Prolonged Hours Research Articles

Novel synthesis of CuHCF/B-rGO composites for oxygen evolution reaction activity

In this work, we have focused on the preparation of copper hexacyanoferrate/boron doped rGO composites (abbreviated as CuHCF/B-rGO) by employing simple co-precipitation technique subsequently processed with ultrasonication method. The XRD spectra confirmed the existence of the cubic structure of copper hexacyanoferrate with high crystalline peaks. The prepared nanocomposite morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confirmed CuHCF nanoparticles formation with flake-like and wrinkled sheets. Pure CuHCF nanostructures revealed good OER action at 430 mV to obtain 10 mA/cm2. The obtained CuHCF product OER activity can be further upgraded by incorporating the electrically conductive boron doped reduced graphene oxide matrix into CuHCF nanostructures, for the reason that the overpotential of the CuHCF/B-rGO was reduced to 380 mV to attain 10 mA/cm2 with 88 mV/dec Tafel slope value. The doping of heteroatom considerably improves charge-transfer resistance of metal hexacyanoferrate, giving a small resistance value of 2.97 Ω, which was lower than that of CuHCF (5.57 Ω) and CuHCF/rGO (4.31 Ω). Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the CuHCF/B-rGO was stable at prolonged hours with a small decay of 12.5%. Therefore, this work offers new approach to stimulate the catalytic performance of metal hexcyanoferrate by highly conductive carbon-based materials for water splitting performance.

Ergonomic Studies on Occupational Health of Women Workers Involved in Agricultural Industries: A Systematic Review

This study undertakes a systematic review focusing on occupational health hazards and related issues experienced by women in the agriculture sector. Women engage in diverse and demanding farm operations, involving substantial energy expenditure, prolonged hours, and awkward postures, contributing to both drudgery and occupational health risks. Understanding the root causes of these conditions and establishing effective measurement methods is crucial. Moreover, identifying strategies to mitigate these hazards is imperative. A comprehensive literature review on women in agriculture illuminates various health concerns, their origins, analytical approaches, and potential enhancements to working conditions. To conduct a systematic review, the study adhered to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method, incorporating 79 relevant articles from Scopus and PubMed, following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, published between 1989 and 2022. The findings revealed a concerning trend wherein female workers increasingly assume precarious, underpaid, and labour-intensive roles within the agricultural sector. Occupational health risks are heightened due to factors such as heat exposure, pesticide use, injuries, incontinence, awkward postures, and activities prone to drudgery. Ergonomically designed technology is pivotal in alleviating women’s occupational challenges, although this area remains relatively underexplored. To address these occupational hazards and health concerns effectively, there is a need for governmental intervention. Establishing a dedicated task force or committee is recommended. Furthermore, a multi-stakeholder network comprising government bodies, non-profit organizations, and civil society groups is proposed to enhance the well-being of women working in agriculture collaboratively. This study is the first of its kind that effectively highlights the multidimensional health issues women workers face, shedding light on their working conditions in the agriculture industry.

WP7.3 - FAMiSH: FAsting prior to eMergency general Surgery in Hospital – Quality improvement project protocol

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate adherence to preoperative fasting guidelines at the RD&E hospital, focusing on safety and reducing prolonged fasting complications particularly in patients with extremes of age, diabetic or co-morbid. Data were gathered anonymously over 2 cycles for 4 weeks through patient records and questionnaire to access patient given instructions for fasting. All patients with planned procedures were included, excluding emergency operations (NCEPOD) 1 or 2a/2b classification. Issues such as inadequate communication, excessive fasting, insufficient monitoring, and medication mismanagement were addressed. Cycle one revealed 25% of patients fasted for more than 6 hours, 56.25% did not consume liquids for more than 12 hours, and 25% abstained from drinking for more than 8 hours preoperatively. It was noted that guidelines were not thoroughly adhered to. Some patients have missed their medications, as well as diabetic patients with prolonged hours of fasting. We have provided a session for junior doctors and nurses aiming education on ASA guidelines and encouraging individualised fasting plans for patients. Information leaflets were created to be distributed to patients planned for surgery. In the second cycle only 20% and 24% of patients didn’t follow fasting guidelines for solids and liquids respectively as compared to 68.75% of the patients receiving inappropriate instructions in 1st cycle, showing significant improvement in patient care. In our study at the RD&E we have noted an improvement in departmental focus on adherence to fasting guidelines, which focus on abstaining from solid foods up to 6 hours and drinks up to 2 hours prior to surgery, aiding patient safety and improvement of quality of care.

Subjective and fitting evaluation of a revised physical attachment interface for a passive exoskeleton chair

Passive exoskeleton chairs can alleviate fatigue, enhance efficiency, and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal diseases for workers standing for prolonged hours and have gradually been applied in recent years. In this study, by strategically distributing elastic and non-elastic fabrics, physical interfaces of the attachment system for the exoskeleton chair were revised to better adapt to bodily deformations and movements. We conducted an experiment using motion capture systems and subjective questionnaires to evaluate the performance of the initial and revised attachment systems of an exoskeleton chair worn by participants while performing multiple simulated assembly tasks. The results indicated that when wearing the revised one, some adverse effects on gait were significant reduced, as was the relative displacement of straps and discomfort in lumbar and abdominal, and system usability was improved, all of which were considered to be helpful in design to improve the performance of the attachment system in the future.

835 FAMiSH: Fasting Prior to Emergency General Surgery in Hospital – Quality Improvement Project Protocol

Abstract Aim This study was conducted to evaluate adherence to preoperative fasting guidelines at the Royal Devon University Hospital, focusing on safety and reducing prolonged fasting particularly in geriatric, diabetic or co-morbid patients. Method Data were gathered anonymously over 2 cycles for 4 weeks through patient records and questionnaires to access patient given instructions for fasting to solids and fluids. All patients with emergency surgeries more than 6 hours later were included, excluding emergency operations (NCEPOD) 1 or 2a/2b classification. Issues such as inadequate communication, excessive fasting and medication mismanagement were addressed. Results Cycle one revealed that 25% of patients fasted for more than 6 hours, 56.25% did not consume liquids for more than 12 hours, and 25% abstained from drinking for more than 8 hours preoperatively. It was noted that guidelines were not thoroughly adhered to. Some patients missed medications, besides diabetics with prolonged hours of fasting. We have provided a session for junior doctors and nurses, educating on ASA guidelines, and encouraging individualised fasting plans for patients. Information leaflets were distributed to patients for surgery. In the second cycle only 20% and 24% of patients didn’t follow fasting guidelines for solids and liquids respectively compared to 68.75% of patients receiving inappropriate instructions in first cycle, showing significant improvement in care. Conclusions In our study we have noted improvement in departmental focus on adherence to fasting guidelines, which advise abstaining from solids up to 6 hours and drinks up to 2 hours prior to surgery, aiding patient safety and improvement of quality of care.

A Cross-sectional Study on Association of Iliopsoas Muscle Length with Lumbar Lordosis Among Desk Job Workers

Background: Prolonged hours of sitting in sustained posture is a common job requirement of desk job workers. Potential risk of iliopsoas muscle shortening leading to lumbar hyperlordosis, which in turn may cause low-back pain was identified. Thus, this study determined association between iliopsoas muscle length and lumbar lordosis in desk job workers. Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study was conducted on forty-six desk job workers working for 5 hrs/day for at least 5 years. Workers were assessed for iliopsoas muscle length using Modified Thomas test and flexi-ruler was used to measure lumbar lordosis. Pearson’s correlation was operated for association of iliopsoas length with lumbar lordosis. Results: Lumbar lordosis demonstrated moderate positive correlation with both right (r = 0.628) and left Iliopsoas muscle length (r = 0.647). Conclusion: This study concluded workers with higher degree of lumbar lordosis presented with shorter iliopsoas length. Timely intervention to maintain the length of this muscle will ensure low incidence of low-back pain among desk job workers thereby safeguarding their spine due to cumulative trauma.

Prevalence of Upper Extremity Pain among Tabla Players working in Islamabad/Rawalpindi

Background: Upper extremity pain is a significant concern among musicians, particularly those involved in repetitive and high-stress activities such as playing the tabla. This study aims to assess the prevalence and risk factors of upper extremity pain and associated functional disabilities in tabla players based in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Objective: To determine the prevalence of upper extremity pain and functional disability among tabla players and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted at music schools, academies, and churches in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The study spanned five months from June 23, 2023, following the approval of the synopsis. A sample size of 100 male tabla players aged 19-38 years, with at least two years of playing experience and a minimum of two practice sessions per week, was selected using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data collection tools included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for evaluating functional limitations. Participants with a history of upper extremity diseases, surgical history, trauma, or congenital deformities were excluded. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with frequencies, percentages, and p-values calculated to determine statistical significance. Results: Among the participants, 40% were aged 19-23 years, 26% were aged 24-28 years, 31% were aged 29-33 years, and 3% were aged 34-38 years. The prevalence of upper extremity pain was 89%, and functional disability was 88%. Pain levels varied with playing hours per week: 11% reported no pain, 16% had mild pain, 67% experienced moderate pain, and 6% had severe pain. Functional disability scores were similarly distributed across playing hours, with 11% reporting no disability, 16% mild disability, 67% moderate disability, and 6% severe disability. The relationship between playing hours and both VAS and DASH scores was statistically significant (p-values 0.045 and 0.032, respectively). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of upper extremity pain and functional disability among tabla players, significantly impacting their quality of life. Key risk factors included repetitive movements, abnormal posture, prolonged practice hours, poor technique, age, and gender. These findings underscore the need for preventive strategies and targeted interventions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in this population.

Health promotion as the nexus of public health and clinical care: the case of a district hospital in southern Ghana.

This study explored the extent to which health promotion techniques and activities are incorporated into public health and clinical care at a District Hospital in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, as well as the challenges that this process faces. Information was obtained at the hospital facility through direct observation, interviews and open-ended questionnaires. Findings showed that the process of incorporating health promotion activities into public health and clinical care at the hospital was underdeveloped. The challenges this process faces based on the research findings include structural challenges, inadequate logistics, increased workload, insufficient human resource capacity, lack of motivation for staff, lack of cooperation, teamwork and consultation, inadequate management and enforcement support, prolonged hospital hours for healthcare workers and patients, and inadequate knowledge of health promotion and training. To address these challenges, suggested measures include promoting teamwork and collaboration among healthcare professionals, training and continuous education, government involvement and enforcement of health promotion integration at the hospital, hospital management involvement, media sensitization and advocacy, provision of financial, material and human resources, motivation and encouragement of the process of health promotion integration, and patient involvement. Further research is also recommended to broaden the scope of this study by involving other health practitioner categories and health promotion stakeholders.

Effects of Use of Personal Protective Equipment on Physical and Mental Health of Health Care Workers: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract Background: Due to the high transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was recommended worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic for health care workers (HCWs). Objectives: The study aims to understand the effects of the use of PPE on the health of HCWs. Materials and Methods: The study was a mixed-method study consisting of two parts, conducted in the year 2019. Initially, 200 HCWs were asked to fill out an online questionnaire enquiring about the effects of PPE on their health. To assess the distress caused by PPE, Kessler Distress Scale was used. In the second part, 20 random participants were interviewed for a subjective understanding of their experience with PPE. Results: Excessive sweating, fatigue, increased thirst, dyspnea, and headache were the most reported symptoms, along with several dermatological symptoms. About 10% of the participants suffered from severe distress. The interviews showed themes involving donning and doffing, physical, psychological, and social well-being, work efficacy, security, and stigma. Conclusion: The scarcity of PPE, prolonged duty hours, and lack of prior training led to various mental and physical ailments among HCWs. These could be tackled by simple preventive strategies, which, if implemented at a broad scale, would help the health care community during similar situations in the future.

Influence of sitting time on pulmonary function in computerusing office workers.

We aimed to identify the changes in pulmonary function after prolonged sitting. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) allow physicians to assess the respiratory capability of patients under numerous clinical circumstances and when there are risk factors for lung sickness, occupational exposure, and pulmonary toxicity. PFTs are routinely performed in the standing or high sitting position because of the devices and patient comfort. A total of 180 asymptomatic office workers were recruited as eligibility criteria and divided into three groups according to their daily sitting duration (group 1:2-4 h, group 2:4-6 h, and group 3: > 6 h). PFTs were performed twice consecutively to determine the mean of the readings. A Helios 401 spirometer was used to quantify lung function. The parameters were "forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)", "forced vital capacity (FVC)", "peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)", and the "ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC)". Our results suggest that noteworthy changes were present in the lung function of all the participants. For individuals with > 6 h of sitting; FVC, FEV1, and PEFR were higher compared to those of the participants with 2-4 h and 4-6 h of sitting. The FEV1/FVC ratio was also reduced in individuals with prolonged hours of sitting. Body position impacts the result of PFTs; however, that as it may, the ideal position and extent of advantage changed between the review populaces. These results suggested that noteworthy changes occur in the lung function of healthy individuals exposed to sitting time.

Estimation of Atraumatic Hip Microinstability Among Long Distance Truck Drivers in Western Maharashtra : A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Hip micro-instability is an upcoming concern and is gaining acceptance as an important contributing factor for hip joint dysfunction among adults and is a major risk factor for the development of early osteoarthritis. Around 20-25% of people at the age of 50 suffer hip pain and knee pain because of chronic wear and tear of joint articular cartilage. is typically described as painful extra-physiologic hip movements, either alone or in combination with symptoms of unstable hip joints. Truck drivers travel long routes for an extensive duration of time with their hips in an ergonomically compromised position. Occupational stress can cause pain which is an effect of vibrational forces and postural stress. Investigation suggests that hip musculoskeletal pain as a whole is one of the main causes of hip micro-instability. Hence, it is important to evaluate the presence of hip micro-instability among long-distance truck drivers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 4 May 2023 in a rural tertiary care hospital in Karad for about 6 months. Wherein a total of 103 long-distance truck drivers were randomly selected based on the inclusion criteria which included truck drivers by occupation within the age group of 35-45 years, working for more than 12 hours in a day and for 5 days/week with no history of trauma. They were assessed by using the Anterior Apprehension Test, Prone Apprehension Test, and AB-HEER test. The data was then analyzed using statistical procedures, and the results were obtained. Results: The present study shows that over 12% of participants showed positive results for hip micro-instability. A significant positive correlation was observed between the number of years of driving in relation to pain (P value < 0.0001). On assessment, there was an increase in flexion, adduction, and internal rotation ranges which hence revealed anterior hip micro-instability (P value = 0.0121) as compared to extension, abduction and external rotation ranges which revealed posterior instability. Conclusion: The study concluded that over 12% of participants showed positive results for hip micro-instability. Also, anterior hip micro-instability was more as compared to posterior hip micro-instability amongst the truck drivers due to capsular relaxation which was affected due to prolonged hours of poor ergonomics. This study also showed the existence of micro-instability despite the presence or absence of ligamentous laxity.

Difference of effectiveness between educational video media and PowerPoint on sedentary lifestyle on students’ knowledge

Living a sedentary lifestyle entails engaging in minimal physical activity and getting insufficient exercise. One of the common repercussions of sedentary habits among adolescents is obesity. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, students often studied online, spending prolonged hours in front of computer screens. This shift to remote learning exacerbated the sedentary behavior already prevalent among adolescents, potentially worsening the risk of obesity and other associated health issues. To mitigate the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle, this research aimed to enhance students' comprehension of relevant information on a sedentary lifestyle. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was used in this kind of study. Using the purposive sampling technique, the study sample consisted of 72 students from class X: 36 respondents from class X-1 were assigned to the instructional video media group, while 36 respondents from class X-2 were assigned to the PowerPoint group. A pre-test questionnaire was distributed to each group, followed by interventions and a post-test questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the data between groups, while the Wilcoxon test was used to analyze each group's data. After using PowerPoint and video media as an intervention, there was a significant difference in the respondents' knowledge level, with p values being the same (p value=0.000). The treatment group that used educational video media and the group that used PowerPoint media differed in effectiveness (p value=0.015). After receiving an intervention using a PowerPoint and video, the respondents' level of knowledge increased. Compared to PowerPoint presentations, educational videos are a more effective way to enhance understanding of inactive lifestyles. A remarkable opportunity exists to enhance adolescents' understanding of the importance of leading an active lifestyle by harnessing the potential of video media as an instrumental tool.

Unknotting tech neck by breaking the cycle of pain and disability: Comparing the impact of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization on specific muscles and superficial back arm line

BackgroundComputer professionals often develop a forward head posture due to prolonged hours of computer use, leading to neck pain. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), an advanced technique for treating myofascial trigger points, has become increasingly popular for addressing these musculoskeletal issues. ObjectivesThe study aimed to compare the effectiveness of IASTM mobilization on SBAL (superficial back arm line) and SM(specific muscles-upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid) in managing chronic neck pain among computer professionals. Participants & methodsThe study involved 62 computer professionals, randomly divided into two groups. Group A received IASTM on SBAL and group B received IASTM on SM for neck pain each receiving three sessions weekly for four weeks. Outcome variables like Neck Disability Index (NDI), NPRS(Neck Pain Rating Scale), Craniovertebral angle (CVA), and range of motion (ROM) for flexion, and side flexion (right & left side) were evaluated at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. ResultsSignificant improvement in NPRS were observed in both the SBAL and SM groups after 2 weeks of IASTM, wth the SBAL group demonstrating greater improvement. At 4 weeks, IASTM on SBAL showed significantly higher improvements in NPRS, CVA, NDI, and flexion compared to the SM group. The repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant main effect of both time and group, along with a significant interaction between time and group for all outcome variables, except for CVA. ConclusionThe study indicates that IASTM on SBAL may offer a more effective treatment for chronic neck pain in computer professionals compared to targeting specific muscles.

Deciphering cometary outbursts: linking gas composition changes to trigger mechanisms

ABSTRACT Dust and gas outbursts are recurrent cometary phenomena, playing a crucial role in shaping the coma. Proposed outburst trigger mechanisms include cliff collapse, pressure pockets, and amorphous-to-crystalline phase transition of water ice; however, the underlying processes remain inadequately understood. In this study, we analyse Rosetta/ROSINA data from multiple outbursts on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and present the evolution of the gas composition in the comet’s coma during outburst events. We distinguish two distinct categories of cometary outbursts on the comet: water-driven events characterized by rapid (minutes to hours) changes in coma composition, and CO2-driven events displaying a slow, prolonged (hours to days) increase in highly volatile species. We tentatively associate these different gas composition patterns with different trigger mechanisms. Exposure of fresh ice due to cliff collapse leads to a notable water enhancement, while most perihelion outbursts coincide with substantial density increases of CO2. We propose that these CO2-driven events originate from subsurface gas-filled cavities, whose walls are suggested to have been sealed by earlier refreezing of CO2 migrating from warmer spots, hence increasing the cavity pressure required to burst.

The link between hours of center-based childcare and child development in 3- to 6-year-olds: Evidence from Singapore

This study examined how the number of hours of early childhood education (ECE) is associated with young children's behavior problems and early academic achievement in Singapore, a non-WEIRD (“Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic”) country with families using long ECE hours. We drew data from the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study. Participants were 3- to 6-year-old children (N = 2,452). General linear models and spline regressions were utilized to analyze how ECE hours were associated with children's behavior problems and early academic achievement while controlling for child and family characteristics. On average, Singaporean children stayed 41.07 hours per week in ECE centers, with 38 % of the sampled children spending more than 50 hours per week in ECE centers. Notably, we found an inverted-U-shaped relation between ECE hours and child outcomes with a turning point of approximately 35–40 hours per week. Before the turning point, a greater number of hours in ECE was associated with more externalizing problems and higher academic achievement. However, after this point, a greater number of hours was associated with fewer behavior problems, both externalizing and internalizing, as well as poorer academic achievement. These findings demonstrate a complex nonlinear association between ECE hours and child outcomes in a context of children spending prolonged hours in centers.

Effect of substrate roughness on the nucleation and growth behaviour of microwave plasma enhanced CVD diamond films – a case study

The influence of substrate surface roughness on the nucleation and growth of diamond films by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) is investigated. Silicon substrates were grinded with six different grit sizes of abrasive papers with a rotating wheel. Si was also etched by Ar+ ions to produce average surface roughness Ra = 11.29 nm on the mirror polished side (Ra = 1.17 nm). A comparison of the results of the effect of substrate roughness, on the growth behaviour of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films, by using both the resonant cavity and the linear antenna CVD systems, are presented here. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and Raman spectroscopy reveal that under both the linear antenna and the resonant cavity microwave plasma CVD conditions, grown films are NCD. The diamond nanocrystals sizes vary from 80 to 180 nm, grown by both the reactors after few hours of deposition, irrespective of the substrate roughness, whereas their quality (defined by the relative percentage ratios of the Raman sp3 peak intensity to the non-sp3 peak intensity) varies from 33% to 45%, depending on the substrate surface roughness. Such nanocrystals grew into plate-like flat 1–6 μm size diamond grains after prolonged hours (64–69 h) of CVD growth. It is found specifically that the roughness created by the argon plasma treatment of the silicon substrate surfaces effectively enhances the nucleation and growth behaviour of the diamond films.

Addressing urinary incontinence by gender: a nationwide population-based study in Turkiye

BackgroundUrinary incontinence (UI), which usually occurs in women but affects both sexes, is a significant public health challenge. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the prevalence and determinants of UI in men and women, considering gender-specific factors.MethodsThe study performed a secondary analysis on data obtained from 13,383 individuals surveyed in the 2019 Turkish Health Survey, providing a representation of the Turkish population. The dataset included sociodemographic and health-related variables like UI, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking, and chronic diseases—statistical analysis employed chi-square tests and gender-stratified logistic regression models to identify UI-associated factors.ResultsOur results showed that UI affected 8.8% of the population, with a striking gender disparity. Women had a notably higher prevalence at 11.2%, while men had a lower rate of 5.5%. Importantly, this gender gap narrowed with age. For example, in the 34–44 age group, the female/male ratio was 6.9, but it decreased to 1.4 in the 65–74 age group. Marital status and employment status played significant roles. Separated, divorced, or widowed individuals, particularly women, had the highest prevalence at 19.3%. Employment status influenced UI prevalence, with employed men having the lowest rate (2.1%), while retired women faced the highest rate (15.0%). Higher BMI, especially in obese individuals, significantly raised UI prevalence, reaching 7.9% for men and 15.8% for women. Physical inactivity, notably in women (17.0%), and prolonged sedentary hours (13.9%) were associated with higher UI rates. Former smokers, especially women (15.9%), had a notable impact on UI. Poor perceived health and chronic conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), hypertension, and diabetes were significantly associated with higher UI prevalence. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, education, perceived health status, COPD, and diabetes were significant factors associated with UI in both sexes, while in women, BMI, physical activity, and smoking also played notable roles.ConclusionsThis extensive UI study has unveiled notable gender disparities and determinants. Notably, these disparities decrease with age, underlining UI’s changing nature over time. Modifiable factors impact women more, while non-modifiable factors are linked to men. The study underscores the importance of tailoring healthcare strategies to address UI based on gender.

Development of a scale to evaluate the rest levels of male workers

Objectives "Rest" has two aspects: "repose," to recover from physical or mental fatigue, and "restore," to re-establish physical, mental, and social health. Many male workers work for prolonged hours, and despite stress, they do not apply coping behaviors, unlike female workers. Consequently, taking sufficient rest is difficult for male workers. The aim of this study was to develop a scale incorporating multiple factors to evaluate the state in which male workers take rest.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 330 male workers aged 20-59 years who had been engaged in two manufacturing industries. The questionnaire items were created with reference to an interview survey of male workers in the literature. After discussing with industrial hygiene experts and conducting a pretest to obtain surface validity, 70 items were used for analyses. In the exploratory factor analysis, promax rotation was used with the maximum likelihood method. In the confirmatory factor analysis, goodness of fit was confirmed with the covariance structure analysis. Health-related quality of life, job stress, work engagement, sleep, and self-assessment of rest were used to examine concurrent validity.Results With the exploratory factor analysis, we introduced a scale containing 15 items, including three subscales: filling with spirit, enthusiasm for work, and recovery from fatigue. The reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of the three subscales and the overall scale ranged from 0.79 to 0.88 and 0.89, ensuring internal consistency. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a generally good fit. Their scores were correlated with many items of the health-related quality of life, job stress, work engagement, sleep, and self-assessment of rest.Conclusions A 15-item "Rest Evaluation Scale" was created to evaluate the state in which male workers in the manufacturing industries take rest. Since the validity, reliability, and concurrent validity of this scale were satisfactory, this scale was considered to be an index evaluating the state of rest of male workers.

Incidence of Cervical Pain in Bank Workers of Jalalabad City Afghanistan

Neck pain is pain that starts in the neck and can be associated with radiating pain down one or both of the arms. Neck pain can be caused by a variety of conditions or diseases that affect any of the tissues in the neck, including nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. The cervical spine, or neck portion of the spinal column, is made up of seven bones (C1-C7) that are divided from each other by intervertebral discs. During exercise, these discs allow the spine to move freely and function as shock absorbers. Up to 75% of individuals will have neck discomfort at some time in their lives. Bank workers face this problem due to their workplace in relation to computer use and prolonged hours of working. An observational study is done in 150 bank workers from different banks of Jalalabad city. Participants completed a well-tested questionnaire and data was analyzed by Ms office excel program. In analysis, neck pain is dependent variable and age, height and BMI are independent variables, Results shows that Male frequency in bank is 150 and percentage is 100 because according to our community female are not allowed by their families to work in bank. These findings show that neck pain may be associated with type of job, design of work station and job demand (Hogg-Johnson S, 2009; Ariëns GA, 2002; Côté P, 2004). The study aims to find the appearance of pain in the neck v among bank workers of different private and governmental banks also exploring association of different posture, work hours and different mode of setting with neck pain among Bank workers. All the findings of this study strongly supports the hypothesis that neck pain is common in bank workers and showed association with posture of setting, work hours, continuous working hours, type of chairs.

Psychological stressors and needs among essential workers at a Singapore hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Hospital workers have borne a large burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, exposed to risks of infection, while enduring elevated workloads, increased workplace stress, prolonged hours in uncomfortable working conditions, and public stigmatisation. Objectives In this cross-sectional study, we examined the psychological stressors of COVID-19 on hospital essential services workers and their needs at a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Methods: We conducted a study of 246 outsourced essential workers comprising housekeeping, maintenance staff, and porting staff. Psychological distress was measured by the Kessler-6 scale. We also surveyed respondents through a questionnaire on the main concerns that worried them, supportive resources available, and additional resources that would most help them. Results Among the survey respondents, concerns related to employment, finances, accommodation, transportation, and likelihood of receiving medical attention for COVID-19 were significantly associated with moderate to severe psychological distress ( p<0.05). Stress from isolation and fear of COVID-19 infection constituted the greatest psychosocial burdens. Respondents felt that main supportive resources came from their employers and social circles. They also listed enhanced individual ability to cope, and additional financial aid from their employers and the government would help them the most. Conclusions Financial and accommodation-related stressors reflect structural factors that exacerbated the psychosocial burdens faced by non-medical hospital workers. Most respondents tended to individualise their coping strategies, which point towards the need for stronger social protections and mental health provisions for hospital essential services workers.