Occupational Medicine

Climate change: the biggest challenge of the modern century for workers

Asghari M — 2024-11-02

Climate change, as the greatest challenge of the century, has widespread effects on workers. These changes can lead to an increase in heat-related diseases, loss of jobs, and economic damage to businesses, change labor migration patterns and a decrease in job productivity. Therefore, considering the fact that climate change is currently and in the future considered one of the most important environmental challenges, long-term forecasting of climate variables to understand the extent of changes and consequently taking necessary measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change should be of concern to various experts, including environmental science professionals. In this regard, public health experts, in line with their mission (the science of prevention), are seeking and organizing strategies to reduce these harmful effects on the health of communities and workers. Conducting research related to climate change for better preparedness for adaptation to this phenomenon and also reducing the costs of damages caused by these changes is very essential.

Knowledge and attitude of tile industry workers in the field of heat stress management

Falah Aliabadi S — 2024-11-02

Introduction: One significant factor affecting employee performance is high ambient temperature or heat. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative effects of heat stress in various work environments. Therefore, enhancing workers' knowledge and attitudes toward heat stress can improve their performance.

Materials and Methods: This semi-structured content analysis was conducted among tile industry workers in Yazd city in 2023. Participants engaged in both individual and group interviews. Initially, three unstructured interviews helped identify key points, followed by semi-structured interviews, which served as the primary data collection method. The study's reliability and validity were assessed using Lincoln and Guba. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and the findings were organized into main themes and subcategories.

Results: The workers' perspectives on the issue were explored from various angles, leading to two main themes: knowledge and attitude, each with different subcategories. The knowledge theme includes individual and management factors, while the attitude theme encompasses individual and environmental factors.

Conclusion: The tile industry workers in Yazd City demonstrated varying levels of knowledge about heat stress and held attitudes that reflected the negative impacts of this stressor. Factors such as age and education level influenced their knowledge and attitudes. Workers' understanding and attitudes towards heat stress can be achieved through proper training.

Investigating the concentration and health risk assessment of bioaerosols in the surgery centers and hospital operating rooms of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Shahsavani A — 2024-11-02

Introduction: Due to the special conditions in operating rooms, infection control is important to maintain health. So, the aim of this study was to survey of air exchange rate/changes per hour (ACH) and health risk assessment of bioaerosols in the surgery center or hospital operating rooms.

Materials and Methods: The results of measuring of bioaerosols by pollution measurement companies were used, in 1401. In 1402, 10 operating rooms were randomly selected and the reliability of the results was examined for these two years. Sampling and analysis of the samples was provided based on the NIOSH 0800 method and ACH were measured by a anemometer. The relationship between the number of bioaerosols and ACH, and also, the reliability between results were calculated with the PCC and the ICC test, respectively, in SPSS-V22 software. The health risk assessment and the probability of risk were estimated by Monte Carlo simulation, in Crystal Ball software.

Results: Among 62 operating rooms, the average number of bacterial and fungal colonies was 69.73±14.59 CFU/m³ and 21.67±4.52 CFU/m³, respectively, which is less than the recommended limit of WHO. The average ACH was 19.67±2.18 per hour. No significant relationship was observed between ACH and the number of colonies (p-value ≥ 0.05). Risk assessment for bacteria and fungi were at an acceptable level and the concentration of bioaerosols was recognized as the most sensitive variable influencing the risk.

Conclusion: Increasing ACH will not lead to a reduction in the load of bioaerosol pollution in operating rooms, which can be very important in the management of reducing energy consumption.

Assessing the state of cognitive performance of employees and determining the range of thermal comfort of different genders in Ilam hospitals

Fatahi K — 2024-11-02

Introduction: Thermal comfort is essential for a productive work environment and affects the well-being and performance of employees, so maintaining optimal levels of satisfaction, productivity, and efficiency, especially in indoor spaces, is essential. Therefore, the present study's aim is to evaluate the state of cognitive performance. Employees and determination of the thermal comfort range of different genders of employees in the hospitals of Ilam city were done.

Methods and Materials: This research was conducted by survey and field method to identify the state of thermal comfort and cognitive performance of people in the real conditions of therapeutic spaces. For this purpose, the responses of 400 employees of five hospitals in Ilam City were recorded by simple sampling from the beginning of August to November 1402. The reliability status of the questionnaires was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha, and the thermal comfort status of the people was determined through the regression model. Linearity and correlation analysis between measured variables were analyzed through SPSS27 software.

Results: The analysis of the linear regression model showed that the range of thermal comfort between men and women differs by 1.79 degrees Celsius, and this difference is a tendency for warmer temperatures in men and a tendency for colder temperatures in women, the average scores obtained at Zagros Hospital In the visual-spatial/executive component (7.00), attention (4.34), memory (3.08) has the best performance, Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) has the best performance in the verbal component (2.95), Hazrat Qaim Hospital (A) In the abstraction component (2.02), it has the best performance and awareness of time and place in all hospitals equal to 6.00.

Conclusion: The level of coverage and activity rate among women significantly affects the feeling of thermal comfort, cognitive performance, and productivity of employees at work. The results of this research show the need to revise the current standards of workplace clothing, attendance time, and employee activity rate. Moreover, changes in cognitive performance among hospital staff highlight the need to consider targeted cognitive enhancement strategies to increase staff efficiency.

Investigating the relationship between the anxiety of contracting corona virus and the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder with the mediating role of mental confusion and emotion regulation in health care center employees

Taheri A — 2024-11-02

Introduction: anxiety caused by the Corona virus transmission are highly prevalent among medical staff, so this study aims to determine the relationship between the anxiety of affected by infectious diseases and the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder with the mediating role of mental confusion and emotion regulation.

MethodS and Materials: This study was carried out based on correlational method in the form of modeling of structural equations, in which 350 male and female employees working in the health and treatment centers of Neyshabur city were selected through available sampling. Data collection tools included Madsley Practical Obsession Scale, Corona Alipour Anxiety Questionnaire, Criver, Solly and Esomil's Deliberate and Automatic Disorientation Questionnaire, and Gross and John's Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. After completing the questionnaires, data analysis using Modeling of structural equations was done with Lisrel and SPSS softwares.

Results: between the anxiety and obsessive symptoms with r = 0.576, between mental confusion and obsessive symptoms with r = 0.553, between mental confusion and anxiety with r = 0.481, There is a significant direct relationship at the level p>0.01. But between emotional regulation and obsessive symptoms with r = -0.643, between emotional regulation and anxiety with r = -0.495, between emotional regulation and mental confusion with r = -0.611 there is an inverse significant relationship. Also, the results showed the role of two mediating variables of mental confusion and emotional regulation in the relationship between corona anxiety and obsessive symptoms.

Conclusion: The model of the relationship between the anxiety caused by the transmission of the corona virus and the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder according to the mediation of mental disorientation and emotion regulation has a good fit that with the increase in the number of emotions and defeat in regulating one's emotions, the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and confusion mental health also increases in the treatment staff. According to these findings, it is expected that health managers and medical centers will pay special attention to the psychological well-being of the personnel working in different parts of this profession.

The effect of twelve weeks of high-intensity functional training and Ginkgo biloba consumption on the serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines in operational male firefighters of Yazd city

Sedaghat H — 2024-11-02

Introduction: functional exercises and consumption of the medicinal plant Ginkgo biloba, a natural source of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds, have beneficial effects in improving the inflammatory state and physical performance of people exposed to occupational stress. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of high-intensity functional training and consumption of Ginkgo biloba extract on the serum levels of interleukin-8 and interleukin-1β in operational male firefighters of Yazd city.

Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 48 male firefighters were randomly divided into four groups including high-intensity functional training (HIFT), high-intensity functional training with ginkgo biloba consumption, ginkgo biloba extract consumption, and control-placebo. The training was carried out for 12 weeks and 4 sessions per week. Ginkgo biloba extract (80 mg) was administered as two capsules once a day after breakfast for 12 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and 48 hours after the last training session. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance with SPSS-26 software.

Results: The results showed that the interaction effect of exercise and ginkgo biloba extract, as well as the effect of exercise and ginkgo biloba extract alone, caused a significant decrease in the serum levels of interleukin-8 and interleukin-1β (p<0.05). The highest percentage of changes in interleukin-8 and interleukin-1β were obtained following exercise intervention along with the consumption of Ginkgo biloba extract.

Conclusion: Performing high-intensity functional exercises with Ginkgo biloba extract had the greatest effect in reducing serum levels of inflammatory indicators and improving oxidative stress conditions in firefighters.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Impulsive Behavior Scale of Barratt on pre-hospital personnel

Nematolahi F — 2024-11-02

Introduction: Impulsivity means acting with the least thought towards future behaviors or acting based on thoughts that are not the best option for a person or others. This study was conducted to investigate psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Impulsive Behavior Scale (IBS) of Barratt on pre-hospital personnel of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2023.

Materials and Methods: This methodological study was conducted 18 pre-hospital emergency centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during 2022-2023. In this study, the Persian version of the IBS has been used. Face and content validity of the scale in this study was confirmed using qualitative and quantitative methods, and construct validity was confirmed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated by Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for each field and the scale.

Results: The IBS had three unplanned, motor and attentional subscales with 23 items and the varimax rotation showed variance of 52.06%. In CFA, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was equal to 0.093 and normalized fit index (NFI), comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit (GFI) and incremental fit index (IFI) were higher than 0.9. Cronbach's alpha coefficient in the scale was 0.85%, and the intra-subject correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.84%.

Conclusion: The study results showed that the scale for pre-hospital personnel had the required validity and reliability, and it can be used for the impulsive behavior in pre-hospital personnel.

Investigating the impact of teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychosocial factors of employees: a review article

Ghasemi N — 2024-11-02

Introduction: Advances in technology have increased job flexibility for employees and employers alike. On the other hand, effective teleworking requires planning, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many employees to quickly change their workplace from outside to home, without ensuring that the conditions are ready. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of teleworking on musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial factors in the days of Corona.

Materials and Methods: This research was done by a review method. Articles were searched from 2020 to 2023 on PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar sites with the key words Ergonomics, Teleworking, MSDs, and COVID19.

Results: A total of 93 articles were reviewed. By evaluating the titles, 45 related articles and 30 articles were selected by reviewing the abstracts, and finally 13 articles which full text was available were selected. These articles refer to the study of the effects of teleworking on musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial factors in the era of Corona.

Conclusion: Most of the studies point to the increase of musculoskeletal disorders. Teleworkers have experienced more musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in different areas of the body. Longer working hours with shorter breaks to meet increased work demands, social isolation, lack of support from colleagues, blurred boundaries between work and home, and omnipresence of work are some of the psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. For some employees, teleworking will remain a common way of working in the post-pandemic era. Therefore, it is necessary to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely telework preventive measures and the individual needs of employees.