Occupational Groups Research Articles

Geo-behavioural predictors of diagnosed hypertension in Igbo Ora Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Diagnosed hypertension stands out as a prominent global cause of mortality, prompting recent efforts to understand not only treatment options but also determinants across diverse age and occupational groups. However, the literature on the impact of environmental factors on diagnosed hypertension is limited, especially in rural areas with restricted access to health infrastructure. Geographical determinants research has often focused on spatial variations across different units, potentially masking individual environmental contributions. Data on diagnosed hypertension patients and their behaviours were gathered during the ARISE project, complemented by geographical data (elevation, vegetation, road network, population density, and nighttime light exposure) from secondary sources. Spatial patterns were analyzed using the Nearest Neighbour Statistic, Ripley K Function, and Kernel Density Estimation, while Binomial logistic regression identified predictors. Diagnosed hypertension patients exhibit spatial clustering, and are mainly comprised of elderly individuals, residing closer to roads, at higher elevations, in areas with higher population distribution, and with little or no green vegetation. Socio-economic, health-related, behavioural, and environmental factors collectively drive diagnosed hypertension. Spatial clustering of diagnosed hypertension in the Igbo Ora community is localized, indicating potential spatial factors influencing its prevalence. Beyond identified behavioural and medical history factors, geographical elements like nighttime light exposure and normalized vegetation index contribute to the observed clustering. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for targeted interventions in the community.

Does Inclusive Language Increase the Visibility of Women, or Does It Simply Decrease the Visibility of Men? A Missing Piece of the Inclusive Language Jigsaw

The use of a single bipolar gender scale to evaluate the estimated gender breakdown of an occupational group has long been the standard measure for assessing the effects of linguistic-grammatical information and gender stereotypes on the mental representations of gender. However, this scale presupposes a reciprocal relationship between the gender poles, assuming that the estimated number of one gender group constrains the estimation of the other. This is questionable, as distinct linguistic modulations and gender stereotypes may exert asymmetrical influences on each gender group’s representation. The current study, therefore, used gender-separated scales and showed that an inclusive language manipulation on the presentation of occupations can increase the visibility of women when the occupations do not carry feminine stereotype information but can also decrease the visibility of men when the occupations do not carry masculine stereotype information. Using this scale may be a more appropriate approach for future studies to capture the influence of language forms on gender representation in a more nuanced way.

A Quantitative Analysis of the Underrepresentation of Women on Green Occupational Programmes Groups Within VET in Spain: A New Leaking Pipeline Phenomenon

ABSTRACTThe “leaky pipeline” metaphor describes the greater likelihood of women and girls leaving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at every point, relative to men and boys. Gender disparities occur both in recruitment—that is, who chooses to enter a STEM pathway—as well as retention—that is, who chooses to persist in a STEM major or occupation. In addition, women who persist in STEM careers are less likely than men to reach top levels of leadership in those careers. The “leaky pipeline” metaphor describes the greater likelihood of women and girls to leave STEM fields at every point, relative to men and boys. Gender disparities occur both in recruitment—that is, who chooses to enter a STEM pathway—as well as retention—that is, who chooses to persist in a STEM major or occupation. In addition, women who persist in STEM careers are less likely than men to reach top levels of leadership in those careers. The aim of this paper is to analyse the representation of women in green occupational groups, studying both their attraction to “green vocational education and training programmes” and their completion as well as their transition to the labour market. It is important to note that green vocational programmes are closely related to STEM vocational education and training (VET) programmes. In this sense, it is relevant to analyse whether the gender “leaking pipeline” phenomenon exists in green training programmes and occupational groups in the same way it does in STEM occupations. The quantitative breakdown by occupational group highlights a clear gender gap in female participation in GREEN VET programmes. Moreover, when women from green occupational groups enter the labour market, their employment conditions are systematically worse than those of men. It is worth noting the scarcity of studies on this issue, particularly quantitative ones, which indicates the limited scientific attention paid to analysing the gender gap in green vocational programmes and occupational groups.

Occupational risk factors for thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: a register-based study of construction workers

ObjectivesThe study investigated the association between occupational biomechanical risk factors and the occurrence of thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (CMC1 OA) in construction workers.MethodsMale construction workers (n=237 525), participating in a...

Assisted Suicide in Austria: Nurses’ Understanding of Patients’ Requests and the Role of Patient Symptoms

This study explores Austrian palliative and hospice care nurses’ experiences regarding assisted suicide (AS). Following its legalization in 2022, occupational groups affected by the legislation, such as nurses, have been left without clear guidance or instructions on how to navigate this new landscape. This study aimed to explore how nurses perceive their patients’ desire to die and its connection to the symptoms experienced by the patients. A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was disseminated to all palliative and hospice care facilities in Austria and was eventually completed by 145 nurses, focusing on their understanding of patients’ requests for AS and the severity of patients’ symptoms. Factor analysis was used to identify symptom clusters, and Spearman rank correlations were employed to explore associations between nurses’ understanding of AS and factors such as patient symptoms, nurse demographics, and attitudes toward AS. The results indicate that psychosocial factors, particularly loss of dignity (63.6%) and autonomy (76.4%), were the most frequently reported severe symptoms. Understanding patients’ decisions was significantly associated with nurses’ general support for AS (r = 0.34, p < 0.001) but not with age, work experience, or religious beliefs. Factor analysis revealed four symptom clusters, with ’loss of dignity’ showing a small but significant correlation with nurses’ understanding of patients’ requests (r = 0.17, p = 0.044). The present findings highlight the importance of integrating psychosocial support into palliative care and emphasize the need for clear guidelines and training to better support nurses in managing AS-related challenges.

Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in healthcare workers within the United Kingdom: Risk factors for infection during four successive waves.

Healthcare workers were at a high risk of infection early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It is uncertain to what extent occupational, household and community factors contributed, and how this changed over time. We aimed to characterise the risk factors for infection over four successive waves of the pandemic in a large, UK healthcare worker cohort (SIREN). Participants underwent fortnightly SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing and symptom/exposure questionnaire. Attack rates and adjusted OR of infection were calculated according to participant characteristics and exposures for each wave between 1st October 2020 and 30th August 2022. 19,427 participants were included in the second wave, 20,260 in the third, 11,937 in the fourth, and 6503 in the fifth. The attack rates of infection were 9.1% (alpha), 6.6% (delta), 36.6% (omicron BA.1/2) and 15.9% (omicron BA.4/5), respectively. Occupational risk factors were only apparent in the second wave, during which significant social distancing measures were in place. These were identified as working as a healthcare assistant, nurse or bedside therapist, and working on an inpatient ward. Occupational exposure requiring personal protective equipment was also a risk. In subsequent waves, without social restrictions, occupational characteristics were not risk factors. Instead, living with others compared to living alone was a risk, particularly children. During the third wave (winter 2021-2022), having a colleague with COVID-19 was identified as a risk for the first time. Our findings highlight clinical areas and occupational groups in which there may be scope to prevent healthcare-associated infections, particularly during winter pressures. Prospective studies targeting these are essential to establish which interventions are most effective. This study also underscores the importance of community circulation and exposures when considering healthcare workforce protection.

Modifiable Psychological Mechanisms of Resilience Among UK Trainee and Newly Qualified Teachers.

Teaching is identified as a stressful occupation, with elevated levels of burnout among the profession. Research suggests that resilience may buffer against stress and psychological distress and potentially be a useful resource for this occupational group. This research aimed to identify mechanisms associated with trainee teachers' resilience across time. Using the cognitive model of resilience, we examined interpretation bias and emotion regulation as cognitive mechanisms associated with resilience. The study investigated whether these cognitive processes have an association with trainee teachers' resilience during teacher training and in the first year as teachers in two 1-year longitudinal online studies. Study 1 commenced before COVID-19 pandemic (September 2019), but ended during ongoing pandemic-related restrictions. Study 2 was conducted as a replication study, commenced during COVID-19 (May 2020). Resilience, short-term stress, chronic perceived stress, and cognitive mechanisms (interpretation bias, emotion regulation) were assessed at baseline (during teacher training), with resilience and short-term stress monitored at the 8-month and 13-month follow-ups. Across both studies, cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships were found between perceived stress, cognitive mechanisms, and resilience. Positive interpretation bias predicted trainee teachers' resilience across time, suggesting that it is likely to be a good target for interventions to promote resilience.

Epidemiological Features and Evolutionary Analysis of Recombinant CVA24v in the Context of a Re-Emerging AHC Outbreak in China, 2023.

China experienced another outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in 2023, with a total of 195 297 recorded cases. This marks the third nationwide outbreak in nearly two decades, following previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2010. Descriptive epidemiological analysis shows that the number of cases in 2023 peaked in September, similar to the last two outbreaks. The age groups with the highest incidence rate of the three outbreaks in 2007, 2010, and 2023 are 15-20, 10-15, and 10-15 years old, respectively. Students are the main occupational group in the three outbreaks. Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong were the top three regions with high incidence rates in the three outbreaks. In 2023, the incidence rate in Hainan Province is the highest ever. Pathogenetic analyses show that the pathogens isolated during the 2023 outbreak were identified as the GIV genotype of CVA24v. Seven different recombination patterns were identified in the recombination analysis of the Chinese strains in 2023 and representative strains of global outbreaks since 1988. These patterns mainly involved the recombination signals of EV-C96 and PV in the 5' untranslated region and 3C and 3D regions. Although recombination events of CVA24v are rarely reported, its recombination was consistently present through systematic analysis in this study. This study comprehensively analyzed the 2023 AHC re-emerging data and isolated CVA24v sequences, providing valuable data for future CVA24v molecular epidemiology studies.

Enhancing maternity healthcare workers’ wellbeing using insider participatory action research

BackgroundGood healthcare worker (HCW) wellbeing positively impacts service user outcomes, yet the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) is suffering workforce burnout and retention issues. While urgently needing evidence-based wellbeing strategies, participatory interventions using positive psychology have been under-investigated. We aimed to develop a caring, collegial NHS labour ward environment wherein HCWs created paths to enhancing individual and collective workplace wellbeing.MethodsInsider Participatory Action Research (IPAR) used positive psychology within a social constructionist, pragmatic approach. All clinical and non-clinical HCWs on a consultant-led labour ward in the East Midlands, England, UK were invited to identify current sources of workplace wellbeing on which to collectively construct future ways of working. Qualitative data from several methods (below) were inductively thematically analysed.ResultsBetween October 2018 and July 2020, data were generated from 83 paper and 13 online questionnaires; 59 interviews; three action groups; six peer participant reviewers; 16 comments on data displays; and three emails. Three themes represented sources of workplace wellbeing: emotional, professional, and physical nourishment. Culture shifted to be more compassionate and inclusive, and morale, positivity, and atmosphere improved. Ways of working changed. Colleagues more proactively cared for each other, worked well together in teams, expressed thanks and feedback, and instigated interventions for colleagues’ and women’s welfare. Participants proposed that IPAR activities prompted change including: the researcher being considered an accessible colleague wellbeing resource; raised awareness of the importance of HCW wellbeing; and strengthened HCW relationships. The HEARS wellbeing intervention model (HCW driven, Everyone involved, Ask what makes a person feel good at work, Responses displayed, Steps taken) was developed to frame processes by which HCW participation catalysed impact towards workplace wellbeing.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first English language study using IPAR to enhance HCW wellbeing. Colleagues from diverse occupational groups improved individual and collective wellbeing through self-determined action. Using participatory methodology and positive psychology encouraged a more compassionate and inclusive culture. Subject to implementation research evaluating these strategies’ impact in different settings, we propose the HEARS wellbeing intervention model and workplace-based Colleague Support Volunteers as actions towards wellbeing and retention in healthcare organisations.

Silicosis prevalence and related issues in India: a scoping review

BackgroundSilicosis remains a major occupational health challenge in India. This review systematically examines the prevalence, risk factors, regional differences, and diagnostic tools specific to India’s high-risk industries. Additionally, it assesses policy gaps and offers insights from diverse clinical and qualitative studies, aiming to inform targeted public health interventions and support the development of effective occupational health policies.MethodsFor this review, data were extracted for each study, including author, location, design, study aims, sample size and characteristics, participant age, duration of silica exposure, diagnostic criteria, and primary outcomes. As an add-on analysis included, a random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of silicosis and assess variability among studies. The review also included qualitative analyses on awareness, diagnostic tools (e.g., CC16 protein), and differences in prevalence across various occupational groups and regions within India.ResultsThe review initially identified 263 articles, narrowed down to 49 eligible studies on silicosis in India after exclusions and quality assessment. Among these, 11 prevalence studies (total sample size: 2072) showed an average silicosis rate of 31.39%. Specific studies reported high rates, including 52% among Rajasthan mine workers and 69.1% among Khambhat agate workers. Additionally, screening tools, like CC16 protein levels, showed promise for early diagnosis, while qualitative studies highlighted gaps in awareness and regulatory practices. Meta-analysis revealed a significant pooled prevalence (25.98%) and marked variability (I2 = 98.86%), underscoring the need for targeted interventions and worker protections.ConclusionsThis review of current knowledge on silicosis in India finds silicosis highly prevalent among workers in mining and stone industries, with gaps in regulatory enforcement and awareness. Biomarkers like CC16 offer the potential for early diagnosis, underscoring the need for preventive measures. Policy recommendations include stricter dust exposure limits, enhanced workers’ education, routine screening, and improved access to protective equipment and health monitoring to reduce the risk of silicosis and health disparities in vulnerable occupational groups.

Ocular Status, Ocular Health Seeking Behavior and Barriers to Uptake Eye Care Services among Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the ocular status, ocular health-seeking behaviors and barriers to the uptake of eye care services among garment workers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: This is a descriptive community-based study. The study was conducted at Savar and Narayangonj in Dhaka city where garment workers are living. There were 260 garment workers aged from 18 to 60 years were screened their eyes. They were also interviewed face to face in a structured questionnaire to collect information about health-seeking behaviors and identify the barriers to the uptake of eye care services. Result: Among 260 respondents, about 45.77% were male and 54.23% were female. About 45.4% had ocular complaints and 54.6% had no complaints. Among the respondents (n=260), related ocular abnormalities were 37.70%, (n=98), the diagnosed problems were Refractive error (10.0%), Allergic conjunctivitis (1.5%), Squint (0.4%), conjunctivitis (0.4%), cataract (1.9%), However (10.40%) were referred to the eye care center, 31.90% were given optical correction and 57.70% were given general measure. 86% never went to hospital. The main reasons assigned for not going to an eye doctor 6.7% were financial constraints, 67.9% did not feel necessary, 3.1% were lack of escort, 16.1% had lack of time, the traditional belief was 2.2%, and 4% were not aware of a hospital doctor. Most of the workers conceived that the recent cost of treatment is very high. They desired low treatment costs, free spectacles, and free eye camps including more facilities. Conclusion: Relative to studies of other occupational groups in middle-income countries, these garment workers reported overall good health; their most notable problem was musculoskeletal symptoms and refractive error and the near point of convergence insufficiency which means early presbyopia. Keywords: Refractive Error, Presbyopia, Eye Care, Barriers.

Mass Casualty Incident Training in Immersive Virtual Reality: Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Multimethod Performance Indicators.

Immersive virtual reality (iVR) has emerged as a training method to prepare medical first responders (MFRs) for mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and disasters in a resource-efficient, flexible, and safe manner. However, systematic evaluations and validations of potential performance indicators for virtual MCI training are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether different performance indicators based on visual attention, triage performance, and information transmission can be effectively extended to MCI training in iVR by testing if they can discriminate between different levels of expertise. Furthermore, the study examined the extent to which such objective indicators correlate with subjective performance assessments. A total of 76 participants (mean age 25.54, SD 6.01 y; 45/76, 59% male) with different medical expertise (MFRs: paramedics and emergency physicians; non-MFRs: medical students, in-hospital nurses, and other physicians) participated in 5 virtual MCI scenarios of varying complexity in a randomized order. Tasks involved assessing the situation, triaging virtual patients, and transmitting relevant information to a control center. Performance indicators included eye-tracking-based visual attention, triage accuracy, triage speed, information transmission efficiency, and self-assessment of performance. Expertise was determined based on the occupational group (39/76, 51% MFRs vs 37/76, 49% non-MFRs) and a knowledge test with patient vignettes. Triage accuracy (d=0.48), triage speed (d=0.42), and information transmission efficiency (d=1.13) differentiated significantly between MFRs and non-MFRs. In addition, higher triage accuracy was significantly associated with higher triage knowledge test scores (Spearman ρ=0.40). Visual attention was not significantly associated with expertise. Furthermore, subjective performance was not correlated with any other performance indicator. iVR-based MCI scenarios proved to be a valuable tool for assessing the performance of MFRs. The results suggest that iVR could be integrated into current MCI training curricula to provide frequent, objective, and potentially (partly) automated performance assessments in a controlled environment. In particular, performance indicators, such as triage accuracy, triage speed, and information transmission efficiency, capture multiple aspects of performance and are recommended for integration. While the examined visual attention indicators did not function as valid performance indicators in this study, future research could further explore visual attention in MCI training and examine other indicators, such as holistic gaze patterns. Overall, the results underscore the importance of integrating objective indicators to enhance trainers' feedback and provide trainees with guidance on evaluating and reflecting on their own performance.

Investigation of the effect of internet addiction on cyberchondria

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to examine the effect of internet addiction on cyberchondria. The research is important to understand how today’s digital technologies contribute to health-related concerns and affect individuals’ perceptions of health. Quantitative research design was used in this research conducted in Konya, a metropolitan city in Turkey. The study was conducted using the convenience sampling method on 403 participants. In the research, ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Internet Addiction Scale’ and ‘Cyberchondria Scale’ were used. The data were analyzed with the SPSS program. As an analysis method, upon determining that the data were normally distributed, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and simple linear regression analyzes were applied in independent groups. The majority of participants (69%) were female, 52.9% were between the ages of 18–27 and 53.8% were married. In terms of education level, 44.9% had a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 59.6% earned minimum wage or less. Among the occupational groups, the largest proportion was students (31.5%), and their daily internet use was mostly 2–3 hours (44.4%). Internet is most frequently used for social media (47.4%) and news/agenda follow-up (25.1%). Within the scope of the research, internet addiction varies significantly according to the participants’ age groups, education levels, professions, average daily internet usage time, and internet usage purposes; it was found that the cyberchondria levels of the participants showed significant differences according to the variables of income level, profession, daily internet usage time and internet use purpose. The research revealed a positive and significant relationship between the level of internet addiction and the level of cyberchondria. It has also been observed that internet addiction has a positive and significant effect on cyberchondria. These results show that cyberchondria tendencies become stronger with the increase in internet use among individuals.

Implementing psychosocial interventions for teachers' mental health: Protocol for integrating scoping review with teachers lived experiences in LMICs.

Teachers are pivotal in shaping educational environments and student development but face significant occupational stress and high rates of mental problems. Despite the availability of various psychosocial interventions, comprehensive evidence of their effectiveness and implementation is limited for this occupational group, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This mixed methods study aims to conduct a scoping review of characteristics, effectiveness, and implementation outcomes of psychosocial interventions for teachers' mental health and mental problems, integrating these with teachers' lived experiences to inform the implementation of mental health interventions in LMICs. The study combines a scoping review with insights from an advisory group of teaching professionals with relevant lived experiences (PWLEs). The review will focus on examining psychosocial interventions studies promoting mental health or addressing mental problems among grade 1-12 school teachers of all genders, ages and contexts, except those working in specialized settings, such as special education centers, or disaster- or crisis-stricken zones. Intervention studies exclusively focusing on physical health or job-related outcomes will be excluded. Using pre-defined search terms, quantitative and qualitative research studies, including unpublished literature, will be searched across multiple databases. Titles and abstracts of identified studies will be screened against inclusion criteria, and the potentially relevant sources will be retrieved in full. Data will be extracted using a data extraction sheet developed for the study covering variables related to participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, study context, effectiveness and implementation outcomes. A purposively selected sample of 10 PWLEs will form the study advisory group and participate in four online workshop-group discussions. The meetings will include a presentation of the scoping review findings, followed by discussions on the relevance of these intervention packages for LMICs, adaptations needed to make them acceptable among school teachers and feasible for delivery in low-resourced settings like India. The synthesis of the data will employ narrative and thematic approaches to generate actionable insights for implementing psychosocial interventions in LMICs. This study will provide comprehensive evidence on the characteristics and outcomes of psychosocial interventions for teachers' mental health and mental problems. By integrating insights from teachers with relevant lived experiences, the study will provide practical guidelines for adapting and implementing psychosocial interventions among school teachers in LMICs. Review registration number: Open Science Framework, doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GF59J.

Incidence of Occupational Injuries Among Military Working Dog Handlers, 2016-2023.

This study examines the incidence of injuries among active component service members in Military Working Dog (MWD) handler occupations compared to three other active component occupational groups. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with a total of 2,524,092 active component service members including, 3935 MWD handlers, 2025 veterinary personnel, 113,413 military police, and 2,404,719 all other active component service members (ACSM). Incidence rate and incident rate ratios of injuries were determined. MWD handlers had the second highest rates of injuries (14,194.42 injuries per 10,000 p-yrs.) with veterinary personnel having the highest rate of injuries (17,320.11 injuries per 10,000 p-yrs.). Military police (11,521.71 injuries per 10,000 p-yrs.) and other ACSM (11,708.60 injuries per 10,000 p-yrs.) had similar incidence rates. Risk for injury was highest among women and older service members. This study is among the first investigations into MWD handlers' occupational health outcomes. These results suggest the importance of continued MWD handler health assessment.

Preference of Delivery Type of Pregnant Women

Birth is a process that can expose women to many risks. One of the important issues to be decided is the type of delivery. Many factors influence women, but what is important is that they are adequately directed to the appropriate mode of delivery, and that labor results of a healthy mother and baby. To investigate the view of pregnant women delivery preference and to contribute to the development of new health strategies in order to prevent the increase of cesarean rates. Methods: The pregnant between 6 and 40 weeks of gestation were included in the questionnaire. Pregnant women in labor were not included in the questionnaire. The answers were evaluated and the reasons underlying the attitudes of the pregnant women about the mode of birth were tried to be revealed. Results: 71.6 % of individuals over 30 years of age preferred cesarean delivery. No statistically significant relationship between gestational age and type of delivery. Postpartum complication subscale scores and total delivery information scores of the healthcare personnel were higher than the other occupational groups. 75.1 % of vaginal births stated the reasons they preferred choice for mother-child health, first births of 37.8 % of those preferring caesarean delivery stated that they preferred to cesarean section. Health personnel and family physicians play an important role in determining the best mode of delivery in favor of the mother and the baby, and reducing unnecessary cesarean procedures.

Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Male and Female Traffic Wardens in Lahore

Traffic wardens in Lahore face numerous challenges in their daily work, including managing stress, dealing with difficult public interactions, and maintaining a high level of job performance. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been identified as a crucial factor in predicting life satisfaction among various occupational groups. This study aimed to investigate the role of EI in predicting life satisfaction among traffic wardens in Lahore. A quantitative research approach was employed, and a sample of 100 traffic wardens was selected through convenient sampling. Scale of Emotional Intelligence Test (SEI) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to measure EI and life satisfaction, respectively. Results showed that flexibility is negatively correlated with emotional self-awareness (r= -.068) and with impulse control (r= -.068). Rest all the subscales are positively significant with each other. Additionally, regression analysis revealed that EI was a significant predictor of life satisfaction among traffic wardens (β=.23, t (98) =2.35, p< .05). The result revealed that both life satisfaction and emotional intelligence show positive and significant correlation with each other r= .23, p< .05. Moreover, gender differences are significant between emotional intelligence among male and female traffic wardens. It is also revealed that no significant differences between life satisfactions exists among male and female traffic wardens and life satisfaction is positively predicted by emotional intelligence (β=.23, t (98) =2.35, p< .05).

Influencing factors and risk analysis of anxiety and depression in occupational population

Objective: To identify and evaluate the important risk factor set of anxiety and depression in occupational population, establish a risk prediction model, and provide scientific basis for making targeted mental health protection plan and promoting the mental health of workers. Methods: In August 2016, a cluster random sampling method was used to investigate 807 employees who underwent physical examination in a hospital as research objects. The simplified Chinese version of the core job content questionnaire, Athens Insomnia Scale, AIS-5 and Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90) were used for the Occupational stress, insomnai and negative emotional symptom investigation. Chi-square and Fisher exact probability method were used for data analysis, and Bayesian network was used for model construcion and analysis. Results: The score of occupational stress was 0.88±0.15, and the incidence of occupational stress was 18.09% (146/807). AIS-5 scores were (3.03±2.82), and the incidence of insomnia was 15.99% (129/807). Depression (16.89±5.73) scores, anxiety (12.36±4.11) scores. Depression (16.89±5.73) score, anxiety (12.36±4.11) score, the detection rate was 8.55% (69/755), 7.31% (59/762). Gender, illness, education, insomnia and occupational stress were correlated with depression (P<0.01), while education, illness, insomnia and anxiety were correlated (P<0.05). When both occupational stress and insomnia existed, the detection rate of depression was the highest (0.4006) . Conclusion: Insomnia was a valid predictor of anxiety and depression, suggesting that occupational groups should pay attention to sleep quality and managers should rationalize work tasks in order to reduce the risk of anxiety and depression.

Evaluation of Covid-19-related musculoskeletal pain in healthcare workers during the pandemic

Aims: To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and musculoskeletal distribution of pain, one of the most frequently encountered complications among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study included healthcare workers who had recovered from COVID-19 at least six months before their inclusion. Demographic data of the participants were collected. Pain levels were assessed with the Visual Analog Scale. The "Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire" was used to measure low back pain and disability levels, which aims to assess how pain affects activities of daily living. The "Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire" interview section was used to assess the level of neuropathic pain. Results: A total of 101 participants with a mean age of 37.72 ± 1.22 years were included in the study. Of these participants, 78 (77.2%) were female and 23 (22.8%) were male. Of the participants, 32 (31.7%) were physicians, 34 (33.7%) were nurses, and 35 (34.7%) were healthcare workers. The most common areas of pain reported in healthcare workers in our study were the head, lower back, and back. A statistically significant difference was observed in the analysis of Oswestry Scores between different occupational groups (p &lt;0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that there was no statistically significant difference between nurses and other healthcare personnel (p = 0.082). However, a significant difference was observed between doctors and nurses (p &lt;0.001) and also between doctors and other healthcare personnel (p = 0.008). The most frequently reported neuropathic symptoms were numbness, pinprick sensations, and tingling. Conclusion: Our study that examines the location and character of pain in the musculoskeletal system in healthcare workers can support fundamental strategies in the protection of healthcare workers and the continuity of healthcare system delivery. Developing necessary prevention strategies is crucial to prepare healthcare workers for managing future outbreaks.

Effects of group communication norms on daily steps in a team-based financial incentive mobile phone intervention in Shanghai, China

BackgroundMobile technology offers great potential for physical activity promotion, especially by facilitating online communication, however, the impact of group communication norms on intervention effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect on daily steps of a team-based social norms-related intervention using a mobile application.MethodsThe 13-week quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shanghai, China, from September to November 2019, involving 2,985 employees from 32 worksites. For the intervention group (n = 2,049), participants set a goal of 10,000 steps per day. The teams and individual members would receive points for meeting the daily goal, contributing to team-based rankings and financial rewards for the teams and their members. In addition, the intervention teams created dedicated WeChat groups to facilitate communication, which were also used to collect group chat messages. The communication type in these groups was classified into four types: (1) nudging – encouraging team members to be more active, (2) sharing – exchanging the completion of daily step goals, (3) feedback – providing responses or suggestions to team members, and (4) other -diverse topics that could not be classified otherwise. The control group only tracked their steps online.ResultsThe weekly average steps of the intervention group increased by 2,523 steps, while the control group increased by 470 steps. In the first 3 weeks of follow-up, the frequency of nudging of 7–18 times/week had a positive cumulative effect on the step counts. Sharing more than 3 times/week had a positive cumulative effect. Over 6 and 13 weeks of follow-up, nudging 19 times/week or more had a positive cumulative effect while sharing and feedback at any frequency negatively affected average weekly steps.ConclusionsCommunication types within a team affected team-based step counts in a financial incentive intervention. The team-level social norms related to communications might have different cumulative effects on team-level physical activity. ‘nudging’ messages had a significant association with the change in individual-level step counts in the medium or long term.Trial registrationPilot Project of the application of walking incentive technology in occupational groups, 2019, ChiCTR1900023813. Registered 13 June 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=39858.