Comparing workload and performance during demanding push force and mental tasks.

BACKGROUND: The effects of performing occupational tasks that demand physical and mental efforts in combined and simultaneous approaches are unknown, especially when pushing force is analyzed as a physical effort and solving arithmetic problems as a mental effort. OBJECTIVE: In this study, physical and mental demands were simulated in a lab environment to assess the workload. METHODS: Using a push force dynamometer, the maximum push force strength of each participant was recorded, and the physical demand was simulated exerting the push force in low, medium, and high levels. Mental demands were simulated solving arithmetic tasks in low, medium, and high levels. Two experimental conditions were defined: (1) task with combined physical and mental workload (performing physical demands first and mental demands after) and (2) task in a simultaneous way (performing both demands at the same time. NASA-TLX Traditional and RAW were applied to assess the workload. RESULTS: The time to complete the tasks was significantly longer in the combined than the simultaneous approach, and performance was significantly higher in the combined than the simultaneous tasks. CONCLUSION: The combined approach obtained better results than simultaneous and Traditional NASA-TLX presented a significantly higher level of global workload index than RAW.

Influence of an armrest support on handgrip strength in different arm and shoulder flexion angles in overhead postures.

A study was undertaken in which the handgrip strength in three arm positions above the shoulder was measured to compare handgrip strength when arm support is used and when it is not used. Grip forces were generated in pairs of flexion angles, corresponding to shoulder and elbow at 90°-90°, 135°-45° and 160°-20°. Thirty-two participants completed the present study; 23 men and nine women with a median age of 23.1 (SD ±3.6) years. A manual handgrip dynamometer (0-90 kg) and an adjustable angle arm support (AAAS) were used during the data collection. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements indicates a significant effect of the AAAS factor on the handgrip strength, as well as on the AAAS × angle interaction. However, there is no significant effect of the angle factor on the AAAS × angle interaction.

Síndrome metabólico en trabajadores de un hospital de nivel III de atención Estudio SIMETRA / Metabolic syndrome in workers of a level III care hospital SIMETRA study

Introducción: el síndrome metabólico (SM) se caracteriza por obesidad, hiperglucemia o diabetes, hipertensión arterial y dislipidemia. La presencia de este síndrome incrementa el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, con el consecuente aumento de la mortalidad. Objetivo: determinar la frecuencia del SM y sus componentes en los trabajadores de un hospital de III nivel de atención, utilizando tanto los criterios de la Federación Internacional de Diabetes (IDF) como la definición unificada (armonizada). Metodología: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en personal del Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana de Bogotá. Para 1.140 trabajadores, considerando prevalencia de 26% e IC 95%, se calculó una muestra de 235 sujetos, a quienes se les realizó encuesta personalizada, exámenes paraclínicos (perfil lipídico y glucemia) y toma de medidas antropométricas (peso, talla, perímetro de cintura y tensión arterial). Para el análisis, la muestra se distribuyó en dos grupos: Administrativo (sin formación específica en el área de salud) y Salud (con dicha formación), para determinar la posible relación entre prevalencia de SM y conocimiento previo sobre este síndrome. Resultados: se obtuvo información completa de 209 trabajadores: 83 (39.7%) en Administrativo y 126 (60.3%) en Salud; la mayoría (50.7%) con edad entre 35 y 50 años, y con predominio de mujeres (72.7%). La frecuencia de SM fue 28.7% por criterios unificados (armonizados) y 26.3% por IDF; utilizando los primeros la frecuencia fue 30.1% en el grupo Administrativo y 27.8% en el grupo Salud, diferencia sin significancia estadística. El SM fue más frecuente en mayores de 50 años (46.4%) y en los niveles educativos secundaria (42.9%) y técnico (32.5%). El análisis de frecuencia según conocimiento previo sobre SM y sus componentes no mostró diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones: la frecuencia de SM en trabajadores de este hospital universitario es tan alta como la reportada para la población general. Los datos sugieren que aunque el personal de salud posee conocimiento básico sobre el SM no toma acciones eficaces para evitarlo.

Introduction: metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia or diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The presence of this syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, with a consequent increase in mortality. Objective: to determine the frequency of MS and its components in workers of a tertiary level of care hospital, using both the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the unified definition (harmonized). Methods: cross-sectional study made in staff of the University Hospital La Samaritana, in Bogota. For 1, 140 workers, considering a prevalence of 26% and CI 95%, a sample of 235 subjects who underwent personalized survey, laboratory tests (lipid profile and glucose) and taking of anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist perimeter and blood pressure) was calculated. For analysis, the sample was divided into 2 groups: Administrative (without specific training in the area of health) and health (with health training) to determine the possible relationship between MS prevalence and prior knowledge about this syndrome. Results: complete information was obtained from 209 workers: 83 (39.7%) in Administrative and 126 (60.3%) in Health; the majority (50.7%) aged between 35 and 50 years and female predominance(72.7%). The frequency of MS was 28.7% for unified standards (harmonized) and 26.3% for IDF; using the first, the frequency was 30.1% in the Administrative group and 27.8% in the group Health, difference not statistically significant. MS was more frequent in patients over 50 years (46.4%) and in the educational levels Secondary (42.9%) and Technical (32.5%). The frequency analysis according to prior knowledge of MS and its components showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusions: the frequency of MS in this university hospital workers is as high as that reported for the general population. The data suggest that although health staff has basic knowledge of the MS, does not take effective action to prevent it.