PhareSST (Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé)
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Improving the psychosocial work environment to prevent sickness absence and turnover in nurses: A systematic review
No full textIn nurses, the high rates of sickness absence (SA) and turnover generate staggering costs. Their prevalence could be reduced by acting on the work-related psychosocial factors (WRPFs) that can impact the mental health of nurses and lead to their absences and departures. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the effectiveness of interventions that target WRPFs from a SA and turnover prevention perspective. This systematic review aims to identify interventions that target WRPFs to reduce SA and turnover in nurses, describe the methods used to evaluate their effectiveness, and report on their effectiveness at improving SA, turnover rates, and turnover intention. A systematic search was conducted using eight online databases and search engines (i.e., CINAHL, Embase, Catalogue ISST, Google Scholar, OSH Update, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Social SciSearch). Empirical studies that focus on an intervention that targets at least one WRPF and aims at reducing SA, turnover rates, or turnover intention among nurses were included. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument. Fourteen articles focusing on 13 interventions met the inclusion criteria. The interventions targeted individuals (n = 4), groups (n = 2), leaders (n = 2), and organizations (n = 5). The interventions aimed mainly at reducing workplace bullying and lateral violence and improving leadership. The research designs varied greatly across studies, and the results regarding the effects of the interventions on SA and turnover behaviors and intention were inconsistent. Innovative interventions targeting WRPFs need to be developed and implemented, and sophisticated methods to evaluate their effectiveness at reducing SA and turnover behaviors and intention should be employed. (Wiley
Development and validation of the North American COmfort of hearing PROtection Device questionnaire (COPROD-NAQ)
No full textThe use of hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as earplugs, is essential for mitigating occupational noise-induced hearing loss. However, earplug discomfort often hinders consistent and proper usage. This international and multidisciplinary study is based on a comfort model of HPD use, and considers four comfort dimensions (physical, functional, acoustical, psychological) and the influence of the triad environment/person/earplugs” components on overall comfort. Addressing shortcomings in defining and measuring comfort, the study aims to enrich understanding of the multifaceted aspects of earplug (dis)comfort and the role played by the triad. Specific objectives include developing and validating the “North American COmfort of Hearing PROtection Device Questionnaire (COPROD-NAQ),” proposing a latent overall comfort (LOC) model and comparing earplug families regarding (dis)comfort dimensions. Longitudinal data were collected over a 7-week from 173 workers testing 998 pairs of earplugs in three Canadian manufacturing companies. Factor analyses identified 51 items across 11 conceptual sub-dimensions with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Statistical analyses confirmed the COPROD-NAQ\u27s validity as well. All its sub-dimensions significantly contributed to the LOC, with psychological and functional comfort exerting greater influence. Certain triad component characteristics (e.g., working during weekdays with a day shift, being right-handed, Custom 1 earplug model) enhanced the LOC. Finally, custom earplugs were perceived as most comfortable. The COPROD-NAQ emerges as a powerful tool for assessing earplug comfort and its interaction with triad characteristics, beneficial for occupational health and safety stakeholders. It will aid in prevention programs and help manufacturers design more comfortable earplugs to prevent hearing impairment. © 202
The incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer in relation to occupational exposure to textile fibers and dusts in Montreal, Canada, 2008-2011
Full text linkObjective To estimate the associations between occupational exposure to textile fibers/dusts, and incidence of postmenopausal invasive breast cancer.
Methods
A population-based case-control study conducted in Montreal (2008 − 2011) identified hospital cases (N = 695) and population controls (N = 608) from the electoral list. Occupational hygienists examined participants’ occupations and tasks, and attributed exposures to several textile fibers. For all tumors and according to biomolecular subtypes, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression models with different exposure indices, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
Ever exposure to cotton dust was associated with an increased risk (OR = 1.42, 95%CI = 0.95-2.16) as was ever exposure to treated textile fibers before age 36 years and/or before first full-term pregnancy (OR = 1.39, 95%IC = 0.97-2.01).
Conclusions
These suggestive associations and the rapid evolution of textile fibers treatment warrant additional scrutiny, especially among younger women
Characterization of the environment of patients colonized with carbapenemase-producing organisms: Role of air and surfaces in the dissemination of key resistance genes
No full textBackground
Hospital-associated infections caused by carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) pose a significant health concern. Healthcare settings implement measures to control the spread of CPOs and prevent outbreaks, but the role of air in disseminating carbapenemase genes remains unclear. This study assessed three carbapenemase-associated genes (blaKPC, blaOXA-48 and blaNDM) in the environment of CPO-colonized patients.
Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted in four hospitals in Quebec, Canada in the rooms of CPO-colonized patients. Air was collected actively inside the rooms of CPO-colonized patients, and floor and no-touch surfaces were sampled using pre-moistened swabs and sponges; the findings were compared with those from control rooms (i.e. rooms hosting non-CPO-colonized patients) located on the same floor. Additional floor samples were collected in adjacent hallways to estimate potential dissemination within the settings. The presence and abundance of carbapenemase-producing genes (blaKPC, blaNDM and blaOXA-48) were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results
Carbapenemase-encoding genes were detected frequently in CPO-colonized patient environments, notably on floors (97% of detection frequency), door frames (52%), and no-touch surfaces (42%). Conversely, only one air sample tested positive for blaKPC. These genes were also detected in hallways adjacent to the rooms of CPO-colonized patients (92%), control rooms (100%), and hallways adjacent to the rooms of non-CPO-colonized patients (78%), with abundance decreasing with distance from CPO-colonized rooms.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that carbapenem resistance can spread within healthcare settings, and air may play a role in gene dissemination. Additional measures should be considered to limit resistance gene transfer, particularly via floors and air
Supporting your colleagues: Yes, but how? Exploring the positive and negative support offered by colleagues to child protection workers exposed to a potentially traumatic event at work
No full textBackground
Child protection workers (CPWs) are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTE) at work. These events have many psychological and organizational consequences. Without adequate intervention, these effects can persist and worsen over time. Social support is known to be a determining factor in the recovery of individuals exposed to a PTE, particularly support from colleagues in the work setting. However, little is known about how this support from colleagues manifests itself after a PTE or how it is perceived by the individual involved.
Objective
The current study sought to explore the support offered by colleagues after a PTE and identify supportive actions perceived as either positive or negative by the victims.
Method
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 CPWs in the Montreal area of Canada, all of whom had been exposed to a PTE within the previous 0–30 days. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Supportive actions reported by participants fell into four categories: emotional, instrumental, informational or evaluation support. Regardless of whether participants received one or multiple types of support, emotional support emerged as the most appreciated according to the participants’ experiences. Positive support offered by colleagues aligned with the key principles of early post-traumatic intervention, while negative support was mainly explained by a lack of organizational resources and a work-culture that trivialized violence.
Conclusion
The study suggests that organizations should prioritize approaches that recognize and validate emotions before introducing other types of support
Phase transformation-induced intimate Ag deposition in Ag-TiO2 hybrids for enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial performance
No full textThe current work presents a novel approach for synthesizing antibacterial Ag-TiO2 hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) by leveraging the phase transformation of dual-phase TiO2 NPs derived from peroxo-titanium complex to promote the Ag photodeposition. The UV-driven Ag deposition initiates transformation from anatase to rutile in the lattice of TiO2 NPs, enhancing their crystallinity while enabling intimate deposition of AgNPs on the TiO2 surface through chemically bonded interfaces. The inherent rutile phase and doped Ag species resulting from the Ag deposition promote the phase transformation as nucleation sites, while the Ag concentration also plays a crucial role in regulating the transformation process. The synergy of phase transformation and intimate Ag deposition results in an advanced hybrid structure with enhanced visible-light absorption and efficient charge separation and transfer, which are superior to those of hybrid NPs prepared from commercial TiO2 NPs. Consequently, the prepared hybrid NPs with an Ag concentration of 6 % induce a potent photocatalytic antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli under low-power LED light, primarily through the photocatalytic ●OH generation with a minor contribution of Ag+ ion release. Escherichia coli is completely inactivated, with severe cellular destruction, after 75 min of light irradiation. This study offers an innovative approach for designing efficient hybrid NPs with great promise for antibacterial applications against biological hazards. (Elsevier
Effect of a back-support exoskeleton on internal forces and lumbar spine stability during low load lifting task
No full textThis study assessed the effect of a small-torque generating passive back-support exoskeleton during a low demanding occupational task, namely a repetitive lifting/lowering of an empty crate between the knee and shoulder heights. A comprehensive set of outcomes was considered, ranging from the measured trunk muscle activation and trunk movement to the estimated muscle group forces/coordination, spine loading and spine stability, using a dynamic subject-specific EMG-assisted musculoskeletal model. The exoskeleton decreased back muscle activation and corresponding muscle forces in the lowering phase and reduced spinal loading at larger trunk flexion angles (decreased peak compression and shear forces by ∼ 15%). However, the effect sizes were small (ηG2 \u3c .06), questioning the usefulness of this type of exoskeleton, even for light tasks. On the other hand, the unique results of the present study showed that coordination between the main muscle groups as well as spinal stability remained unchanged with low effect sizes, suggesting that the use of this exoskeleton is safe. © 202
On the design of an acoustical test fixture for assessing the objective occlusion effect
No full textEarplugs are widely used to prevent noise induced hearing loss. However, the discomforts they induce negatively impact their effectiveness by influencing their consistent and correct use. The occlusion effect discomfort is related to an increased perception of the bone-conducted part of physiological sounds (e.g., one\u27s own voice, breathing and chewing) when one\u27s earcanal is occluded. The discomfort experienced could be objectively estimated by calculating the objective occlusion effect, which is the difference between the tympanic sound pressure levels in the occluded and open earcanals when exposed to the same stimulation of a bone transducer. To avoid direct measurements on human participants, this work proposes an acoustical test fixture (ATF) for quantifying the objective occlusion effect. The proposed ATF employs an anatomically realistic truncated ear, incorporating soft tissues, cartilage, and bone components to replicate the outer ear bone conduction path crucial for occlusion effect assessments. It is shown that the proposed ATF can reproduce key effects observed in objective OE measurements on human participants: (i) significant OE at low frequencies, diminishing with increasing frequency, (ii) reduction of OE with greater insertion depths, and (iii) distinctions among various earplug types, particularly noticeable at deeper insertions compared to shallow ones. The proposed ATF can therefore be used to design in-ear devices with a reduced occlusion effect, leading to an improved experience for many users of hearing protectors, hearing aids, and earbuds. Additionally, a computationally efficient Finite Element Method-based virtual tester for the ATF is developed and validated. This virtual tester is employed to deepen the comprehension of the physical phenomena that underlie the observed vibroacoustic behavior of the proposed ATF. It also opens avenues for future research aimed at re-evaluating ATF design parameters and enhancing OE assessment. © 2024 The Author(s
Sécurité des machines : guide : protecteurs fixes et distances de sécurité : prévention des risques mécaniques
No full textValidation of a laboratory spray generation system and its use in a comparative study of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) evaluation methods
Full text linkIsocyanates are well-known irritants and sensitizers, and measuring their occupational airborne exposure is challenging due to their high chemical reactivity and semi-volatile nature. This study builds on a previous publication by our team that focused on comparing evaluation methods for isocyanates. The current research aims at developing, validating, and applying a laboratory generation system designed to replicate real-world conditions for spraying clear coats in autobody shops using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-based products. The system involved a spray gun connected to two chambers in series, enabling sample collection and analysis. The system successfully generated HDI and isocyanurate concentrations ranging from 0.008 to 0.040 mg/m³ and 0.351 to 3.45 mg/m³, respectively, with spatial homogeneity (RSD) of 5.8% and 16.5%. The particle-size distribution (MMAD) of 4 µm was measured using a cascade impactor and an electrical low-pressure impactor. The samples generated were used to correlate the amount of isocyanates collected with scanning electron microscope images of droplets on a filter. Three methods were compared to the reference method—an impinger with a backup glass fiber filter (GFF) and 12-methoxyphenylpiperazine (MP) based on ISO 16702/MDHS 25—in six generation experiments: (1) Swinnex cassette 13 mm GFF; MP (MP-Swin); (2) Closed-face cassette 37 mm GFF (end filter and inner walls) MP (MP-37); and (3) denuder and GFF dibutylamine (DBA) (ISO 17334-1 Asset). The analysis revealed clear trends regarding which sampler sections collected HDI (mainly in the vapor phase) or isocyanurate (exclusively in the particulate phase). The study found no significant bias between the tested methods (MP-Swin, MP-37, and Asset) and the reference method (impinger) for both HDI monomer and isocyanurate. The three tested methods showed limits of agreement beyond the acceptable range of ±30% (95% confidence interval), largely due to data variability, though MP-Swin and MP-37 exhibited lower variability than Asset. The results will be further evaluated in a real-world environment where similar clear coats are used