International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health (nepjol.info)
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Effects of emotional labor on musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists in Seoul
Get PDFIntroduction: Health care workers, including physical therapists, have some of the most important roles in the health care system as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical therapists encounter emotionally and physically vulnerable patients, experience emotional labor, and are exposed to conditions that can lead to job stress and musculoskeletal disorders. We aimed to examine the relationship between physical therapists’ emotional labor and its effect on perceived job stress and risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods: We conducted a 30-day survey among 230 physical therapists working in various settings from October 2 to November 1, 2019. Questionnaires, including questions on musculoskeletal symptoms, perceived job stress, and emotional labor, were administered to the participants.
Results: The physical therapist\u27s surface behavior affected the body burden. Job burnout experienced by physical therapists had an effect on their interpersonal relationships. The physical therapist\u27s emotional law affects the degree of compensation.
Conclusion: To prevent the long-term consequences of work-related strain, physical therapists should receive support in terms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and developing effective methods of communication with patients. Encouragement of activities for psychological rejuvenation with colleagues with whom they can share emotional difficulties is also desirable. It is also necessary to establish a communication channel that can directly convey the grievances of physical therapists to hospitals
Health Risk Assessment and Covid-19 Infection Rate by Using Bacterial Aerosol in Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Thailand During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Get PDFIntroduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a worldwide transmission and healthcare worker is the risk group. Therefore, the infection rate and health risk assessment from exposure to airborne transmission for healthcare workers were performed.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 106 healthcare workers at four selected service areas in Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand, from February to September 2021. The N6 impactor was used with simultaneous measurement of temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The general characteristics of subjects and hospitals were collected by questionnaire and presented by descriptive statistics.
Results: Most of the participants were female and they worked more than 8 hours per day. The bacteria concentration was highest in the Pediatric Outpatient Department (1837.46±177.52 cfu/m3). The lowest chronic daily intake and hazard quotient with no threshold (4.86±3.81, 95%CI: 3.59, 6.13) were at Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit - due to negative pressure ventilation in this room was effective in reducing the airborne concentration of the pathogens. Overall, the hospital’s hazard index with no threshold (30.87±35.25, 95%CI: 23.91, 37.83) was higher than 1.0, indicating that bacterial bioaerosol may affect healthcare workers’ health. The highest confirmed Covid-19 case was at Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic (19.29±10.67 cases/week). The probability of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers was high at Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic (1.0) and Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit (0.998±0.002, 95%CI: 0.998, 0.999).
Conclusion: Therefore, inhalation reference concentration for hospitals should be as low as possible and appropriate ventilation systems should be implemented with adherence to standards to protect healthcare workers
Depression as a predictor of sleep quality in health workers who faced the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico
Get PDFIntroduction: There is a relationship between depression and sleep quality; however, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this association is unknown, especially for those health workers who faced the pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to identify the association between depression and sleep quality in health workers who faced the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A survey was performed on 150 health workers with at least 2 years of working tenure in a public maternal perinatal hospital in Mexico, between September and December 2021. Sociodemographic data, levels of sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and gastrointestinal function were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Cardiovascular risk was obtained according to age, lifestyle habits, blood pressure, anthropometry, body composition and biochemical measurements.
Results: Those with depression were 10.3 times more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to those without depression, adjusted for gastrointestinal function (95% CI 2.92 – 36.54, p<0.001). Those with depression were 7.23 times more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to those without depression, adjusted for gastrointestinal function, anxiety, and cardiovascular risk (95% CI 1.85-28.14, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Health workers’ depression should be considered a predictor of poor sleep quality, especially in those who faced the COVID-19 pandemic
Internet Gaming Disorder among Undergraduate Health Sciences Students in the Pokhara Valley: a Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDFIntroduction: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is an emerging public health impact of technological advancement and globalization. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and factors associated with IGD among Undergraduate Health Sciences students.
Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of November to July 2020. A total of 412 college students from Undergraduate Health Sciences colleges of Pokhara Metropolitan city in Gandaki province, Nepal were enrolled. Online google forms were sent to all the eligible students through email and other social media sites like Facebook with the help of the coordinator and class representative. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS IBM v.22
Results: The finding of the study shows that the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder among Undergraduate Health Sciences students was 7.1%. Sex (p=0.027), Loneliness level at home (p=0.019), number of close friends (p<0.001), types of game (p<0.001), time spent on playing game (p<0.001), and, type of gamer (p<0.001) were the factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder among the participants.
Conclusion: Sex of the participants, loneliness level at home, number of close friends, types of game, time spent on the gameplay, and type of gamer are the contributing factors for developing Internet Gaming Disorder. It is important to focus on these factors to address Internet Gaming Disorder and its psychological health effects
Lassa Fever Infection among Healthcare Workers during the 2018 Outbreak in Nigeria
Get PDFIntroduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are potentially exposed to infection during viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. In the wake of 2018, Nigeria experienced an unprecedented surge in cases of Lassa fever (LF), which affected HCWs. To guide infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies in similar settings, we characterize HCWs\u27 infection and describe the gaps in IPC standards and practices during the outbreak.
Methods: Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, interview, and review of case notes of 21 HCW with laboratory-confirmed Lassa fever who were treated at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Irrua and the Alex-Ekwemen Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFETHA), between 1st January and 27th May 2018. Information collected was the patients\u27 socio-demographic characteristics, date of potential exposure and onset of illness, nature, and type of exposure, clinical features, outcome, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and personnel IPC training and were analyzed using descriptive statistics with Microsoft Excel.
Results: The study included 21 HCWs, and 12 (57.14%) were doctors. The case fatality rate was 23%. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of the HCWs could describe a likely procedure leading to their exposure and infection. Among 13 HCWs, 85% had multiple blood and body fluids exposure, while 15% had needle stick injury or scalpel cut. About one-fifth of the participants had received some IPC training.
Conclusion: Limited IPC adherence and inappropriate risk assessment were identified as factors leading to Lassa fever exposure and infection among HCWs. There is an urgent need to provide IPC training for all HCWs and to ensure an adequate supply of IPC materials to all healthcare facilities as part of emergency preparedness, especially in LF endemic areas
Determining the COVID-19 Knowledge, Awareness and Anxiety Levels of Intern Dentists
Get PDFIntroduction: COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The nature of dentistry leads to close contact with patients and exposure to saliva, blood, and other bodily fluids during treatment processes and it is a field where high-frequency devices that can make it easier for virus contamination are used. This study aims to determine the knowledge and approaches of COVID-19 infection control of intern dentists who have begun face-to-face education and their COVID-19-related fear and anxiety levels.
Methods: The study comprised 4th and 5th-year students who began face-to-face education at the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry 2020/2021 spring semester. A questionnaire was used as the data collection tool for this study. The data were collected using a knowledge questionnaire and a COVID-19 fear and anxiety scale.
Results: The average COVID-19 knowledge score of the students was 63.65±9.64, their coronavirus fear average score was 17.63±5.57, and their anxiety average score was found to be 2.37±3.32. A positive relationship was found between the anxiety scores and the COVID-19 fear scores. The results of this study show that the COVID-19 knowledge level and fear of dentistry students are moderate and that their COVID-19 anxiety level is low.
Conclusion: It was found that the knowledge and fear of coronavirus levels of intern dentistry students were moderate and that their coronavirus anxiety level was low
Evidence Based Treatment Strategies For “Text Neck Syndrome ”: A Review
Get PDFIntroduction: Text neck syndrome is an overuse condition or repetitive stress injury in which the cervical spine is flexed forward or down for extensive stretch while gazing at the smartphone or other electronic device. Individual with this Syndrome usually present with neck pain, restricted cervical range of motion, reduced muscle strength and endurance, altered cervical joint position error along with postural alterations like forward head posture and rounded shoulders as well.
Methods: We performed a systematic review on the Text Neck Syndrome and discussed the evidence-based studies. For the purpose of the review, an electronic search for relevant articles using PUBMED, MEDLINE, Pedro, Research Gate, Google Scholar and CINHAL databases up to March 2022 was done wherein MeSH search terms and free words were used. In addition to the electronic search, articles were searched manually for relevant studies. Articles were selected based on authors expertise, self- knowledge and reflective practice.
Results:The current study included 17 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria suggesting that Text Neck Syndrome is an upcoming concern and requires attention .The above reviewed studies provided evidence that physiotherapy as a mode of treatment is definitely effective in treating the Text Neck Syndrome.
Conclusion: This review spoke about the text neck syndrome and its rising consequences and also about the treatment approaches available in treating and minimizing the symptoms of this syndrome. Further research is required over what more preventive strategies can be adopted in case of the Text neck syndrome
Descriptive Epidemiology of Occupational Injuries among urban construction workers – an observation from Eastern India
Get PDFIntroduction
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is seeing a boom in construction activities, with workers from remote areas coming for work. Poverty, and illiteracy, coupled with employment and regular payments make them oblivious to unsafe working conditions. Long hours of heavy work in bad postures affect their musculoskeletal system leading to work-related musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to understand the epidemiology of the above injuries among the construction workers in Bhubaneswar
Methods
It was a work-site-based multistage cross-sectional study, where the sites engaging >=15 workers were selected randomly. A total of 520 workers (consented, >=21 years of age, and in this profession for at least 3 years) were recruited randomly. Data was collected by interviewing the study participants with the help of a pre-tested questionnaire focusing on sociodemographic profiles and relevant epidemiological variables related to occupational injury of urban construction workers. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS version 20.
Results
Over 95% of the participants were heavy workers, 23.1% were laborers, 28.1% had < 10 years of experience, and 72.3% were satisfied with their job. A little more than 19% had work-related injuries in the last 3 months. Age, gender, alcohol abuse, better education, lesser work experience, skilled work and job dissatisfaction were found to be statistically significant when associated with workplace injuries. Multivariate analysis revealed only age and lesser duration of working experience in the construction industry were associated with an increase in occupational injuries.
Conclusion
This study found that younger age, less work experience, male gender, use of alcohol, nature of work and lack of job satisfaction, and a few other factors were associated with work-related injuries. Often their occupational health and injuries get overlooked. Employers should be primarily responsible for their health, safety, and well-being. Suitable legislation and proper implementation would probably facilitate this
Evaluating the correlation of blood pressure and pulse rates of firefighters with their sociodemographic characteristics during a fire and rescue training
Get PDFIntroduction: Cardiac strain has become a prevalent cause of firefighters’ death. Standards and regulations set forth a framework to monitor the cardiovascular fitness of firefighters, encourage fitness and create a pathway to diagnosis or detection of disorders. The effectiveness of these standards relies on continuous evaluation of firefighters’ health and updating the protocols.
Methods: This study intended to assess the physiological response of 172 firefighters in the middle east for the first time and considered the effect of body mass index, age, gender, and seasonal ambient temperature on their responses before and after a fire and rescue training. The end results should compile the behavioral patterns of firefighters from the region and help authorities to update current health monitoring standards for firefighters accordingly. Blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates were sampled for participants after one minute after when training finished. Non-Parametric statistical analysis was conducted using Nonparametric Spearman rank correlation coefficients and Kruskal-Wallis H- test to evaluate the correlation of age, gender, BMI, and seasonal temperature with participant’s physiological response.
Results: This study found obesity in 20% of the sampled population with more cases among male participants. Also, in this study, the hypertension prevalence ratio found as 19.8% at baseline and 26.7% in post-training measurements.
Conclusion: This study could confirm that body mass index and seasonal ambient temperature affect blood pressure, heart and ventilation rates. Heart rate significantly changes with ambient temperature. Also, the results found the gender of participants affects all physiological responses, especially heart rate
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Mental Health among Nursing Personnel in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic in West Bengal, India
Get PDFIntroduction: COVID-19 outbreak created enormous turmoil all over the world. The health sectors were overburdened with critically ill COVID-19 patients. The load on the health sector burdened and fatigued the health care workers especially the nursing personnel as they were in direct contact with the symptomatic patients predominantly. In each wave, the patients’ number surged and overwhelmed the health sectors. In this study, the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) discomfort and mental exhaustion among the nursing personnel were assessed.
Methods: The duration of the study was from the end of September 2021 to March 2022. The factors that sourced the discomfort symptoms amidst and the interludes of the later waves of COVID-19 and their interrelations were also assessed here. The Modified Nordic Questionnaire and the COVID Stress Scales (CSS) were used in this study.
Results: 73.9% of subjects (N=88) reported the presence of WMSDs symptoms in at least one body region in the last one-year time period with the most prevalent discomfort in the lower back region (42%), followed by discomforts in the ankles, neck, and knee. The mean value of the total score of CSS was 33.74(±19.90) with high mean values in compulsive checking, danger, and contamination subscales. This study showed significant positive correlations between the presence of WMSD symptoms with BMI (rs=0.266, p= 0.012) and CSS total scores (rs=0.216, p=0.043).
Conclusion: Large percentages of reports on musculoskeletal discomforts with reports on mental enervation related to COVID-19 indicated weariness of the nursing personnel. The physical exhaustion due to overloading work and the interplay between mental stress and WMSDs revealed pivotal issues of concern.