Occupational Medicine

Ergonomic risk assessment of work stations and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among employees of Refah Bank in Shiraz

Fallah H — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) pose significant health risks to office workers, particularly bank employees who perform combined computer and paperwork tasks. However, ergonomic assessments in Iran's banking sector remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate ergonomic risk factors in workstations and determine the prevalence and severity of WMSDs among Refah Bank employees in Shiraz.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024, involving 77 stratified sampled employees from bank branches. Workstations were assessed using a researcher-designed checklist and the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method. The prevalence of WMSDs over the past 12 months was measured using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire across nine body regions, while symptom severity was quantified via the Body Map Scale (0–5). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics and inferential tests (Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis; P < 0.05).

Results: Findings revealed an alarmingly high WMSD prevalence of 89.6%, predominantly affecting the neck (76.6%), shoulders, and lower back ( 70.1%). A significant association was found between the number of painful body regions and both age and work experience (P< 0.05), with increasing age and tenure linked to greater involvement of body areas. The mean ROSA score (7.1 ± 4.56) indicated high ergonomic risk, particularly for input devices and monitors.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of WMSDs and elevated ROSA scores among bank employees underscore the urgent need for ergonomic interventions targeting this occupational group. Such interventions should encompass workstation redesign and employee training. Future longitudinal studies should evaluate intervention efficacy and incorporate psychosocial factors.

The meditating role of psychology help-seeking stigma in relationship between organizational DNA and mental toughness and job burnout among teachers

Alinezhad F — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Considering the vital role of educators in the culture of society and their close relationship with students, any efforts to increase mental health and improve their performance within the educational organization deserves attention. Given the scarce research on the connection between organizational DNA and psychological components among teachers, this question arises: Can the psychological help seeking stigma play a mediating role in the relationship between organizational DNA and mental toughness with teachers' job burnout?

Materials and Methods: The present study utilized a method that was objective, quantitative by nature, and descriptive in terms of correlation type (structural equation model). The statistical population of the research included all primary and special education teachers in the Sarpol Zahab in the academic year 2023-2024 who had a minimum of three years of educational work experience. Employing the Krejci- Morgan table and stratified random sampling, a total of 205 teachers (100 male and105 female) were selected. The research background utilized the library method, and data was gathered using Meshach’s job burnout questionnaire (1981), Ardalan et al.'s organizational DNA questionnaire (1400), Clough's mental toughness questionnaire (2002) and Clough et al.'s psychological help-seeking stigma scale concerning occupational stress and Job burnout (2020. The proposed model was evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM) and the mediating effect of psychological help-seeking stigma was assessed using the Sobel test using SPSS-28 and AMOS-26 software.

Results: The findings indicated that all the absolute, comparative and parsimonious indicators of the model demonstrated favorable fitness. In the examined structural model, the negative effect of organizational DNA on help-seeking stigma, -0/297 (p=0/034) and job burnout, -0/161 (p<0/001), as along with the negative effect of mental toughness on help-seeking stigma, -0/754 and job burnout, -0/690 (p<0/001), were found to be significant. Furthermore, the findings indicated that help-seeking stigma positively influenced job burnout by 0/342 (p<0/001). Additionally, the Sobel test indicated that help-seeking stigma significantly mediated the connection between organizational DNA and burnout (p<0/05, z=-3/82) as well as the relationship between psychological resilience and burnout (p<0/05, z=-4/03).

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the proposed model played a crucial role in recognizing the significant factors contributing to teacher burnout and can serve as a model for designing burnout prevention programs for educators while increasing their psychological well-being.

Evaluating the impact of training on safety culture and self-efficacy of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills in tile industry managers in Yazd, 2024

Baghian N — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Workplace safety and emergency preparedness are management priorities, especially in high-risk manufacturing industries such as the tile industry. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of training on safety culture and cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill self-efficacy in tile industry managers in Yazd; 2023.

Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental, pre-post design implemented on 30 middle and junior managers at the Noavaran Meybod Tile Company. The training course was designed based on the ADDIE Model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) and consisted of three 4-hour sessions. For measurement, the Safety Culture Questionnaire developed by Nouri Jabbari et al. and the Basic CPR Self-Efficacy Questionnaire developed by Padilla et al. were utilized. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA, linear regression) in SPSS 27 software.

Results: The mean score for the self-efficacy variable increased from pre-training (2.98 ± 0.17) to post-training (4.11 ± 0.8), and similarly, the mean score for the safety culture variable increased from pre-training (139.0 ± 2.69) to post-training (171.7 ± 2.96). However, the observed differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) for either variable. Furthermore, no linear relationship was observed between demographic variables and the safety culture variables (R² = 0.073, P > 0.05 for all dimensions) or self-efficacy (R² = 0.170, P > 0.05 for all dimensions).

Conclusion: The results indicate that the educational intervention, by itself, was insufficient to create structural and generalizable changes in the safety culture and self-efficacy of this group. To achieve decisive outcomes, it is recommended that continuous, more comprehensive training, along with the adoption of novel educational and supervisory methods, be prioritized to solidify behavioral changes in the workplace.

Prevalence and assessment of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with job satisfaction among teachers in Sanandaj City

Soleimani M — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Teachers are among the occupational groups at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and are considered at high risk for such conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their association with job satisfaction among teachers in Sanandaj City during the academic year 2020–2021.

Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. The statistical population included all teachers at the elementary, lower secondary, and upper secondary levels in Sanandaj City. The city was divided into five regions (north, south, east, west, and central); five schools were randomly selected from each region using a cluster sampling method. A total of 300 teachers completed the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Data were analyzed via SPSS v.23. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentages) were employed for prevalence estimates; Pearson correlation, ANOVA, t-test, and equivalent non-parametric tests were applied for hypothesis testing; while Chi-square tests examined categorical variables.

Results: The musculoskeletal disorders prevalence among teachers was 80%, while the highest rates in the lower back (60%) and neck (40%). Mean job satisfaction was at a moderate level (2.64%). Chi-square analysis showed no significant relationship among job satisfaction, gender, education, marital status and income (p>0.05), while a significant association existed between job satisfaction and the presence of musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the level of job satisfaction among teachers is moderate and musculoskeletal disorders-particularly in the back and neck- significantly reduced satisfaction. Preventive programs and ergonomic interventions are recommended to enhance teachers’ job satisfaction.

Investigating the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress with the time to return to work in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Yazd

Davari MH — 2026-02-09

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a great burden on humans in various areas. The return to work of individuals after contracting this disease was likely to be affected by various factors, one of which could be psychological disorders. Therefore, we decided to conduct a study in this field.

Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and conducted on patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized for treatment and subsequently returned to their previous jobs. A questionnaire including demographic and occupational information, as well as the Persian version of the DASS-21 questionnaire, was completed for each participant via telephone interview. Depression, anxiety, and stress were compared between the two groups: those with a return-to-work time of up to 21 days and those with a return-to-work time of more than 21 days. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22) and the chi-square test.

Results: The sample size of this study was 152 individuals with the average age of 40.1±7.8 years. Fifty-seven of participants (37.5%) returned to work within a maximum of 21 days after the onset of COVID-19 onset, while this period took longer than 21 days for 62.5% of the participants. Depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly higher in individuals whose return to work took longer than 21 days, and depression was significantly higher in those with non-university education compared to those with university education.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the importance of early assessment of psychological status and timely intervention from the perspective of occupational health and appropriate return to work during the outbreak of pandemics.

Evaluating the impact of safety interventions on risk prioritization in steel construction projects using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Laal F — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Steel construction projects are characterized by the highest level of safety risks due to the complexity of activities, use of heavy equipment, and the simultaneous occurrence of high-risk operations. Effective management of these risks requires systematic methods for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing hazards, as well as evaluating the impact of control measures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of safety interventions on risk prioritization in a steel construction project using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Materials and Methods: This research was an applied, interventional study with a quasi-experimental design conducted on one of the steel construction project. At the beginning of the main project activities, potential hazards associated with each activity were identified. Subsequently, the failure modes, their causes, and consequences were analyzed using the standard FMEA worksheet. The severity of consequences, probability of occurrence, and detectability indices for each hazard were scored, and the Risk Priority Number (RPN) was calculated. After that, targeted safety interventions, including training, engineering controls, administrative measures, and the use of personal protective equipment, were then implemented and evaluated. The risk assessment was repeated using the same method.

Results: A total of 54 occupational hazards were identified across six main construction activities. Before the intervention, hazards related to working at height and load-handling operations had the highest RPN values. After the implementation of safety interventions, a significant reduction in RPN values was observed for most hazards, particularly those related to falls from height and the collapse of work platforms. However, risks arising from work at height remained among the top safety priorities.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the FMEA method is a suitable tool for prioritizing risks and evaluating the effectiveness of safety interventions in steel construction projects and can provide management with guidance to improve decision-making and allocate safety resources.

Effectiveness of group reality therapy on occupational stress and work-family conflict in female teachers in Yazd City

Razavi FA — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Teaching is considered one of the most stressful occupations. This issue is more complex for female teachers due to multitude of roles and occupational and family responsibilities, causing them to experience high levels of job stress and work-family conflict. Given that reality therapy is an effective approach in enhancing responsibility and managing challenges, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group reality therapy on reducing job stress and improving work-family conflict in female high school teachers.

Materials and Methods: This research was conducted as a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and control group. The statistical population included all female teachers of secondary school level in district 2 of Yazd City in the academic year 2023-2024. Thirty teachers were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 participants each). The experimental group received 8 sessions of 60-minutes reality therapy, while the control group remained on a waiting list and received no training. Both groups were evaluated at pretest and posttest stages using the Job Stress Questionnaire of the United Kingdom Health and Safety Institute (1990) and the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire of Net Mayer et al. (1996). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 software and multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance.

Results: The results showed that reality therapy had a significant effect on reducing job stress and work-family conflict (p<01.0).

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that group reality therapy can effectively reduce job stress and work-family conflict in female teachers; therefore, it is recommended that this approach be used as an effective intervention to promote the mental health of female teachers.

the effects of podiatric deviations on nonspecific chronic low back pain

Moradi F — 2026-02-09

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent, costly, and debilitating issue with a high prevalence in the global community. While acute injuries can cause low back pain, biomechanical disorders have also been identified as contributors to chronic low back pain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of leg deviations on nonspecific chronic back pain.

Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted by searching for articles published between 2004-2024 in Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and Embase databases. The search used keywords such as "Low Back Pain, Foot pronated, Pes planus, Flat Foot, Splay Foot supinated, Podiatric deviation, Pelvic tilt, Pes cavus, Excessive pronation, Hullux valgus, Foot."

Results: Out of 1,314 articles reviewed; 88 articles related to the inclusion criteria were identified. Following quality assessment using the PEDro scale, 15 articles were selected for detailed analysis. These included three articles on the effect of Pes planus, seven articles on flat feet, and two articles on foot posture and function. Additionally, two articles focused on hullux valgus and one article examined heel bone deviation on low back pain.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that foot deviations, with changes in gait and leg length, can potentially disrupt pelvic alignment, leading to low back pain. Further research is needed to comprehensively define postural changes in foot position, structure, function and their relationship with changes in structural, kinematic, and proximal neuromuscular training is required.