Mean Duration Of Work Research Articles

Parenting attitude and self-concept of fathers having adolescent

Background: Parents play a unique role in child-rearing. Though the mother plays a vital role, no one can replace a father's contribution to rearing a child. The purpose of this study was to see whether fathers' self-concept was associated with their parental attitudes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted during the period from January to December 2021. A total of 188 fathers having at least one adolescent were selected from selected rural areas of the Jashore district in Bangladesh. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with a semi-structured questionnaire and using convenient sampling technique. The behavioral qualities of the fathers were measured using a variety of scales, including the attitude toward parenthood scale, Campbell's self-concept clarity scale. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze the data in accordance with the study's objectives. Before data collection, informed consent was taken, and ethical concerns were addressed at different stages of the study. Results: The findings revealed that the mean age of the fathers was 44.55±8.515 years and the highest frequency (59.6%) was in the age group 30-45 years. The study finding showed that 94.1% were Muslim and the main occupation of 41.5% of them was agriculture. Among the fathers, a large number had no formal education (33%), 38.8% completed their primary education. The mean working duration was 8.56±1.868 hours. The attitude towards parenthood scale had an average score of 6.45±0.512, mean self-concept score was 46.13±6.169. Fathers' parenting attitude were unaffected by their socio-demographic characteristics such as occupation (p = 0.329), monthly income (r = 0.046, p = 0.534), or expenditure (r = 0.033, p = 0.655), working duration (r = -0.117, p = 0.110). Fathers’ selfconcept was an important variable that showed a significant correlation with fathers' parenting attitude (r = 0.158, p = 0.031). The participating fathers' parenting attitudes did not exhibit substantial mean disparities between their educational status (p = 0.055) and their wives' educational status (p = 0.202). Conclusion: This study revealed that father with better self-concept had enhanced their adolescent care by involving in active parenting. JOPSOM 2023; 42(1):21-28

Determinants of neck symptoms among university professors during Covid 19 pandemics

Neck pain is one of the most prevalent painful conditions among professors. Covid-19 has led to significant changes in work organization, with remote work becoming predominant even after the pandemic. Home office obliged to use information technologies for a longer duration, give classes at distance, and adjust workstations with consequences on neck musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). The aim of this study was to characterize the determinants of neck MSS among university professors from Brazilian Universities, in two moments, during Covid 19 pandemics.Two cross-sectional studies were based on an online survey applied to university professors in 2020–21 and 2021–22. The samples included 220 professors in the first moment and 180 in the second one. A logistic regression model considering Cervical Musculoskeletal Symptoms in the last 12 months as the dependent variable was adjusted for each data collection period.According to the model for the period 2020–21, the log of the odds of a professor who has neck MSS in the last 12 months was positively related with having multisite musculoskeletal symptoms, duration of work in a seated posture superior to 6 h, teleworking or using a hybrid format, having two or more dependents, self-report diseases and stress perception. For the period 2021–2022, was positively related with having multisite musculoskeletal symptoms, and age over 50 years; negatively related with the mean duration of work per week.The knowledge of protective and risk factors has an important role in the definition of preventive strategies and the design of home office by the universities.

Knowledge on Chemical Pesticide use among Farmers Exposed to Pesticides in Panchkhal Municipality, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal

Background. Pesticide exposure is a serious threat to public health in developing countries like Nepal. As an agricultural country, farmers are using pesticides indiscriminately to increase the yield of crops, which results in continued contamination of the environment and food and has adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the knowledge and evaluate the relationship between pesticide use knowledge and pesticide toxicity symptoms among farmers in Panchkhal Municipality. Materials and Methods. A cross‐sectional study design was used among 238 farmers (both male and female) exposed to pesticides for a minimum of 1 year. The data collection period was from April to June 2022. The data were collected using convenient sampling through interviews. Semistructured questionnaires were used as a tool for data collection. This study has been approved by the ethics committee. Data entry and analysis were done in SPSS version 16.00. Bivariate analysis was done using the Chi‐square test. Results. The mean age ± SD of the participants was 45.75 ± 13.12 years. The mean year of exposure was 15.52 ± 9.46 years, and the mean duration of working in the field was 3.22 ± 2.17 hr/day. Burning eye (51.2%) was the most common symptom of pesticide poisoning. The most common pesticide used was insecticide. Most farmers (92.4%) had good knowledge of the use of pesticides. There was no significant association between the symptoms of pesticide exposure and knowledge. Those who stored the pesticide properly in a locked container in a well‐ventilated area showed a significant association with knowledge of pesticide use (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion. This study showed that most farmers have good knowledge of pesticide use. Still, educational programs and legislation promoting the use of safer pesticides are needed because they are the ones who handle and use chemical pesticides. Furthermore, the government should conduct training on the safe management of pesticide use.

Association between occupational noise-induced hearing loss and genotoxicity among textile factory workers

Background/aimHearing loss caused by exposure to noise is still among the most prevalent health risks for industrial workers. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between Shebien El-kom textile factory workers’ occupational noise exposure, genotoxicity, and noise-induced hearing loss.MethodsThis cross-sectional case–control study was performed in a textile industry in Shebin Elkom, Egypt. The participants of this work were 36 exposed male workers from the spinning section of the textile factory and 36 subjects as the control male group from administrative staff in the same factory, in the age range of 25–45 years. A pure-tone audiometer and portable sound level meter were utilized for the measurement of hearing threshold and noise level, respectively. Genotoxicity was assessed using the Comet assay technique.ResultsThere was no significant difference between both groups regarding age and the mean duration of work was 18.94 ± 4.88 for exposed workers. The average level of noise was 95–105 dB (A). The exposed workers’ mean hearing thresholds for the left and right ears at frequencies between 2000 and 8000 Hz were substantially greater than those of the control group (P < 0.05). In the exposed workers, there was not a marked variation between the hearing thresholds of the left and right ears (p > 0.05). The exposed workers’ percentage of DNA damage was substantially greater than that of the control group (p < 0.001). Among exposed workers, a positive correlation between DNA damage, the degree of hearing loss, and the duration of time exposed to noise was demonstrated.ConclusionThe majority of exposed workers suffered from occupational noise-induced hearing loss. A positive correlation was found between the percentage of DNA damage, duration of exposure to noise, and hearing threshold in exposed workers.

The Effects Of Heat Stress On Haematological Parameters In Production Department Of Food Industry Employees.

To investigate the effects of heat stress on some haematological parameters among food industry employees working in the production department. The ambispective, single-centre, case-control study was conducted from December 1, 2016, to June 6, 2018, at Istanbul Gedik University and the Okan University, Istanbul, which is part of the Marmara region of Turkey. The study comprised subjects of either gender aged 22-57 years. Those working in the food industry were the cases in group A, while healthy controls formed group B. Within group A, subjects who were office workers formed subgroup A1, while those in the production department working in the heat treatment areas exposed to high temperatures formed subgroup A2. Heat stress in the environment was evaluated using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index. Peripheral blood haemoglobin and platelet levels, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were compared between the cases and the controls. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Of the 257 subjects, 139(54.1%) were women and 118 (45.9%) were men. The overall mean age was 35.07±7.32 years. There were 143(55.6%) subjects in group A and 114(44.4%) in group B. Within group A, 19(13.3%) subjects were in subgroup A1 and 124(86.7%) in subgroup A2. The mean working duration for group A was 9.95±4.37 years (range 5-24 years). Haemoglobin and platelet levels were significantly lower and the neutrophil- lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in subgroup A2 compared to those in subgroup A1 and group B (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of platelet-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.486). Differences in haematological parameters were significantly different in individuals who worked in the production department and were exposed to heat stress compared to those who did not.

Hearing Status Among the Traffic Polices Of Dhaka Metrpolitan City

Background: Noise induced hearing loss is a common and avoidable occupational hazards in urban environments. People in high noise area suffer from hearing impairment. They are considered as social burden in their late life. Identifying risk groups and providing them a safe occupational environment is the responsibility of welfare state. Aims and Objectives: To compare hearing between noise exposed traffic police with polices not exposed to high noise. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Rajarbagh police line hospital from July 2015 to November 2016 where 180 police personnel were enrolled and divided into two groups for comparison with mean duration of work in police force 11.06 years in group-I and 10.48 years in group-II. Work hours of traffic police was 8 hours per day. Result: 37.7% of traffic police found to suffer from mild and 41.75% suffer from moderate degree of hearing loss that need attention of appropriate authority. Conclusion: Environmental pollution in Dhaka city is very high .High noise is a risk factors for occupational hazards that must be looked after by civil society and law enforcing agency to implement sound pollution act. J Dhaka Med Coll. 2022; 31(1) : 46-50

Prevalence of Brain and Neck Neoplasms among Interventional Cardiologists; A Multicenter Study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of brain and neck neoplasms among Interventional Cardiologists.&#x0D; Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Department of Cardiology/Interventional Cardiology of two Tertiary Cardiac Care Centers of Rawalpindi and Lahore Pakistan from Mar 2021 to Apr2022.&#x0D; Methodology: By using the non-probability, consecutive sampling technique, fifty Interventional Cardiologists’ (n=50) of both genders between 35-75 years of age, working in the cardiac catheterization labs for more than 10-years are enrolled after their informed consents. The data was collected from the interviews of Interventional cardiologists, from the shared medical records and also from the family members and colleagues. The Interventional cardiologists were enquired about any neurological signs and symptoms particularly in relation to the head and neck malignancy and also asked about undergoing any CT/MRI or PET scan of head and neck region in the past or recent time. Descriptive statistics for data was computed byusing the SPSS version-25. &#x0D; Results: The mean age of the Interventional Cardiologists of tertiary cardiac care center of Rawalpindi was 50.40±7.77years while of Lahore was 49.16±8.89 years. There were 47(94.0%) males and 03(6.0%) females, from both the Institutes. The mean duration of working in cardiac catheterization labs was 17.92±4.57 years. The head and neck neoplasm’s among Interventional Cardiologists was observed in 01(2%) case.&#x0D; Conclusion: The research study concluded that the prevalence of head and neck neoplasms among Interventional Cardiologists is very low (2%). But still it is the need of hour to be more careful about radiation exposure among the Interventional Cardiologists working for long hours in the cardiac catheterization labs, to lessen down the chances of head and neck malignancy.

Efficacy of same venous route Hickman catheter replacement in patients with intestinal failure

Periodical replacement of venous Hickman catheters is required for the nutritional care of patients with intestinal failure. The conventional de novo operation (DN-OP) involves inserting the catheter into a new venous tract in each replacement; however, this could result in fast consumption of functional central vessels in patients with intestinal failure. Recently, same-route operation (SR-OP) has been adopted as an alternative approach for retaining venous access. We conducted a retrospective study to compare the efficacy of Hickman catheters and the survival of venous vessels using two different operative strategies. Overall, 181 catheters were inserted, 109 using DN-OP and 72 using SR-OP. The mean catheter duration was 11.9±8.8 months in the DN-OP group and 10.5±5.6 months in the SR-OP group; the infection rate was 0.74 in the DN-OP group and 0.44 in the SR-OP group. The vein accesses used in these insertions (n=113) were classified: the DN-vein group for veins accessed only by DN-OP (n=75) and the SR-vein group for veins accessed by an initial DN-OP and subsequent SR-OPs (n=38). Mean working duration per vein access was 12.3±10.1 months in the DN-vein group and 28.2±14.8 months in the SR-vein group (p<0.001); mean infection-free duration was 11.4±10.1 months in the DN-vein group and 27.7±15.3 months in the SR-vein group (p<0.001). Application of SR-OP in Hickman catheter replacement significantly extended the working duration of venous access by re-using the same venous route without compromising catheter efficacy in patients with IF having poor venous access.

Patient safety friendly hospital standards and customer orientation among Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe quality of health services is determined on the basis of meeting customers’ needs and expectations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems have faced high degrees of uncertainty as...

Frequency of Asbestos Exposure and Histological Subtype of Ovarian Carcinoma.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer established a causal link between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. However, the exposure frequency and histological characteristics of asbestos-associated ovarian cancers remain to be investigated in detail. This multicenter case–case study assessed the asbestos exposure in ovarian carcinoma (OC) patients, alongside its association with histological subtype. Women were recruited in four hospitals in Lyon, France. Histological reports were reviewed by a pathologist. Patient and family members’ data were collected by phone-based questionnaires. Asbestos exposure was defined as direct (occupational and environmental) and indirect (via parents, partners, and children). An industrial hygienist assessed the probability and level of exposure. The 254 enrolled patients (mean age 60 years) reported having an average of 2.3 different jobs (mean working duration 29 years). The prevalence of direct and indirect asbestos exposure was 13% (mean exposure duration 11 years) and 46%, respectively. High-grade serous carcinoma accounted for 73% of all OCs and 82% of histological subtypes in women with direct exposure. After adjustment on a familial history of OC, no significant associations between asbestos exposure (direct and/or indirect) and high-grade serous carcinoma were found. Women with OC had a high prevalence of asbestos exposure. Establishing risk profiles, as reported here, is important in facilitating compensation for asbestos-related OCs and for the surveillance of women at risk.

How Do Oncology Nurses Cope With the Psychological Burden of Caring for Dying Patients?

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and most patients with cancer in South Korea die in hospitals. Oncology nurses experience physical, emotional, and occupational challenges associated with the psychological burden of caring for dying patients. This study explored the coping strategies used by oncology nurses to deal with the psychological burden of patient deaths. In this descriptive qualitative study, 10 oncology nurses who had recently experienced a patient's death were recruited via snowball sampling. All were female, with a mean age of 32.9 years (range, 27-44 years), and their mean working duration was 9.9 (range, 3-23) years. Participants were interviewed individually face-to-face 3 times, with each interview lasting 1 to 1.5 hours. Oncology nurses coped with the psychological burden of a patient's death in the following 4 ways: ( a ) avoiding patient deaths to the extent possible, ( b ) reflecting upon the meaning of life and death, ( c ) suppressing their emotional distress over the patient's death, and ( d ) becoming kinder and more caring toward people around them. The findings suggest that oncology nurses struggle to cope with the psychological burden of patient deaths. Oncology nurses are affected both negatively and positively by experiencing death as they provide end-of-life care. Oncology nurses need education or counseling to reduce the psychological burden of caring for dying patients with cancer. Hospital administrators need to continuously identify ways to reduce the psychological burden of oncology nurses providing end-of-life care.

Ocular manifestations among the professional computer workers attending the out patient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University : a cross sectional study

The computer vision syndrome has become a burning issue in this modern world with the advancement of the technology and its wide use. This study was planned to determine the prevalence of computer vision syndrome among professional computer workers as well as it’s associated risk factors. The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Departments of Community Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from September 2017 to February 2020. The professionals using computer on an average 4 hours per day for a duration of at least 1 year attending out patient department for having treatment for their ocular problems were the study population. A total of 77 such subjects were consecutively included in the study. In this present study, the preva- lence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) was 46.8%. The present study demonstrated that middle class and upper-middle class professionals were more likely to be associated with CVS than the lower-middle class computer professionals with risk of developing CVS in former cohort was observed to be almost 3-fold (95% CI=1.1–7.5) higher than that in the latter cohort (p = 0.027). The duration of working on computer predisposes the development of CVS with mean duration of working was on an average 1.2 years higher in subjects with CVS than that in subjects without CVS. Subjects who maintained their level of personal computer(PC) at or above their eye level (while working on computer) were more prone to develop CVS with odds of developing the condition in them being 3.6(95% CI = 1.3-9.7) times higher than the subjects who maintained the level of PC below their eye level (p = 0.010). Glare display also emerged as significant predictor of CVS with odds having the condition being 9.8(95% CI = 1.1-88.6) times higher than that with PCs without glare display (p = 0.016). Seating posture at computer also have its impact on the development of CVS. Computer workers with inappro- priate seating posture are more often associated with the development CVS. The study concluded that over one-quarter of the computer professionals suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS). The predominant symptoms of CVS are eye strain, irritation of eye, blurred vision and headache. The factors that contribute to the development of CVS are middle class and upper-middle class professionals, prolonged working exposure to computer, level of PC at or above the eye level of the workers, glare display on the screen and inappropriate seating posture. BSMMU J 2021; 14(3): 31-37

CERVICAL CANCER AND HPV VACCINATION: FROM THE FEMALE HEALTH CARE WORKERS’ PERCEPTION

Abstract Aim: Cervical cancer may be prevented by adequate and satisfactory preventive health services. Vaccination is one of the most useful primary care prevention applications. As the health care workers lead an important role in preventing cancers, it is crucial to focus on their knowledge and attitude and perception. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge levels on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, perception and the attitude of female health care workers in our university hospital, thus contributing to vaccination and primary prevention researches and applications. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was performed during 01st July-31st December, 2020. A questionnaire (prepared with the current literature knowledge) was applied to volunteer female health workers (doctors, nurses, other health personnel) who were working at Adnan Menderes University Hospital. Data were evaluated with the SPSS 22.0 package program. p&lt;0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 31.1±6.8 years with a mean duration of work as 5.9±5.7 years The median knowledge score of the participants was 15 out of 22, 11, and 8 among doctors, nurses, and other health care personnel, respectively (p&lt;0.001). All of the doctors, 31% of the nurses, and 44% of the other health personnel stated that they had recommended HPV vaccination to their social environment. Although ten participants (5 doctors and 5 nurses) had been vaccinated for HPV, all of the participants’ relatives were unvaccinated. Among participants, 65.9% of the doctors, 36.2% of the nurses and 23.5% of the allied health personnel stated that they were planning to recommend vaccination to their relatives. Conclusion: Despite the high levels of recommending HPV vaccine to their social environment, low rates of vaccinated participants and their relatives were determined in this study. The knowledge levels about cervical cancer and prevention methods of healthcare professionals should be increased with educational programs to affect their attitudes towards HPV vaccination. With increased knowledge, healthcare workers will be able to guide the society correctly and adequately, and vaccination rates can be increased among the community. Keywords: HPV, vaccination, cervical cancer, healthcare. Journal of Psychology and Personality Disorders Citation: DEMIRAG S, (2022) Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccination: From the Female Health Care Workers’ Perception. J Psycho Person Dis. (JPPD) 2 INTRODUCTION Although cervical cancer is

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Workability and its Predictors among Nurses Working in Delhi Hospitals: A Multicentric Survey

Introduction: Nurses are considered to be the frontline healthcare professionals with prolonged hours of caring for ailing as well as critically ill patients. This highly demanding work pattern can lead them to experience Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) and thus makes it important to study its prevalence and its impact on workability and to develop appropriate supportive strategies to improve their health and work efficiency. Aim: To explore the prevalence of WRMSDs among hospital nurses in Delhi, including the risk factors and coping strategies adopted by them to avoid the risk of WRMSDs. Materials and Methods: This multicentric survey, cross-sectional study was conducted in different hospitals in Delhi, India, from October 2020 till March 2021 among 260 nurses. Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Workability Index (WAI). Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to develop correlations for continuous variables and Biserial correlation test was used for dichotomous variables. The level of significance was 95% (p-value &lt;0.05). Results: The mean age and mean work duration were 35.62±7.12 years, and 8.60 hours per day respectively. Out of total, 230 (88.5%) were females and 30 (11.5%) were males. The prevalence of WRMSD was 80% during the last 12 months with low back pain, the most commonly reported problem. The majority of nurses communicated moderate workability (47.7%) and moderate level of stress (73.5%). The result of linear multiple regression analysis showed that the independent variables of (age, work hours, type of job, back and shoulder pain) explained 46.4% of the workability index (R2 =0.444, adjusted R2 =0.395), and the model significant (F-value=14.76, p-value &lt;0.001). Conclusion: Nurses are at high-risk for WRMSD as well as observing prolonged stress and reduced workability. Special measures should be taken to ensure that they work in an ergonomically acceptable workplace and that proper body mechanics and stress management practices are adopted. Lifestyle intervention would help in preventing and reducing impact of WRMSDs.

Occupational Skin Diseases among Building Construction Workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background:Amongst established growing industries worldwide, the construction industry contributes about 7.5% of the world labor force and 16.4% of global occupational diseases and accidents. A variety of activities are practiced in construction work, such as masonry, painting, welding, carpentry, plastering, concrete and cement mixing. These may eventually lead to exposures that can subject the workers to risks of developing occupational skin diseases. Most studies done on the construction industry in Tanzania have focused on effects such as injuries, respiratory problems and ergonomics; very little research has been done on skin diseases.Objectives:The study aimed at assessing the prevalence of occupational skin diseases, associated factors and preventive measures among building construction workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods:Construction sites and participants were selected using simple random sampling. The Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ) was adapted and used for assessing the development of skin diseases among constructions workers. Analysis of categorical variables, associated factors and skin preventive measures was done using Chi-square tests. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio for factors indicating an influence on the occurrence of skin diseases.Findings:The study consisted of 420 building construction workers from different sites with a mean age of 32.7 years. The participants were masons, assistant masons and carpenters. The mean work duration was 6 years. Occupational Skin diseases were prevalent in 228 (54%) workers. Carpenters had a higher prevalence of skin diseases 12(67%), followed by assistant masons 43 (64%). Timely provision of safety trainings and of PPE utility, training and guidance lowered the occurrence of skin diseases.Conclusion:A high number of construction workers experienced skin diseases, especially those who have worked for more than 4 years. Workers who received safety training before the work shift had lesser prevalence of skin diseases compared to those who did not. Receiving proper information on PPE usage and proper wearing of gloves had a protective effect.

Burnout among emergency medicine residents

Background: The emergency medicine department is the hub of most activity in any healthcare institution, with the most critical patients present and demand the most urgent care. However, dealing with that working day in and day out, throughout the extensive training period, has many adverse bodily and mental effects on the emergency medicine residents, the most problematic among which is burnout. The aim was to study the prevalence of burnout among emergency medicine residents.&#x0D; Methodology: This observational, cross-sectional analysis was conducted upon a sample of 54 emergency medicine residents selected via non-probability convenience sampling from 3 different tertiary care teaching hospitals at Karachi. After taking written informed consent, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to assess burnout and its sub-components (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment). Additionally, basic biodata, sociodemographic details, distress at work were inquired and recorded onto a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.&#x0D; Results: Among the 54 residents enrolled in the study, 68.52% were males, while 31.48% were females. The mean age of the sample stood at 29.0±2.0 years. The mean duration of working in the emergency department was 2.0±1.0 years. Mean burnout scores were 28.4 for emotional exhaustion (high), 9.3 for depersonalization (moderate), and 31.47 for personal accomplishment (moderate). The most commonly reported stressors at work included unruly patients and attendants, lack of timely cooperation by healthcare professionals from other departments, breaking bad news, and work overload.&#x0D; Conclusion: After careful consideration, it can be concluded that burnout is prevalent among emergency medicine residents, and steps must be taken to prevent the already distraught and scarce emergency medicine personnel from falling into dysfunction due to burnout.

Computer vision syndrome, visual ergonomics and amelioration among staff members in a Saudi medical college

Objectives. Nearly 60 million people suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS) globally, resulting in reduced work productivity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CVS, describe the working conditions, visualize ergonomic factors and determine preventive measures application among university staff members. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with university medical staff members using a semi-structured questionnaire that included a validated CVS questionnaire. Results. CVS prevalence was 81.2%. Dryness, headache, feeling that sight is worsening and difficulty in focusing on near vision were the most experienced symptoms. Prevalence of CVS was significantly higher among females (52.3%), those having a higher mean work duration (21.65 ± 7.55 years), those who frequently use a smartphone (84.9%) and those spending most of their screen time during both day and night (87.1%). Visual ergonomics and preventive measures application, such as correct screen level, regular cleaning of the screen, appropriate illumination and use of eye drops, were significantly associated with negative CVS. Conclusions. These results raised attention to the essential need for visual assessment of university staff members for early and proper diagnosis of CVS to minimize its impact on working performance. Accordingly, it is recommended to organize university-based awareness programs regarding CVS for working personnel.

Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Conditions in Turkey: Current Status of Code Blue.

ObjectiveGlobally, previously determined teams activated by ‘code blue’ calls target rapid and organised responses to medical emergency situations. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) conditions in Turkey.MethodsA web-based survey was sent to anaesthesiologists in Turkey via email. The survey included 36 questions about demographic features and ‘code blue’ practices and procedures.ResultsA total of 180 participants were included. The mean working duration was 16.1±7.5 years. Of the anaesthesiologists who participated, 35% worked in university, 26.1% in education and research, 1.7% in city hospitals, 18.9% in state hospitals and 18.3% in private hospitals; 68.3% had CPR certification. There were code blue systems in 97.6% of the organisations. For code blue calls, 71.9% were activated by calling ‘2222’. There were 41.5% organisations with code blue teams of 3–4 people, whereas 26.7% had 2-member teams. Among call responders, 68.5% were anaesthesia technicians/paramedics, 60.7% were anaesthesiologists and 42.7% were anaesthesia assistants. In organisations, 66.3% regularly conducted code blue training. In total, 63.3% of the participants stated that the time to reach the location was nearly 2–4 minutes. During CPR, the use of capnography was 18.3%. Of the participants, 73.8% chose endotracheal intubation as priority airway device during CPR.ConclusionToday, code blue practice is an important quality criterion for hospitals. This study shows the current status of ‘code blue’ according to the results of respondent data completing the survey. To prevent in-hospital cardiac arrest, a chain of preventive measures should be established, including personnel training, monitoring of patients, recognition of patient deterioration, the presence of a call for help system and effective intervention.

Some health effects of work-related stress among nurses working in critical care units.

Occupational stress is a major health problem among nurses. Critical care nurses appear to experience more stress at work compared to others. Stress is associated with multiple system disorders, hormonal, and immunological disturbances, and genetic effects. The aim of our study was the detection of health effects of work-related stress and to investigate the link between stress and immune response, alterations of hormones, and expression of micro-RNA (miRNA) among critical care nurses. An exposed 80 critical care nurses matched to 80 controls were involved in our study. Full history, psychological assessment using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and a complete clinical examination were done for both groups. Serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, micro-RNA26, and 142 extractions. The exposed group had a mean age of 41 ± 10 years old and mean work duration of 22 ± 9.7 years, matched to 80 controls. The exposed group (32.5%) was associated with severe psychological distress (GHQ scores > 20) compared to only 5% among controls. In addition, the exposed group had a significantly higher level of miRNA 26, miRNA 142, TSH, LH, and IL-6 when compared to the control group. However, there a significantly lower level of FT4 among the exposed group compared to the control group, there were no statistically significant differences between the studied participants regarging FT3,FSH and IL-10 levels. Stress is prevalent among critical care nurses and is reflected on their psychological health with an increase in inflammatory cytokines and disturbances in endocrine functions.

Knowledge and Attitude of Doctors in Primary Care Settings Towards Thyroid Disorders: An Interventional Study

Thyroid disorders are important and growing health problems worldwide. However, considering real life, assessment of knowledge and attitudes of physicians towards thyroid diseases in primary care is lacking. The study aimed to determine the difference in knowledge and attitudes of Family physicians (FPs), General Practitioners (GPs) and internists in primary care settings of Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) towards Hypo and hyperthyroidism before and after medical education. This study is a pre-post interventional study done in primary health care facilities on 70 physicians from the three medical disciplines. Doctors were interviewed at their work place with a questionnaire consisting of personal data of the doctor and twenty questions about knowledge and attitudes towards thyroid disorders then they were handled the ideal answers according to the guidelines and the interview was repeated after two months. This study revealed that the mean age of physicians was 34±7.8, the mean duration of work was 6.8±5 years. The pre- interventional knowledge of internists was superior to family physicians and general practitioners. There was a highly significant change of physician knowledge (from 4.1±1.4 to 8±1.6) after intervention and there was a weakly significant change in attitude (from 3.1±0.9 to 3.2±0.9 and from 3.1±1.5 to 3.3±1.6 respectively) among general practitioners and family physicians after intervention. It was concluded that doctors from the three medical disciplines had a significant change in their responses to knowledge questions after intervention. So, it’s a must to train doctors in primary care how-to pick-up cases of thyroid disorders and how to manage them according to the guidelines and when they need to refer these cases.