Work Duties Research Articles

Labor and social law in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: problems of theory and practice

High occupational risk of damage to the health of medical workers requires the adoption of special measures for social protection. Such measures in the form of a one-time insurance payment were provided for by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 313, adopted in the midst of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19. During the implementation of the provisions of this Decree, law enforcement officers faced a number of problems caused by both the complexity of regulated relations and imperfection of the text of the regulatory legal act itself. Such problems include the lack of clear legal regulation of ways to establish the connection of a medical worker’s illness with direct contact with a patient suffering from COVID-19, or with suspicion of this disease, the difficulty of establishing a connection be-tween the performance of work duties with the fact of infection, insufficient specification of the circle of subjects entitled to this payment, a complex procedure, etc. Since the Decree is temporary, it is advisable to identify these problems and find ways to eliminate them before relevant federal law is adopted. In this regard, it is necessary to analyze emerging judicial prac-tice, which is the aim of this article. The analysis reveals what exactly the courts accept as evi-dence of the professional cause of infection of doctors and how they distinguish between the industrial and domestic cause of infection; how is the impossibility of applying the provisions of the Decree to persons not included in the circle of insured persons specified in it justified; what can be considered as such violations of the procedure that entail the cancellation of the decision of the commission of inquiry, etc. On this basis, conclusions are drawn that will help to avoid mistakes when adopting the federal law on insurance of medical workers.

Patient experience of diagnosis and management of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: a cross-sectional online survey

ObjectivesTo present the results of a survey of patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) secondary to spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, documenting the patient experience of its diagnosis and management...

Prevalence and Determinants of Occupational Injuries among Solid Waste Collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

Background Globally, occupational injuries account for 15% of the mortalities associated with occupational accidents. The work of the solid waste collectors exposes them to numerous occupational hazards, which results in injuries. Increasing rates of occupational injuries from 43.7% to 63.9% among solid waste collectors in sub-Saharan Africa opens room for more research to be done. The study assessed the magnitude of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in the Accra Metropolis. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out among the solid waste collectors. The occupational injuries and their associated factors among the solid waste collectors were assessed using questionnaires. Multistage sampling approach was used to select study respondents. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the dependent and independent variables. Results In this study, 21.79% (78/358) with 95% CI (0.1749, 0.2608) among the solid waste collectors reported having at least one work-related injury in the last 6 months. The factors that were significantly associated with at least one occupational injury among the solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis were work duty (collection and transportation), the zone of assignment for respondents, and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusion This study showed that the prevalence of occupational injuries among municipal solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis was lower as compared to similar research conducted in Ethiopia, Egypt, and India. Working in the collection and transportation category and lack of PPE for use at work were significantly and positively associated with occupational injury among the solid waste collectors. Again, working in the La Dade Kotopon zone had reduced odds of sustaining injuries as compared to those in the Ablekuma South zone. The result of the study demonstrated that cuts/puncture was the injury that was mostly sustained by the municipal solid waste workers, while the leg was the body part that was mostly injured followed by the hands. Public health education in the municipality should target solid waste collectors with the aim of improving their health-seeking behaviour.

THE ROLE OF JOB CONTENTS ON ACADEMIC STAFF TURNOVER INTENTIONS AMONG UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA: A DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONTEXT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of job contents on academic staff turnover intentions in Kenyan Universities
 Materials and Methods: The study was guided by a positivism research philosophy and a descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population was 17210 academic staff in chartered universities in Kenya from whom a sample of 364 academic staff was drawn. A multistage sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings were presented using tables, charts, and graphs.
 Results: The study found that the relationship between job contents and academic staff turnover intentions was negative and statistically significant The study concluded that the academic staff agreed that they were happy with work tasks, job contents, duties, responsibilities, achievement, success, recognition, job independence, autonomy, and status in the university and society. Employee satisfaction with job content leads to low turnover intentions.
 A unique contribution to theory, practice, and policy: The study findings validate Herzberg’s Two-Factor theory. Results indicate that the theory is applicable in the study of staff turnover intentions. In addition, the findings may in the future serve as a platform for additional studies in the same subject for other academics, students and researchers. Human Resource managers would benefit from the recommendations set out in this study to retain employees by understanding the role of job content in employee turnover.

Review of Achilles Tendon Reattachment Using Double-Row Knotted and Knotless Techniques in the Management of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy represents a chronic degenerative condition affecting the insertion of the Achilles. Surgery is indicated in recalcitrant cases and often involves extensive debridement followed by subsequent repair of the insertion. In the present study, we evaluate the results of knotted and knotless double-row suture systems for Achilles reattachment. Despite the popularity of double-row repairs, there is a relative paucity of clinic data regarding efficacy of the available implants. In a retrospective cohort study, 38 patients (40 Achilles tendons) who received double-row repairs between November 2012 and December 2016 were evaluated. In addition to demographic information, preoperative pain scores and symptom duration were recorded. Perioperative and postoperative records were reviewed, and telephone interviews were conducted to assess patient satisfaction, functional status, postoperative pain, and information regarding surgical complications. At a mean follow-up of 32.5 months, 35 (92.1%) patients reported satisfaction with the outcome. Decreased pain levels were reported in 38 (95%) ankles, with 21 (52.5%) ankles being rated pain-free postoperatively. Of the patients working prior to surgery, 20 (95.2%) were able to return to normal work duties, and all 11 (100%) patients who engaged in sports preoperatively were able to return to the same level of activity. Two patients developed postoperative infections, one of which required operative debridement. No Achilles avulsions were encountered. No significant differences were noted between the 2 operative techniques. Considering the available biomechanical data, along with high patient satisfaction rates and low rate of complications, double-row repair offers a viable option for recalcitrant insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic

The start of the COVID-19 virus epidemic is having an impact on radical changes in the labor market. The difficult economic situation is a challenge for employers, candidates and recruiters. In recent months, the recruitment market has seen a decline in the work forces, redundancy, and a reduction in salaries. As a result of this situation, some workplaces have used the remote work model. The possibility of remote work can be a good solution for many employees, but in some cases, it can be a significant inconvenience, especially for employees who have underage children and perform their work duties at home. Aim of the article is present positive and negative aspects of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research presented in the article was aimed at assessing changes in working conditions and starting remote work. The positive effects of changes in workplaces include saving time, adjusting work to personal needs, and work-life balance. The disadvantages of taking up remote work include lack of direct contact with co-workers, blurring the boundaries between private and professional life, maintaining a constant presence at work, lack of social ties and isolation were identified as the most significant obstacles to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the negative aspects of working remotely, the respondents more often declared their willingness to work remotely also after the end of the pandemic.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Work-Related Lower Back Pain among Radiographers in the State of Kuwait.

Background Work-related lower back pain (WrLBP) is a global health issue and a rising concern in the State of Kuwait. The prevalence and the risk factors of WrLBP among radiographers are not well documented. Objective The purpose of the study was to determine the one-year prevalence, characteristics, impact, and physical risk factors of WrLBP among radiographers in the State of Kuwait. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 200 radiographers. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, physical risk factors, and the occurrence of WrLBP in the previous 12 months. Descriptive statistics, frequency calculations, and chi-square analyses were performed. Results One hundred forty-six radiographers completed and returned the questionnaires with a response rate of 73% (146/200). The one-year prevalence of WrLBP was 16%. The prevalence of WrLBP was not significantly associated with the participants' demographics. Although WrLBP was significantly associated with work demands, the overall impact of WrLBP on work duties was minimal. Conclusions The occurrence of WrLBP among radiographers in Kuwait was low, particularly when compared to healthcare providers involved in more patient handling and direct contact. However, various physical risk factors were identified. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of a treatment and prevention program on the prevalence of WrLBP.

Zoltán Vámossy, versatile and active medical professor of the Institute of Pharmacy

Abstract Zoltán Vámossy (1868–1953), with Transylvanian roots, became a doctor 130 years ago, in 1891, at the University of Budapest. Later, from 1898, he was appointed a private university professor of Pharmacology, from 1908 a public university professor, and from 1920 to 1938 he was director of the Institute of pharmacology. In the meantime, from 1922 to 1924, he also held the position of dean of the Faculty of Medicine. He was elected a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on May 5, 1920, but on April 23, 1948 his membership was terminated for political reasons. It was not restored until after his death, on 9 May 1991. Afterwards he taught even in the 1945/46 school year. He was an understanding and helpful instructor for the university students, so he was respected, appreciated, and loved. His professional life was filled with university education, academic work, and editorial duties. He wrote books to promote education, for example he translated into Hungarian a book written by Arnold Cloetta and Wilhelm Filehne in 1881, entitled Lehrbuch der Arzneimittellehre und Arzneiverordnungslehre. This was published in 1894 in Budapest under the title Gyógyszertan tankönyv (Pharmacology Textbook). In 1907 he published his own book Mérgezésekről (On Poisonings), and in 1908 Gyógyszertan orvostanhallgatók és orvosok számára (Pharmacology for medical students and physicians). The latter’s ninth, expanded and revised edition appeared in 1944. Medical students in Hungary and Transylvania learned from this for decades. In 1933 he was appointed chairman of the editorial board of the IV. Magyar Gyógyszerkönyv. His editorial work is also significant. From 1909 to 1944 he was the commissioned editor of the new course of the Magyar Orvosi Archivum (Hungarian Medical Archive), and from 1923 to 1944 he was the editor-in-chief of the Orvosi Hetilap (Medical Weekly). During this time, many of his writings were published here. In December 1927 issue, he announced that certain issues of the Orvosi Hetilap would be supplemented by a permanent supplement entitled Az Orvosi Gyakorlat Kérdései (Questions of Medical Practice). In 1940, in parallel with the Medical Weekly, he founded the monthly Orvostudományi Közlemények (Medical Gazette), which was published until the end of 1944. He strived for the correct use of the Hungarian medical language in all his writings..

Impacts of the COVID pandemic on international faculty's academic activities and life in Japan

The purpose of this study is to explore impacts of the pandemic on the academic activities and life of full‐time international faculty at Japanese universities, drawing on findings from semi‐structured interviews with them. Main findings include three points. First, although the vast majority of the interviewees believed that the pandemic has had more negative impacts on their academic activities and life, the case study of Japan suggests that there are both negative and positive impacts from the pandemic that are unique on international faculty's academic activities and life. Second, the study reveals that the impacts on international faculty vary according to the backgrounds of the interviewees such as their academic disciplines, countries of origin, and work roles and duties. Finally, participants may have experienced discrimination etc., but not felt comfortable talking about it. It seems that no interviewees, particularly those from China and other parts of Asia, experienced social exclusion and xenophobic attitudes and, at times, became victims of discrimination and verbal assaults.

Gendering boundary work: Experiences of work-family practices among Finnish working parents during COVID-19 lockdown.

In the spring of 2020, the COVID‐19 outbreak and governmental lockdowns changed the everyday lives of families with children worldwide. Due to remote work recommendations and the closing of school premises and childcare centers, work–family boundaries became blurred in many families. In this study, we examine the possibly gendered boundary work practices among Finnish parents during the COVID‐19 lockdown in spring 2020 by asking, how do parents perceive the blurring of work–family boundaries? What kind of boundary work practices did families develop to manage their work and family roles, and were these practices gendered and how? Boundary practices are analyzed by combining theories of doing boundaries and gender theories in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic and applying them to survey data. The results revealed that during lockdown, both spatial and temporal boundaries blurred or partly disappeared, and boundary practices developed by families were highly gendered. Especially in families where childcare practices had been gendered already before the lockdown, it was predominantly mothers, who shouldered the main responsibility of increased childcare and struggled to manage their work duties. Hence, families had varying means to cope with blurring boundaries based on their ability to switch to remote work, but also on their work–family practices before the pandemic.

ACTIVITY OF THE FAMILY CARERS OF THE ELDERLY DURING SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC

Article focuses on various aspects of the family carers activity in the age of pandemia. The carers activity has been divided into several categories: care activity; activity related to the health issues; occupational activity and the activity in the sphere of new technologies, especial digital tools and social media. The researches used in the article has shown that the decline of the access to the formal services (both social and medical) and the shortening of the informal, social contacts led to the increasing burden of the family carers. Thus, the care activity has been intensified, so that other forms of activities could be retrenched. Also, other restrictions and risks of that time could have impact on non-care activities of family caregivers. Pandemic time affected also the use of digital technologies in many aspects, such as searching for information, communication, contacts with formal institutions, groups of support and webinars attendance. Also labour activity opportunities has been changed that time. On the one hand, development of tele-work has given potential chance to reconciliation between working and caring duties, but on the other hand additional care burdens and difficult situation on labour market could make the labour activity of carers difficult to manage.

Work Related Stress and its Effect on Mental Health among employees of Ain Shams University Hospitals

Abstract Background Work related stress reduces the overall mental and physical wellbeing of employees. Workers in health industry are more prone to work stress than any other workplace. Many researches were conducted among health-care professionals, but not among hospital employees who are not involved in the direct patient’s care. Objectives This study was aiming to measure the prevalence of work related stress among employees of Ain Shams University Hospitals, to determine its risk factors and to measure its effect on the occurrence of depression, anxiety and stress. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted upon a sample of employees in Ain Shams University Hospitals, working in the same job for at least one year and not involved in direct patient’s care. Employees were interviewed using the “workplace stress scale”, the “Depression Anxiety Stress Scale DASS-21”, and the “socioeconomic status scale for health research in Egypt” by El-Gilany. Results The study included 462 participants, their age ranged from 18 to 59 years (mean ± SD: 43.4 ± 10.9), 171(37%) were males and 291 (63%) were females, and the majority were in the middle and high social class (79.2% and 16.9%) respectively). Most of the employee experienced work-related stress: 40 (87.7%) of them, the moderate, severe, and dangerous levels were 32.3%, 22.5% and 7.6% respectively. Work-related stress was significantly associated with job category with engineers were the least stressed (50%) and workers were the most (94.1%). The majority of participants suffered any of the three mental ill-health and the frequency of depression, anxiety and stress (312 (67.5), 319 (69.0) and 239 (51.7) respectively). Severe/extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress were observed among 20.8%, 34.6% and 17.6% of participants respectively. Work related stress was significantly associated with the three mental ill-health status. Conclusion This study revealed a high level of workrelated stress among hospital employee who are not involved in patient’s care with around fifth of them suffered severe levels of mental ill-health. Occupational stress resulted mainly from inadequate control over work duties and unpleasant or unsafe work conditions.

A Common Procedure Resulting in an Uncommon Complication: Re-Expansion Pulmonary Edema After Closed Thoracostomy for Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

Closed thoracostomy is a procedure commonly performed by emergency physicians throughout their working duties. Re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE) is a relatively rare complication that occurs in < 1% of chest-tube drainages or thoracocenteses, with mortality rates as high as 20%. REPE can occur when the lung has been rapidly re-expanded after passive collapse by large pleural effusion, atelectasis, or pneumothorax (1). The precise pathophysiology of REPE has not been fully elucidated, but alterations in pulmonary microvasculature permeability and mechanical stress placed on the rapidly re-expanding lung are thought to be involved.

S3293 Women Authorship in Gastroenterology Sustained During Early COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Prior data indicate that within procedural specialties, women may be less likely to be first and senior authors of manuscripts during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for studies pertaining to the pandemic. Women are more likely faced with challenges of balancing work and other duties such as household responsibilities and childcare, especially for those who are mothers. The purpose of this study was to determine the gender distribution of authorship of manuscripts in high-impact gastroenterology and hepatology journals during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Manuscripts published between March 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021 in 16 high-impact gastroenterology and hepatology journals were identified using bibliometric data. Genders of first authors and senior authors were determined by matching first names with a predicted gender using a validated multinational database (Genderize.io). Number of women and men first and senior authors, and whether the manuscript was related to COVID-19 were recorded. Comparisons between female first and senior authorship of manuscripts from 2019 and 2020 were analyzed using Fisher exact testing. Results: In 2019, women were first authors of 777 (27.4%) manuscripts and senior authors of 546 (18.4%) manuscripts. In 2020, women were first authors of 999 (28.5%) manuscripts and senior authors of 646 (17.7%) manuscripts. There were no statistically significant differences of women first or senior authorship from 2019 to 2020. During the pandemic, women were first authors of 902 (28.9%) non-COVID-19 related manuscripts and 97 (25.7%) COVID-19 related manuscripts. Women were senior authors of 586 (18.0%) non-COVID-19 related manuscripts and 60 (15.6%) COVID-19 related manuscripts. There were no statistically significant differences of women authorship between non-COVID and COVID related manuscripts. Conclusion: The frequency and proportion of women first and senior authorship in 2020 was comparable to that in 2019. Women maintained scientific productivity in gastroenterology regarding publications in high-impact gastroenterology journals, despite facing increased challenges during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.Figure 1.: Trends in first and senior authorship of manuscripts published in high-impact gastroenterology and hepatology journals.Table 1.: Gender characteristics of first and senior authors of manuscripts published in high-impact gastroenterology and hepatology journals in 2019 and 2020.

Reducing Work-related Stress in Nursing Personnel: Applying an Intervention

Objective: To compare the levels of ex-post-facto stress between nursing personnel who participated in an educational intervention with nursing personnel on work duties, within the hospital work environment. Materials and method: This was an observational and cross-sectional study. The final sample was composed of 30 nursing personnel, with 15 of them composing the group exposed to the intervention and 15 being selected by simple random sampling to compose the unexposed group. The intervention consisted of a program focused on the employees, structured in four sessions, applied in a course format twice a week, and lasted two months. The Student’s t-test for independent samples and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the groups. Results: Using the Mann-Whitney U-test, the stress levels could be compared between the groups, and a statistical difference in stress levels was observed between the control group (3.34 ± 0.71 a.u.) and the intervention group (2.52 ± 0.59 a.u.) (p = 0.002; d = 1.26). Conclusions: Comparing the general stress levels between the groups, it was found that the intervention significantly decreased the stress levels in the participants; it was also possible to identify the mental stressors faced by the participants using the Scale of Stress in Professionals.

Telework of a Company Employee: Issues of Organizing and Monitoring the Performance of Labor Duties

Coronavirus pandemic and restrictive measures adopted by the authorities of many states have necessitated the massive transfer of employees of various organizations to remote forms of performing work duties. Such a transfer required a change in approaches to the organization of work and control over the performance of labor duties, which raised many questions and problematic points, both for employees and employers. The purpose of this study is to identify issues of an organizational and legal nature in the relationship between an employee and employer in connection with the forced massive transition to telework and the formation of proposals for resolving problematic aspects.

To persist or not to persist? The dilemma of goal adjustment in chronic pain.

To persist or not to persist? The dilemma of goal adjustment in chronic pain.

Do Gender and Gender Role Orientation Make a Difference in the Link between Role Demands and Family Interference with Work for Taiwanese Workers?

Based on the gender role orientation perspective, this study extends the resource depletion mechanism that links role demands to family interference with work by testing the moderating effects of gender and gender role orientation (egalitarian vs. traditional) on the relationships. Analysis of the data from 251 employees in Taiwan revealed two significant three-way interactive effects. Specifically, for men, the positive relationship between work demands and family-to-work conflict (FWC) was stronger for egalitarian than traditional individuals. For women, the positive relationship between family demands and FWC was stronger for egalitarian than traditional individuals. We also found a significant two-way interactive effect; that is, within the egalitarian group, the positive relationship between work demands and FWC was stronger for women than men. Our findings, thus, suggest both within-gender and between-gender variations in the links between work-to-family demands and conflict, jointly affected by the individual’s gender and gender role orientation. Contextualized within the cultural traditions of a Chinese society, we highlight the precarious position that egalitarian men and women (especially women) find for themselves in fulfilling work duties and family roles. The theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

Fabella Syndrome and Common Peroneal Neuropathy following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Case A 62-year-old man presented with persistent lateral knee pain 15 months following an uncomplicated total knee arthroplasty. There was a tendinous snapping structure over the lateral aspect of the knee in deep flexion with positive Tinel's sign over the fibular head. The patient underwent an uncomplicated flabella excision. The patient was cleared to return to work and full duty at two months postoperatively. Conclusion Flabella syndrome is a rare but increasingly common mechanism of persistent lateral knee pain following total knee arthroplasty. Surgeons should be aware of this etiology of persistent lateral knee pain and offer treatment modalities to address this pathology.

The Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown on Women in the Academy in One Rural University in South Africa

The primary objective of this study was to examine, interrogate and establish the influence of COVID-19 lockdown on the well-being of women in the academy and the roles they play as university employees and family members. This study was premised within interpretivism paradigm, and life history; and diaristic approach was used to understand this phenomenon. Biographies and interviews qualitative techniques were used to collect data from six women in academia in one university in South Africa. The research findings identified the COVID-19 pandemic as a cause of anxiety and restlessness among academic women; the excessive workload and lack of time; difficulties in balancing home and work duties; a lack of access to proper resources to aid job duties and research; and a lack of online resources-data, network access and Blackboard. This study recommended adequate online facilities and the design of the virtual mental wellness programmes to help academic women.