Risk Perception and Fatigue in Port Workers: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to assess fatigue in port workers; analyze the association between fatigue and levels of trust in organizations, as well as the association between authorities and risk perception; and examine the official documents governing the studied port, along with the current health and communication status of the port workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional pilot study, which presented quantitative and qualitative data, and it was carried out among port workers in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-nine port workers responded to quantitative questionnaires, which collected their socio-demographic data, as well as a risk perception questionnaire, the Chalder Fatigue Scale, and the Checklist of Individual Strength. Five documents from the port regiment were studied and qualitatively analyzed. The health communications consisted of presenting infographics with research data and providing information for reducing fatigue. RESULTS: Fifteen workers (38.5%) were considered fatigued. There was a reduction in fatigue associated with trust in the unions and the labor management body, and there was an agreement that the precarious environment was completely unacceptable. The qualitative data in the documents indicated that it was possible to identify the infrastructure of the port environment, the legislation, the strategies to be adopted in cases of natural disasters, emergency plans, plans for the protection and promotion of workers' health, individual and collective protection plans, the division of the sectors and those responsible for them, and documents detailing the hierarchy within the ports. The qualitative analysis culminated in graphic representations (infographics) created to communicate the research results to port workers, specifically in relation to fatigue, and we presented the ways to prevent fatigue at work. Discussion/Limitations: Studying the risk perceptions and fatigue levels of port workers through research with the active participation of these workers presented their lived experiences, which promoted discussion and perhaps more effective proposals to change their work conditions.

Musculoskeletal Pain in the Neck and Lower Back Regions among PHC Workers: Association between Workload, Mental Disorders, and Strategies to Manage Pain.

Scientific evidence indicates that workers in the health sector are commonly exposed to work-related musculoskeletal pain. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify the relationship between the presence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain in the neck and lumbar regions reported by Primary Health Care (PHC) workers with workloads and occupational risks, analyze musculoskeletal pain in the presence and absence of self-reported mental disorders based on a medical diagnosis, and identify workers' strategies to manage pain. METHOD: This cross-sectional study addressed 338 health professionals working in PHC outpatient services in the extreme South of Brazil. One questionnaire addressed sociodemographic questions concerning occupation, occupational risks, and mental disorders. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported musculoskeletal pain. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) measured the workload. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: Most (55.3%) participants reported neck and (64.5%) lower back pain in the previous 12 months, and 22.5% and 30.5% reported intense neck and lower back pain, respectively, in the previous 12 months. The results showed different independent associations with increased musculoskeletal pain among health workers. Dentists presented the highest prevalence of neck pain, while female workers presented the highest prevalence of lower back pain. Furthermore, the perception of ergonomic risk and virtually all self-reported mental disorders (except panic syndrome for neck pain) were associated with pain in the neck and lower back regions and a higher frustration level (mental demand). Additionally, professionals with graduate degrees, nurses, and professionals working the longest in PHC services reported seeking complementary therapies more frequently, while physicians and those with self-reported mental disorders self-medicated more frequently.

Domains of Physical and Mental Workload in Health Work and Unpaid Domestic Work by Gender Division: A Study with Primary Health Care Workers in Brazil.

Various studies indicate that workload metrics can be used to assess inequities in the division of labor according to gender and in the mental health of health care professionals. In most studies, the workload is portrayed in a way that does not integrate the different fields of work, that is, work in health services and unpaid domestic work. The objective was to determine the effects of the workload domains of health work and unpaid domestic work according to the gender division of health professionals working in primary health care (PHC), and to analyze the workload as an inducer of anxiety disorders and episodes of depression. This cross-sectional study consisted of 342 health care professionals recruited for interview at primary health care units in the extreme south of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sociodemographic and occupational variables, workload in PHC and unpaid domestic work, and dichotomies of anxiety disorders and episodes of depression were considered. Poisson and multivariate linear regression models were used for data analysis. Cohen's standardized effect size was used to assess the magnitude of the difference between women and men in terms of workload. The female professionals presented higher scores in terms of PHC work and unpaid domestic work and higher proportions of episodes of depression and anxiety disorders compared to males. The male professionals showed that anxiety disorders presented a medium standardized effect size on domestic workload and the level of frustration with family involvement was higher in those with episodes of depression. The results illustrate that the workload metric is an important indicator of female vulnerability to working conditions in PHC and in the family environment.

Rural workload and factors associated with the use of medication by elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the prevalence and factors associated with the use of medication by elderly rural workers and verify the association between the use of medication and rural workload. METHOD: Cross-sectional, exploratory study, conducted among elderly rural workers from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The data was collected through interviews, using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety-five elderly people participated in the study. Prevalence of medication use was 32% higher among women than men, and the type of medication most used by women was for the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. One additional degree in the frustration level with farm work resulted in a 1% increase in the probability of elderly people using medication. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to consider strategies that seek to reduce the physical and mental demand of rural work, through investments in public policies that enable elderly people to reduce rural labor for subsistence purposes and, consequently, their workload.

Use of Global Risk Score for Cardiovascular Evaluation of Rural Workers in Southern Brazil.

The objectives of the present study were to classify the cardiovascular evaluation of rural workers through the Global Risk Score and analyze the intensity of the relationship between the classification and the variables of the score. A descriptive study was developed with 38 rural workers from the extreme southern Brazil. Data collection was performed through an interview and verification of anthropometric measurements and arterial blood pressure. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Spearman correlation test. The overall 10-year cardiovascular risk classification using the Framingham global score showed a predominance of low risk (n = 22; 57.9%); however, 11 rural workers (28.9%) had a high cardiovascular risk. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significance between the Global Risk Score and gender (rho = 0.623, p ≤ 0.001), age (rho = 0.783, p ≤ 0.001), systolic blood pressure (rho = 0.545, p ≤ 0.001), and smoking (rho = 0.483, p = 0.002). These results show that rural workers need attention with regard to components that may put them at risk for cardiovascular disease. This study may help in the early diagnosis and more effective actions on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Rural workload and factors associated with the use of medication by elderly people / Carga de trabalho rural e fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos por idosos / Carga de trabajo rural y factores asociados al uso de medicamentos por personas ancianas

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify the prevalence and factors associated with the use of medication by elderly rural workers and verify the association between the use of medication and rural workload. Method: Cross-sectional, exploratory study, conducted among elderly rural workers from the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The data was collected through interviews, using a structured questionnaire. Results: Ninety-five elderly people participated in the study. Prevalence of medication use was 32% higher among women than men, and the type of medication most used by women was for the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. One additional degree in the frustration level with farm work resulted in a 1% increase in the probability of elderly people using medication. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider strategies that seek to reduce the physical and mental demand of rural work, through investments in public policies that enable elderly people to reduce rural labor for subsistence purposes and, consequently, their workload.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados ao uso de medicamentos por trabalhadores rurais idosos e verificar a associação entre o uso de medicamentos e a carga de trabalho rural. Método: Estudo transversal, exploratório, realizado com idosos trabalhadores rurais, do interior do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista, utilizando questionário estruturado. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 95 idosos. As mulheres apresentaram uma prevalência de uso de medicamentos 32% maior do que os homens, e os tipos de medicamentos mais utilizados por elas foram para o sistema nervoso e sistema musculoesquelético. Idosos com um grau a mais no nível de frustração com a carga de trabalho na agricultura tiveram um aumento de 1% na probabilidade de usar medicação. Conclusão: É necessário considerar estratégias que visem reduzir a carga física e mental do trabalho rural, por meio de investimentos em políticas públicas que possibilitem aos idosos reduzir o trabalho rural para subsistência e, por conseguinte, a sua carga de trabalho.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia y los factores asociados con el uso de medicamentos por trabajadores rurales ancianos y verificar la asociación entre el uso de medicamentos y la carga laboral rural. Método: Estudio transversal, exploratorio, realizado con ancianos trabajadores rurales, del interior del Estado de Río Grande do Sul. La recolección de datos ocurrió mediante entrevista, utilizando cuestionario estructurado. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio 95 ancianos. Las mujeres presentaron una prevalencia de uso de medicamentos el 32% mayor que los hombres, y los tipos de medicamentos más utilizados por ellas fueron para el sistema nervioso y sistema musculoesquelético. Ancianos con un grado más en el nivel de frustración con la carga de trabajo en la agricultura tuvieron un incremento del 1% en la probabilidad de utilizar medicación. Conclusión: Es necesario considerar estrategias que tengan el fin de reducir la carga física y mental del trabajo rural, mediante inversiones en políticas públicas que posibiliten a los ancianos reducir el trabajo rural para subsistencia y, por consiguiente, su carga laboral.

[Skin cancer in rural workers: nursing knowledge and intervention]. / Câncer de pele em trabalhadores rurais: conhecimento e intervenção de enfermagem.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the exposure of rural workers to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and pesticides; to identify previous cases of skin cancer; and to implement clinical and communicative nursing actions among rural workers with a previous diagnosis of skin cancer. METHOD: Observational-exploratory study conducted with rural workers exposed to ultraviolet radiation and pesticides in a rural area in the extreme south of Brazil. A clinical judgment and risk communication model properly adapted was used to develop interventions among workers with a previous history of skin cancer. RESULTS: A total of 123 (97.7%) workers were identified under conditions of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and pesticides; seven (5.4%) were identified with a previous diagnosis of skin cancer; four (57.1%) of these presented potential skin cancer lesions. CONCLUSION: This study's results enabled clarifying the combination of clinical knowledge and risk communication regarding skin cancer to rural workers.

Skin cancer in rural workers: nursing knowledge and intervention / Cáncer de piel en trabajadores rurales: conocimiento e intervención de enfermería / Câncer de pele em trabalhadores rurais: conhecimento e intervenção de enfermagem

OBJECTIVETo identify the exposure of rural workers to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and pesticides; to identify previous cases of skin cancer; and to implement clinical and communicative nursing actions among rural workers with a previous diagnosis of skin cancer.METHODObservational-exploratory study conducted with rural workers exposed to ultraviolet radiation and pesticides in a rural area in the extreme south of Brazil. A clinical judgment and risk communication model properly adapted was used to develop interventions among workers with a previous history of skin cancer.RESULTSA total of 123 (97.7%) workers were identified under conditions of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and pesticides; seven (5.4%) were identified with a previous diagnosis of skin cancer; four (57.1%) of these presented potential skin cancer lesions.CONCLUSIONThis study's results enabled clarifying the combination of clinical knowledge and risk communication regarding skin cancer to rural workers.

OBJETIVOIdentificar la exposición de trabajadores rurales a la radiación solar ultravioleta y los pesticidas; identificar casos anteriores de cáncer de piel y aplicar la acción clínica y comunicativa de Enfermería a los trabajadores rurales con diagnóstico anterior de cáncer de piel.MÉTODOEstudio observacional-exploratorio realizado con trabajadores rurales expuestos a la radiación solar ultravioleta y los pesticidas, en área rural en el extremo sur de Brasil. Se utilizó un modelo adaptado de juicio clínico y comunicación de riesgo para el desarrollo de intervención a los trabajadores con diagnóstico anterior de cáncer de piel.RESULTADOSSe identificaron: 123 (97,7%) trabajadores en condiciones de exposición a la radiación solar ultravioleta y los pesticidas; siete (5,4%) con diagnóstico anterior de cáncer de piel y, de esos, cuatro (57,1%) presentaron lesiones potenciales de cáncer de piel. Conclusión: Los resultados del estudio permitieron elucidar la conjugación entre el conocimiento clínico y la comunicación de riesgo de cáncer de piel para trabajadores rurales.

OBJETIVOIdentificar a exposição de trabalhadores rurais à radiação solar ultravioleta e aos pesticidas; identificar casos pregressos de câncer de pele e aplicar a ação clínica e comunicativa de Enfermagem aos trabalhadores rurais com diagnóstico pregresso de câncer de pele.MÉTODOEstudo observacional-exploratório realizado com trabalhadores rurais expostos à radiação solar ultravioleta e aos pesticidas, em área rural no extremo sul do Brasil. Utilizou-se um modelo adaptado de julgamento clínico e comunicação de risco para o desenvolvimento de intervenção aos trabalhadores com diagnóstico pregresso de câncer de pele.RESULTADOSIdentificou-se: 123 (97,7%) trabalhadores em condições de exposição à radiação solar ultravioleta e aos pesticidas; sete (5,4%) com diagnóstico pregresso de câncer de pele e desses, quatro (57,1%) apresentaram lesões potenciais de câncer de pele.CONCLUSÃOOs resultados do estudo permitiram elucidar a conjugação entre o conhecimento clínico e comunicação de risco de câncer de pele para trabalhadores rurais.