavy loads was 2.01 (1.32-3.04) for subjects <60 years and 1.04 (0.7-1.54) for subjects ≥60. CONCLUSIONS: Manual work is associated with surgery for DC among younger subjects. Monitoring exposed workers is important to prevent future functional limitations.

Influencia de los requerimientos ergonómicos y recursos preventivos percibidos en el desarrollo de bajas laborales por patología no traumática del hombro / Influence of ergonomic requirements and perceived preventive work resources on sickness absence due to non-traumatic shoulder disorders

INTRODUCCIÓN: El hombro doloroso es un problema médico común en Atención Primaria de salud y en el ámbito laboral. Puede producir una discapacidad funcional considerable y requerir de periodos de incapacidad temporal. OBJETIVOS: Describir las características de pacientes atendidos por patología no traumática del hombro, así como estudiar la asociación entre requerimientos ergonómicos y conocimientos preventivos del puesto de trabajo y el desarrollo de bajas laborales. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio observacional transversal en una población de 345 pacientes en edad laboral que consultaron al médico de familia por dolor en el hombro en un año, pertenecientes a un centro de salud del Departamento de Salud de Alicante-Hospital General. Se utilizó un cuestionario con preguntas sobre conocimientos en prevención de riesgos laborales, requerimientos del puesto de trabajo y haber requerido o no periodos de incapacidad temporal derivada. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y analítico. RESULTADOS: El 39,1% de los entrevistados refirieron periodos de baja laboral, calificándose el 87% como enfermedad común. El 51% refirió no tener información sobre los riesgos asociados a sus puestos de trabajo. Los requerimientos ergonómicos más frecuentes referidos por los encuestados fueron: posturas forzadas, alzar el brazo por encima del hombro, girar cuello-columna, y movimientos repetidos. Presentaron mayor probabilidad de baja las actividades relacionadas con construcción, agricultura, ganadería y pesca, conocer la existencia de evaluación de riesgos y/o plan de prevención y los requerimientos de alzar los brazos, golpear superficies, manejar cargas pesadas, y usar fuerza física. Conocer la existencia de un plan de prevención se mostró como factor de riesgo independiente (OR 4,2 [1,1-15,9]). CONCLUSIONES: Es importante abordar preventivamente los requerimientos ergonómicos del puesto así como conseguir mayores conocimientos de las estructuras preventivas para evitar el desarrollo de bajas laborales por hombro doloroso

INTRODUCTION: Painful shoulder is a common medical problem in Primary Health Care and at the workplace. It can cause a considerable functional disability and can require periods of sick leave. OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of patients treated for non-traumatic diseases of the shoulder, as well as to know the association between ergonomic requirements and preventive knowledge about the workplace in the development of sickness absence. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study in working age population of 345 patients who consulted their general practitioner throughout the year for shoulder pain, belonging to a health center from the Health Department of the Hospital General de Alicante. A questionnaire was used with questions about knowledge in occupational risk prevention, work requirements and whether or not temporary disability periods were required. A descriptive and analytical analysis was carried out. RESULTS: 39.1% of the interviewees reported periods of sick leave, qualified in 87% as a common disorder. 51% of them reported having no information about risks associated with their jobs. The most frequent ergonomic requirements referred by the respondents were: unnatural body posture, to raise the arm over the shoulder, to turn the neck-column, and to repeat movements. The probability of temporal disability was higher in those activities related to construction, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, people with knowledge of the existence of risk assessment and / or prevention plan, and the requirements of raising the arms, hitting surfaces, handling heavy loads, and using physical strength. To have knowledge about the existence of a prevention plan was shown as an independent risk factor (OR 4.2 [1.1-15.9]). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to preventively address the ergonomic requirements of the position as well as to gain greater knowledge of preventive structures in order to prevent the development of sick leave due to shoulder pain

Assessing the ergonomic exposure for construction workers during construction of residential buildings.

BACKGROUND: Construction workers are at greater risk of musculoskeletal disorders due to their exposure to physical ergonomic risk factors. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to quantify the ergonomic hazards for workers in the construction of residential buildings. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, PATH method, a work-sampling observation method, was applied to study the working postures, handled loads, and manual material handling activities in construction workers. A total of 5832 observations were made on 10 workers involved in tasks of three jobs including reinforcing bar, formwork, and pouring concrete. The ergonomic exposure was characterized in terms of percentage of observations made for each task. RESULTS: Non-neutral trunk postures, especially mild and severe flexions, were frequently observed in all job tasks. High-strain leg postures of squatting, kneeling, and leg(s) bent were mostly observed in floor formwork (39%), concrete finishing (5%), and floor rebar construction (52.3%), respectively. The highest proportion of work time with one (5.8%) and two hands (9%) at/above shoulder was observed in column rebar construction. In concrete pouring and rebar cutting, workers were observed in 39.45% and 23.1% of work time doing carry and push/pull activities, respectively. Heavy loads (>15 kg) were mostly observed in concrete pouring and floor formwork tasks. CONCLUSION: In the construction of residential buildings with the concrete structure, workers perform their task with non-neutral postures of trunk and leg and handling heavy loads. The recommended controls could reduce the musculoskeletal stress in rebar tying, concrete pouring, and concrete finishing tasks.

Functional Workspace Optimization via Learning Personal Preferences from Virtual Experiences.

The functionality of a workspace is one of the most important considerations in both virtual world design and interior design. To offer appropriate functionality to the user, designers usually take some general rules into account, e.g., general workflow and average stature of users, which are summarized from the population statistics. Yet, such general rules cannot reflect the personal preferences of a single individual, which vary from person to person. In this paper, we intend to optimize a functional workspace according to the personal preferences of the specific individual who will use it. We come up with an approach to learn the individual's personal preferences from his activities while using a virtual version of the workspace via virtual reality devices. Then, we construct a cost function, which incorporates personal preferences, spatial constraints, pose assessments, and visual field. At last, the cost function is optimized to achieve an optimal layout. To evaluate the approach, we experimented with different settings. The results of the user study show that the workspaces updated in this way better fit the users.

The effects of seat width, load factor, and passenger demographics on airline passenger accommodation.

The objective of this work is to demonstrate a method for examining the competing effects of secular trends in body size, seat size and configuration, and the increased load factor of aeroplanes. The method uses statistical modelling and virtual fit testing to provide a flexible environment for exploring the impact of various parameters on passenger accommodation. A case study demonstrates the method by exploring the effect of seat width on the accommodation of US civilians (based on seated hip breadth). The case study demonstrates that recent trends of decreasing seat widths and increasing load factors lead to higher disaccommodation. Based on anthropometry and virtual fit, women are also shown to be disproportionately disaccommodated compared to men. Practitioner summary: Airlines are reducing seat width at the same time that individuals worldwide are getting larger. Flights are increasingly crowded, with load factor at a record high. This paper explores the effects of seat width on passenger accommodation under several scenarios involving load factor, demographics, and passenger seating allocation strategies.

A global, incremental development method for a web-based prostate cancer treatment decision aid and usability testing in a Dutch clinical setting.

Many new decision aids are developed while aspects of existing decision aids could also be useful, leading to a sub-optimal use of resources. To support treatment decision-making in prostate cancer patients, a pre-existing evidence-based Canadian decision aid was adjusted to Dutch clinical setting. After analyses of the original decision aid and routines in Dutch prostate cancer care, adjustments to the decision aid structure and content were made. Subsequent usability testing (N = 11) resulted in 212 comments. Care providers mainly provided feedback on medical content, and patients commented most on usability and summary layout. All participants reported that the decision aid was comprehensible and well-structured and would recommend decision aid use. After usability testing, final adjustments to the decision aid were made. The presented methods could be useful for cultural adaptation of pre-existing tools into other languages and settings, ensuring optimal usage of previous scientific and practical efforts and allowing for a global, incremental decision aid development process.