Sintomas osteomusculares em professores do ensino fundamental / Muscoloskeletal symptoms in elementary school teachers

Identificar a ocorrencia de sintomas osteomusculares em professores do ensino fundamental. Metodo: foi utilizado um questionario com um inventario sobre dados gerais e ocupacionais e o questionario nordico. Para a analise estatistica foram comparados os sujeitos com e sem sintomas nos ultimos 12 meses, independente da regiao e considerando as mais afetadas. Foi realizada analise de regressao logistica univariada e multivariada com um nivel de significancia de 5 por cento. Para a analise multivariada, foi utilizado o criterio Stepwise. As variaveis foram analisadas pelo teste de associacao Qui-Quadrados ou teste de Fisher. Resultados: a idade media dos participantes foi de 40 anos, 99,4 por cento eram mulheres, sendo que, 90,4 apresentaram sintomas osteomusculares. As areas mais atingidas foram: lombar, toracica, cervical, ombros, punhos e maos. A presenca de dor associou-se significativamente com a ausencia de filhos (p=0,03) e com o tempo de atuacao profissional menor ou igual a 15 anos (p=0,03). Na analise multivariada, a presenca de dor na regiao cervical (OR=6,2, IC a 95 por cento=1,4 - 26,7), nos ombros (OR=2,8, IC a 95 por cento=1,1 - 7,2), na regiao toracica (OR=2,5, IC a 95 por cento= 1,1 - 5,5) e punhos e maos(OR=2,0 IC a 95 por cento=1,0 - 3,9) apresentou associacao significativa para a idade menor que 30 anos, sujeitos entre 30 e 39 anos, ausencia de filhos e nao ter uma uniao estavel, respectivamente. Conclusao: os professores apresentaram elevada ocorrencia de sintomas osteomusculares e confirmam a necessidade de novos estudos

Validation of an instrument for patient handling assessment.

Nursing personnel are at high risk from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially back symptoms. Handling patients has been established as one of the factors playing an important role in the etiology of occupational low back pain. The aim of this study was to develop an instrument for patient handling assessment and to determine its validity and reliability. Instrument validity was established based on content and construct validity. Reliability was estimated through homogeneity, stability (test-retest) and equivalence (interrater) tests. Reliability estimated by internal consistency reached a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.81. Pearson's correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was r = 0.92. There was an excellent agreement between observers, according to the k values (Kappa = 0.92). Interobserver (interrater) reliability was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, reaching an r value of 0.84. The agreement between both observers was also fairly good (Kappa = 0.84). The results of the current study show that the instrument seems to be reliable and valid for patient handling assessment.

Vibrational study of dialkylphosphonates: di-n-propyl- and di-i-propylphosphonates by semiempirical and ab initio methods.

Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman spectra of n-C(3)H(7) and i-C(3)H(7) dialkylphosphonates have been obtained. Semiempirical AM1 and the ab initio orbital molecular RHF/6-31G* theories have been used to study the molecular geometry, and the harmonic vibrational spectra with the purpose to assist the experimental assignments of these compounds. An extensive discussion on the assignment of the C-C, C-O, P-O and P=O stretching is carried out based on experimental data of compounds which have the propyl and isopropyl groups, as well as comparing the vibrational spectra of propane. Most of the RHF/6-31G* and AM1 results, once applied the appropriate scaling factor, showed an excellent agreement with the experimental wavenumbers. A few calculated frequencies related to CC and CO stretching do not agree well with the experimental trends.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Reports in the literature have identified a need for internationally standardized and reliable measurements to analyse musculoskeletal symptoms. Screening of musculoskeletal disorders may serve as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the work environment. The Nordic general questionnaire is a standardized instrument used to analyse musculoskeletal symptoms in an ergonomic or occupational health context. PURPOSE: To translate and adapt a version of the Nordic general questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese and evaluate its reliability. METHOD: The cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to internationally recommended methodology, using the following guidelines: translation; back-translation; committee review; and pretesting. First, the questionnaire was independently translated into Portuguese by two teachers and one doctor, and a consensus version was generated. Second, two other translators performed a back-translation independently from one another. This version was then submitted to a committee, consisting of six specialists in the area of knowledge of the instrument, to evaluate its equivalence to the original instrument. The final version was pretested on 20 subjects randomly selected in an outpatient clinic. Reliability was assessed by a test-retest procedure at 1-day intervals using the Kappa coefficient in a group of 40 subjects. The Kappa agreement values were calculated for each one of the four questions of the questionnaire. The agreement among the same observers was substantial, varying from 0.88 to 1, according to the Kappa values. RESULTS: these demonstrated strong agreement of the instrument, suggesting that the Brazilian version of the "Standardized Nordic Questionnaire" offers substantial reliability.

Evaluation of a program to reduce back pain in nursing personnel.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce back pain in nursing aides. METHODS: Female nursing aides from a university hospital who had suffered episodes of back pain for at least six months were included in the study. Participants were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The intervention program involved a set of exercises and an educational component stressing the ergonomic aspect, administered twice a week during working hours for four months. All subjects answered a structured questionnaire and the intensity of pain was assessed before and after the program using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Student's t-test or the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test for independent samples, and Chi-square test or the Exact Fisher test for categorical analysis, were used. The McNemar test and the Wilcoxon matched pairs test were used to compare the periods before and after the program. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of cervical pain in the last two months and in the last seven days in the intervention group. There was also a reduction in cervical pain intensity in the two periods (2 months, 7 days) and lumbar pain intensity in the last 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a program of regular exercise with an emphasis on ergonomics can reduce musculoskeletal symptoms in nursing personnel.

[Spinal cord physical-functional assessment model]. / Modelo de avaliação físico-funcional da coluna vertebral.

The study describes semiological methods that must be employed in posture and spinal cord evaluation, considering primary health care. The methods used in this study involve the patient's history, and a specific physical examination which includes a static inspection, posture examination, dynamic inspection, palpation, muscle strength and flexibility assessment, neurological examination and special tests.

[Ergonomics in the transfer of patients: a study carried out with workers of a transportation center at a university hospital]. / Aspectos ergonômicos na transferência de pacientes: um estudo realizado com trabalhadores de uma central de transportes de um hospital universitário.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ergonomic aspects involved in using a stretcher and a wheel chair to transfer patients. 249 transfers carried out by the workers of a university hospital lifting sector were observed. The observations showed that the idea of having a team to transfer patients has to be stimulated but the members of the team require specific training in handling and transferring patients. Mechanical equipment and other devices should also be available.

[Moving and lifting patients: postural and ergonomic aspects]. / Movimentação e transferência de pacientes: aspectos posturais e ergonômicos.

The most dangerous and difficult tasks faced by health workers are those procedures involved with lifting and moving patients. Therefore, training and recycling programs in lifting procedures are a compulsory part of programs for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in schools and health institutions. The present study presents basic and innovative orientation with an ergonomic approach regarding these procedures, together with the use of devices.

[Accidents with sharp instruments in nurses in a university hospital in Campinas, Sao Paolo]. / Ocorrência de acidente do trabalho por material perfurocortante entre trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário da cidade de Campinas, Estado de São Paulo.

This study has the objective to evaluate certain aspects of the occurrence of accidents of work with perforative cutting tool in nursing workers of a university hospital. Forty-six workers who had accidental needlesticks and injuries from other sharp objects (from June to/December 1994) were interviewed. The data found are likely to help programs of prevention of accidents with nursing workers.

[Ergonomic aspects of hospital environment and equipment]. / Aspectos ergonômicos relacionados com o ambiente e equipamentos hospitalares.

Ergonomics has been one of the most important strategies for reducing musculoskeletal injuries caused by working conditions. The present report discusses particular aspects of the working environment such as work space, working heights, as well as the limits of reach and of the equipment used, and attempts to relate these to the occupational activities in nursing.

[Ergonomics and the occupational activities of the nursing staff]. / Ergonomia e as atividades ocupacionais da equipe de enfermagem.

This paper discusses some of the ergonomics conditions that contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders of the vertebral column and relates these conditions to the occupational activities of the nursing staff.

[Occupational accidents involving the spine: study on nurses at a university hospital]. / Acidentes de trabalho afetando a coluna vertebral: um estudo realizado com trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário.

In order to evaluate certain characteristics of the occurrence of occupational back injury among nursing staff, all workers affected during a period of six months were interviewed. These individuals were 43.2 years old on average and were basically female. There was no statistical significative difference showing a predominance among working turns and among the different nursing ranks involved in the accident. Most of the accidents happened within the hospital unit while they were moving or transporting patients and equipment, because of falls due to slipping floor. The most affected regions of the spinal column were the lumbar and cervical portions. The majority of the subjects affirmed that they had some type of back problem.

[Educational proposal focused on ergonomics as prevention tool against musculoskeletal injuries for the nursing staff]. / Proposta educativa com enfoque ergonômico para auxiliar na prevenção de lesões músculo-esqueléticas na equipe de enfermagem.

Nursing staff is subject to lesions in the back due to ergonomic factors and inadequate posture. A specific educational proposal for nursing personnel was elaborated with the objective of helping to reduce these lesions. This study presents the development and topics of this educational strategy that was constructed from an analysis of the work environment and of the activities engaged in by this personnel. Themes relative to the anatomy and biomechanics of the vertebral column were presented, as well as general posture orientations, specific ergonomic aspects of nursing tasks and considerations about the movement and transportation of patients.

[Back pain and nursing]. / Dores nas costas e enfermagem.

After a clinic specific evaluation performed by a interdisciplinary group, 68 female workers of the nursing staff from a University Hospital were interviewed to evaluate aspects of the back pain in nursing staff.

[Lifestyle and work of nursing personnel and back pain]. / Estilo de vida e trabalho do pessoal de enfermagem e a ocorrência de cervicodorsolombalgias.

This paper is part of a broader study. In order to describe life style and occupational history possibly related to back pain, 75 female workers of the nursing staff from a University Hospital were interviewed during clinical evaluation.

[Ergonomic and postural aspects in a central supply unit]. / Aspectos ergonômicos e posturais em centro de material.

Unsuitable environmental factors can lead to back injuries. In order to develop a critical thinking about the workplace effects on human health, this paper discuss ergonomic and postural aspects in a Central Supply Unit.