Risk Of Fatigue Research Articles

Assessing Flight Crew Fatigue under Extra Augmented Crew Schedule Using a Multimodality Approach

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of how to reduce the risk of viral infection for international airline pilots without increasing the risk of fatigue was a novel and urgent theoretical and practical problem, which had never been encountered in the world civil aviation industry. A new scheduling method implemented by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is the extra augmented crew (EAC) schedule, which avoids crew layover in another country on international flights by extending the maximum duty time and adding two additional crew members to such long-haul flights. In this study, a multi-day flight crew fatigue assessment was conducted to evaluate the impact of EAC flight. We recruited 71 pilots as participants, and their fatigue during EAC flights was measured using a multimodality approach integrating a subjective fatigue report, a psychomotor vigilance task, sleep monitoring, and biomathematical model predictions. The results showed that the subjective fatigue level increased during duty time compared to off-duty time, but still with acceptable levels of under 7, as measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; objective secondary task performance, as measured by the classic psychomotor vigilance task, showed no differences; pilots were able to get around 6 h of sleep, although they slept less during duty time compared to off-duty time. Model fitting using the FAID biomathematical model of fatigue confirmed that the EAC scheduling was compliant with the FAID tolerance level 91.3% of the time. The results suggest that the EAC flight created some moderate level of increased fatigue but no severe fatigue to cross-continent long-haul flight crews. This research can inform current and future scheduling and fatigue risk control during the pandemic or for future time-sensitive periods.

Prevalence and predictors of post-COVID-19 symptoms in general practice - a registry-based nationwide study

BackgroundWith Norwegian national registry data, we assessed the prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms at least 3 months after confirmed infection, and whether sociodemographic factors and pre-pandemic health problems were risk factors for these symptoms.MethodsAll persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test from February 2020 to February 2021 (exposed) were compared to a group without a positive test (unexposed) matched on age, sex, and country of origin. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for 18 outcome symptoms commonly described as post-COVID-19 related, registered by GPs. We compared relative risks (RR) for fatigue, memory disturbance, or shortness of breath among exposed and unexposed using Poisson regression models, assessing sex, age, education, country of origin, and pre-pandemic presence of the same symptom and comorbidity as possible risk factors, with additional analyses to assess hospitalisation for COVID-19 as a risk factor among exposed.ResultsThe exposed group (N = 53 846) had a higher prevalence of most outcome symptoms compared to the unexposed (N = 485 757), with the highest risk for shortness of breath (HR 2.75; 95%CI 2.59–2.93), fatigue (2.08; 2.00-2.16) and memory disturbance (1.41;1.26–1.59). High HRs were also found for disturbance of smell/taste and hair loss, but frequencies were low. Concerning risk factors, sociodemographic factors were at large similarly associated with outcome symptoms in both groups. Registration of the outcome symptom before the pandemic increased the risk for fatigue, memory disturbance and shortness of breath after COVID-19, but these associations were weaker among exposed. Comorbidity was not associated with fatigue and shortness of breath in the COVID-19 group. For memory disturbance, the RR was slightly increased with the higher comorbidity score both among exposed and unexposed.ConclusionCOVID-19 was associated with a range of symptoms lasting more than three months after the infection.

Signs of fatigue and fatigue, their causes and prevention

Relevance. Nowadays, the problem of fatigue and fatigue is very relevant. A person works and rests, but constant stress at work can cause fatigue and reduce the body's working capacity. Fatigue is a natural reaction of the body to intense activity and can lead to a deterioration in the quality of work. The efficiency of the body also decreases with increased fatigue.The purpose of the research is to examine the signs of fatigue and fatigue and determine whether fatigue is a normal reaction to stress or a consequence of a stress reaction to excessive stress.Methods and organization of research. The article provides a literary review of the causes and methods of preventing fatigue and fatigue.Conclusions. Fatigue and fatigue can be normal reactions of the body to physical or mental stress, lack of sleep or improper nutrition. However, they can also be signs of various diseases. The article considered the ways to prevent fatigue and fatigue, identified on the basis of various studies. By following these recommendations, you can reduce the risk of fatigue and fatigue and maintain high work efficiency and energy throughout the day.

Influence of Anatomical Root Factors on Cyclic Fatigue Resistance of Heat Treated NiTi Instrument: A Review

Endodontic treatments have been improved over the last decade by the use of nickel titanium (NiTi) alloys. NiTi instrument had shape memory and superelastic properties which made the instrument more flexible, so the treatment quality was enhanced by eliminating the procedural errors. Although the numerous benefits of the NiTi instruments, the fracture was the most frequent failure that may be happened during its use due to flexural (cyclic) or torsional fatigue. Various thermo-mechanical heat treatments have been applied to NiTi instruments to improve fracture resistance and clinical performance. Several parameters influenced the fatigue resistance of NiTi files, and the most important factor that affected the likelihood of NiTi instrument fatigue was the root canal shape. Data collected of 100 papers from the Goggle scholar and Scien ceDirect database. After excluding 60 unrelated papers, thi s review of 40 included related studies aims to evaluate an overview of the anatomical root-related factors affecting t he cyclic fatigue of heat-treated NiTi instruments. Concl uded that the separation rates of file increased when the radius of curvature decreases and when the angle of curvature increased. Canals with the double curvatures increase the risk of cyclic fatigue. Also, the resistance to cyclic fatigue of NiTi files was affected by the canal curvature posit ion, with a short failure life coronally. So even in the improve ment of wire metallurgy and designs of instrument, the anatomy of canal still impact on the cyclic fatigue and should be considered during preparation especially with th e new concept of minimally invasive endodontic treatmen t.

The Comfort and Measurement Precision-Based Multi-Objective Optimization Method for Gesture Interaction.

As an advanced interaction mode, gestures have been widely used for human-computer interaction (HCI). This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization method based on the objective function JCP to solve the inconsistency between the gesture comfort JCS and measurement precision JPH in the gesture interaction. The proposed comfort model CS takes seventeen muscles and six degrees of freedom into consideration based on the data from muscles and joints, and is capable of simulating the energy expenditure of the gesture motion. The CS can provide an intuitive indicator to predict which act has the higher risk of fatigue or injury for joints and muscles. The measurement precision model ∆PH is calculated from the measurement error (∆XH,∆YH,∆ZH) caused by calibration, that provides a means to evaluate the efficiency of the gesture interaction. The modeling and simulation are implemented to analyze the effectiveness of the multi-objective optimization method proposed in this paper. According to the result of the comparison between the objective function JCS, based on the comfort model CS, and the objective function JPH, based on the measurement precision models ∆PH, the consistency and the difference can be found due to the variation of the radius rB_RHO and the center coordinates PB_RHOxB_RHO,yB_RHO,zB_RHO. The proposed objective function JCP compromises the inconsistency between the objective function JCS and JPH. Therefore, the multi-objective optimization method proposed in this paper is applied to the gesture design to improve the ergonomics and operation efficiency of the gesture, and the effectiveness is verified through usability testing.

SAT284 Is Stress Vulnerability In CAH Related To Epinephrine Deficiency And CYP21A2 Genotype?

Abstract Disclosure: A. Nordenstrom: None. K. Ekbom: None. R. Said: None. A. Strandqvist: None. H. Lönnberg: None. M. Lindberg: None. N. Bertman: None. A.L. Hirschberg: None. H. Falhammar: None. A. Rickenlund: None. Introduction: Primary adrenal insufficiency due to CYP21A2 deficiency results in epinephrine deficiency.The lack of a sufficient increase in epinephrine during high intensity exercise has been described, and increased hydrocortisone doses cannot compensate and normalize glucose response. Clinically patients with CAH seem vulnerable to stress. A possible role of epinephrine deficiency for stress vulnerability has not been studied previously. Research question: Do patients with CAH show increased stress sensitivity, depression and anxiety compared to healthy controls? Is stress sensitivity related to the severity of CAH, e.g. CYP21A2 genotype? Can vulnerability to different types of stress be correlated to the individual’s capacity to produce epinephrine? Methodology: 26 patients, aged 18-52 years, (13 F, 13 M) and 14 sex-matched controls. Plasma metanephrines (metabolites of catecholamines) were measured at start and at the peak of physical exertion on a maximum work test using ergometer cycle. All participants answered validated questionnaires regarding perceived stress (PSS), depression and anxiety (HADS), signs of fatigue syndrome (KEDS).Plasma metanephrine (metabolite of epinephrine) was correlated to CYP21A2 genotype. The results of the psychological questionnaires were correlated to the metanephrine levels and to the CYP21A2 genotype. Results: Patients with CAH had lower metanephrine levels than controls and it was related to CYP21A2 genotype. The few included patients with null genotype had virtually no metanephrin and lower levels than individuals with I2G genotype which has not been shown before.The patients scored higher on anxiety and stress and for risk of fatigue syndromed than controls. However, the men with null genotype did not report increased anxiety and depression compared to controls. Men with I2G genotype had lower scores than I172N genotype.There was a clear sex difference in that women had higher scores than men and women with severe genotypes, null and I2G, had more signs of depression and anxiety. There were no differences for perceived stress. Interpretation/Conclusions: Over all the results for the patients on the questionnaires showed a similar pattern with increasing signs of stress vulnerability with milder genotype and increasing, but deficient, metanephrine levels. An interesting finding was that a total epinephrine deficiency, as in null genotype, with less somatic effects of stress (increased heart rate etc), may be beneficial for some aspects of perceived stress tolerance. However, it may put these patients at increased risk of fatigue or burn out syndrome. The psychological effects of the virilization due to CAH per se may partly overshadow the effects of the epinephrine deficiency in women with CAH. Larger studies are needed to be able to study what role the capacity to produce epinephrine, has for the psychological stress vulnerability in CAH. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Association of illness perception and alexithymia with fatigue in hemodialysis recipients: a single-center, cross-sectional study

Fatigue in hemodialysis recipients interferes with daily activities and renal rehabilitation, and its underlying causes and treatment remain unclear. Psychological factors, like illness perceptions and alexithymia, cause fatigue in other diseases; however, their contribution to hemodialysis-related fatigue is unknown. This cross-sectional study included 53 hemodialysis recipients. To assess participants’ fatigue, we used a self-administered patient-reported outcome questionnaire whose items have shown correlation with those of established scales, such as the Profile of Mood States and Visual Analogue Scales. The associations among the scores of the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and fatigue were analyzed using bivariable and multivariable analyses. Patients with fatigue had significantly higher median scores for the IPQ-R subscales “Identity” and “Negative emotional representation about illness” than those without fatigue, suggesting the association of specific illness perception with fatigue. Median scores for the TAS-20 subscale “Difficulty identifying feelings” were also significantly higher among fatigued patients, suggesting the association of alexithymia with fatigue. Depression was not associated with fatigue. Multivariable logistic regression revealed the association of a high “Identity” score with the risk of fatigue (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.73; P = 0.04), while there were no significant association between a high “Difficulty identifying feelings” score and the risk of fatigue (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.24). Specific illness perception and alexithymia were slightly associated with hemodialysis-related fatigue. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for these conditions could reduce fatigue and promote renal rehabilitation.

Clinical Phenotypes Supporting the Relationship Between Sleep Disturbance and Impairment of Placebo Effects

Lack of good sleep or insomnia can lead to many health issues, including an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, fatigue, low mood, and pain. While chronic pain negatively impacts sleep quality, the relationship between descending pain modulatory systems like placebo effects and sleep quality is not thoroughly known. We addressed this aspect in a cross-sectional study in participants with chronic pain. Placebo effects were elicited in a laboratory setting using thermal heat stimulations delivered with visual cues using classical conditioning and verbal suggestions. We estimated the levels of insomnia severity with the Insomnia Severity Index and the sleep quality with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. The previous night’s sleep continuity was assessed as total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep midpoint the night before the experiment. 277 people with chronic pain and 189 pain-free control individuals participated. Participants with chronic pain and insomnia showed smaller placebo effects than those with chronic pain without insomnia. Similarly, poor sleep quality was associated with reduced placebo effects among participants with chronic pain. Clinical anxiety measured by Depression Anxiety Stress Scales partially mediated these effects. In contrast, placebo effects were not influenced by the presence of insomnia or poor sleep quality in pain-free participants. Sleep continuity the night before the experiment did not influence the placebo effects. Our results indicate that participants who experience insomnia and/or poor sleep quality and chronic pain have smaller placebo effects, and that the previous night sleep continuity does not influence the magnitude of placebo effects. PerspectiveThis study examined the relationship between sleep disturbances and experimentally induced placebo effects. We found that individuals with chronic pain who experience insomnia and poor sleep quality demonstrated reduced placebo effects compared to their counterparts with good sleep quality and no insomnia.

Construction and evaluation of a predictive model for compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundCompassion fatigue is a syndrome resulting from long-term work-related traumatic event stress exposure of medical staff. The emergency department is considered to be a high-risk, high-intensity and high-stress work environment, with a high prevalence of trauma and violence. Nurses in the emergency department are more prone to compassion fatigue than nurses in other departments. Compassion fatigue not only affects the physical and mental health, and job satisfaction of emergency department nurses, but also causes serious consequences for patients, such as poor patient outcome, medical errors, and increased patient mortality during hospitalization. ObjectivesOur study aims to develop and evaluate a predictive model for compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses. DesignA cross-sectional study. Data sourcesThe emergency department nurses (N = 1014) were recruited from 21 tertiary hospitals (from Chengdu, Chongqing, Guiyang, Guangzhou and Shanghai) in central, southwestern, southern, and eastern China from July 25, 2022 to October 30, 2022. MethodsUnivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the potential predictive factors associated with compassion fatigue in emergency department nurses. A nomogram was built based on the predictive factors and internally evaluated using a bootstrap resampling method (1000 bootstrap resamples). The performance of the predictive model was evaluated by measuring the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test and calibration curve. ResultsThe prevalence of compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses was 75.9 %. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent predictive factors for compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses were working position, job satisfaction, diet habit, sleep hours per day, occupational stress, physical harassment and the level of workplace violence, all of which were identified to create the nomogram. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test indicated that the predictive model was well calibrated (χ2 = 11.520, P = 0.174). The bootstrap-corrected concordance index of nomogram was 0.821 (95 % CI: 0.791–0.851). The calibration curve of the nomogram showed good consistency between the predicted and actual probabilities. ConclusionsA predictive model of compassion fatigue among emergency department nurses has been developed, based on the general demographic, work-related and lifestyle characteristics, occupational stress, and workplace violence, with satisfactory predictive ability. This model can identify emergency department nurses who are at high risk of compassion fatigue. Our study provides an empirical basis for early detection, early diagnosis and early intervention of emergency department nurses at high risk of compassion fatigue.

Occupational Factors Associated With Workers' Depression, Anxiety, and General Fatigue.

We aimed to examine occupational factors affecting workers' mental health. Using data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey, 50,158 workers were analyzed. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the occupational factors. Sex, age, education level, occupational type, job satisfaction, shift work, and occupational exposure were risk factors for depression, anxiety, and general fatigue. Furthermore, complete application of PPE decreased the risk of depression and anxiety than no application, but partial application of PPE increased the risk of depression and anxiety. Complete and partial application of PPE increased the risk of general fatigue. This study demonstrated that occupational factors are associated with mental health. This suggests that it is necessary to improve the working environment so that PPE can be applied structurally or systematically to protect against hazardous occupational exposure.

Inpatient pediatric nursing staff experiences treating psychiatric patients: A mixed methods study.

A gap in the literature exists attempting to understand the impact that the influx of pediatric psychiatric patients has had on inpatient general medicine pediatric nursing staff. A mixed-method research study was conducted among full- and part-time pediatric nurses and nursing assistants working on general pediatric units. Quantitative data was collected via an anonymous survey using the Professional Quality of Life Scale version 5 and Support Appraisal for Work Stressors scale. Surveys were followed by semistructured interviews. Of the 158 staff eligible, 47 (29.7%) participated in the quantitative portion. [Correction added on 29 September 2023, after the first online publication: In the preceding sentence, the participation rate was revised from 23.5% to 29.7% in this version.] Significant differences were found between roles, with nurses experiencing lower levels of compassion satisfaction and higher levels of burnout. Role differences were seen in supervisor support and nonwork support, with nurses reporting less support from both. Supervisor support showed a significant correlational relationship with compassion satisfaction and burnout. Nonwork support showed similar correlations with compassion satisfaction and burnout. Themes that emerged from the interviews were Barriers to Care, Emotional Impact, and "Help Me Help You." Nurses may be at greater risk for compassion fatigue due to perceived inadequate support from leadership, unclear role expectations, and lack of resources.

The effect of type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy on predictive grip force control.

This study investigated the impact of type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy on grip force control during object manipulation. The study included three age-matched groups: type 2 diabetes alone (n = 11), type 2 diabetes with neuropathy (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 12). Grip force control variables derived from lifting and holding an experimental cup were the ratio between grip force and load forces during lifting (GFR), latency 1 and latency 2, which represented the time between the object's grip and its lift-off from the table, and the period between object's lift-off and the grip force peak, respectively; time lag, which denoted the time difference between the grip and load force peaks during the lifting phase, and finally static force, which was the grip force average during the holding phase. Grip force control variables were compared between groups using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Post-hoc analysis was used to compare differences between groups. GFR and latency 1 showed significant differences between groups; the type 2 diabetes with neuropathy group showed larger GFR than the type 2 diabetes alone and healthy control groups. The latency 1was longer for the group with neuropathy in comparison with the health control group. There were no significant differences between groups for latency 2, time lag, and static force. Our results showed impaired GFR and latency 1 in participants with type 2 diabetes with neuropathy while the time lag was preserved. People with type 2 diabetes alone might not have any deficits in grip force control. Higher grip forces might expose people with type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy to the risk of fatigue and injuring their hands. Future studies should investigate strategies to help people with type 2 diabetes with neuropathy adjust grip forces during object manipulation.

Risk of long COVID main symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This review aimed to summarise the relative risk (RR) of the main symptoms of long COVID in people infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared to uninfected controls, as well as the difference in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after infection. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, NLM-LitCovid, WHO-COVID-19, arXiv and Europe-PMC were searched up to 23rd March 2022. Studies reporting risk (four or more weeks after infection) of fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive dysfunction, as well as comparative HRQoL outcomes, were included. Pairwise random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool risks of individual symptoms. Thirty-three studies were identified; twenty studies reporting symptom risks were included in the meta-analyses. Overall, infection with SARS-CoV-2 carried significantly higher risk of fatigue (RR 1.72, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.41, 2.10), shortness of breath (RR 2.60, 95% CIs 1.96, 3.44), memory difficulties (RR 2.53, 95% CIs 1.30, 4.93), and concentration difficulties (RR 2.14, 95% CIs 1.25, 3.67). Quality of life findings were varied and comparisons between studies were challenging due to different HRQoL instruments used and study heterogeneity, although studies indicated that severe hospitalised COVID is associated with a significantly poorer HRQoL after infection. These risks are likely to constantly change as vaccines, reinfections, and new variants alter global immunity.

Aerodynamic and structural analysis for blades of a 15MW floating offshore wind turbine

Recent years have seen an important evolution toward large-scale and increased gross capability in the design of floating wind turbines. For an up-to-date 15 MW wind turbine, the slender blades sustain undesirable risks of failure and fatigue due to the significant interaction between fluid and structure (FSI). Considering its sufficient resolution, a one-way CFD-FEA (Computational Fluid Dynamics-Finite Element Analysis) FSI model is established on a full-scale floating IEA 15 MW Reference Wind Turbine (RWT). Particular attention is focused on the effects of the wave-induced motions on the wind field, the structural response of the blades, and the power generation performance of the floating 15 MW wind turbine. It is found that the relative velocities between the blade and the wind field are evidently disturbed by the pitch and surge motions, resulting in the amplified pressure maxima and abrupt change on the leading edge. Meanwhile, the motions amplify the maximum thrust, torque, and aerodynamic power, but also introduce the minima close to zero. This would lead to significant instability in energy production and possibly a sudden halt of the wind turbine gearbox. Moreover, owing to the detailed 3D composite FEA model, the enlarged stresses and tip deformations of blades due to the platform motions are revealed with better fidelity than the beam model in previous FSI simulations.

Compassion Fatigue in Nurses Providing Palliative Cancer Care and Coping Strategies to Prevent and Manage it

End-of-life care for cancer patients is one of the most challenging experiences encountered by nurses. Cancer nurses providing end-of-life care may experience compassion fatigue due to prolonged exposure to the suffering and intense emotional reactions of patients, death and the dying, and grieving families. However, the development of resilience and effective coping skills can decrease nurse turnover rates and increase the quality of palliative cancer care. This article discusses the concept of compassion fatigue, how it develops, compassion fatigue experienced by nurses providing palliative cancer care, and the Compassion Fatigue Resiliency Program (CFRP) coping method. Author experience and journal articles were used. Compassion fatigue can occur from secondary traumatic stress and burnout after nurses' prolonged and intense exposure to helping suffering patients, resulting in decreased ability to care, expend energy, or exhibit empathy and compassion. The CFRP is a structured, comprehensive training program designed to educate nurses about compassion fatigue and enable them to develop a support network, strengthen their coping skills, and improve resilience. It is recommended that the CFRP be included in in-service training in institutions and be applied to oncology nurses at regular intervals in a block program format (1-2 days). Newly recruited oncology nurses in particular should be supported with such training in orientation programs. Institutional managers play an important role in organizing such programs and screening for the risk of compassion fatigue in nurses who provide end-of-life care.

Dysfunctional self-reported interoception predicts residual symptom burden of fatigue in major depressive disorder: an observational study

BackgroundFatigue is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and is frequently refractory to antidepressant treatment, leading to unfavorable clinical/psychosocial outcomes. Dysfunctional self-reported interoception (i.e., maladaptive focus on the body’s physiological condition) is prevalent in MDD and could contribute to residual symptom burden of fatigue. Therefore, we explored (a.) cross-sectional correlations between both dimensions and investigated (b.) prospective associations between interoceptive impairments at admission and symptom severity of fatigue at the end of hospitalization.MethodsThis observational, exploratory study included 87 patients suffering from MDD who completed self-rating scales, the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2), and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), at the beginning and end of hospitalization. Bivariate correlations (r) and hierarchical regression analyses were performed.ResultsThe cross-sectional analysis showed moderate to large negative correlations between the MAIA-2 and MFI-20 dimensions except for the Not-Distracting scale. Symptoms of general, physical, and mental fatigue at the end of hospitalization were predicted by reduced body Trusting (β = -.31, p = .01; β = -.28, p = .02; β = -.31, p = .00, respectively). Increased Body Listening (β = .37, p = .00), Not-Worrying (β = .26, p = .02), and diminished Attention Regulation (β = -.32, p = .01) predicted higher mental fatigue.ConclusionsDiminished body confidence at baseline identified patients at risk for post-treatment fatigue and could therefore serve as a target for improving antidepressant therapy. Body-centered, integrative approaches could address treatment-resistant fatigue in MDD. However, clinicians may also consider the potential adverse effect of increased Body Listening and Not-Worrying on mental fatigue in psychotherapeutic and counselling approaches. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, the results are preliminary and need to be replicated in pre-registered trials with larger sample sizes.

The mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between second victim experience and professional quality of life among nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundStudies have shown that second-victim experiences could increase risks of the compassion fatigue while support from individuals and organisations is most often protection. However, the risk for poor compassion satisfaction and increased compassion fatigue in nurses aroused by adverse events remains an underestimated problem, meanwhile, litter known about the role of positive and negative coping styles among nurses suffering from adverse events. This study aims to investigate the effect of second-victim experiences on the professional quality of life among nurses and to determine the mediating role of coping styles in the relationship between second-victim experiences and professional quality of life.MethodsMultistage sampling was used to recruit registered nurses from Hunan province in China. Registered nurses who identified themselves as experiencing adverse events from nine tertiary hospitals were included in this study. Participants were recruited to complete a survey on the second victim experience and support tool, the simplified coping style questionnaire, and the professional quality of life scale. The stress coping theory was used to develop the framework in this study. The structural equation modelling approach was used for conducting the mediating effects analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and Mplus 8.3.ResultsIn total, 67% (n = 899) of nurses reported a second victim experience during their careers. In a bivariate analysis, both second-victims experiences and coping styles were significantly associated with their professional quality of life. The results showed that the effects of second victim experiences on their professional quality of life were fully mediated by coping styles. A total of 10 significantly indirect pathways were estimated, ranging from -0.243 to 0.173.ConclusionsSecond-victim experiences are common among nurses in this study. Since the mediating effects of coping styles were clarified in this study, it is imperative to promote the perception of negative coping styles and encourage nurses to adopt more positive coping styles with adequate support systems.

Experimental study of the wake interaction between two vertical axis wind turbines

AbstractWakes and wake interactions in wind turbine arrays diminish energy output and raise the risk of structural fatigue; hence, comprehending the features of rotor–wake interactions is of practical relevance. Previous studies suggest that vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) can facilitate a quicker wake recovery. This study experimentally investigates the rotor–wake and wake–wake interaction of VAWTs; different pitch angles of the blades of the upwind VAWT are considered to assess the interactions for different wake deflections. With stereoscopic particle image velocimetry, the wake interactions of two VAWTs are analysed in nine distinct wake deflection and rotor location configurations. The time‐average velocity fields at several planes upwind and downwind from the rotors are measured. Additionally, time‐average loads on the VAWTs are measured via force balances. The results validate the rapid wake recovery and the efficacy of wake deflection, which increases the available power in the second rotor.

Effect of a Simultaneous Mental Arithmetic Task to a MMH Lifting Task on Muscle Activity in the Trunk and Shoulders

Introduction: This study investigated the effects of concurrent mental demands on material handling tasks. Methods: Eleven subjects performed a material handling task with and without cognitive loads while lifting a 5 kg box to three different destination heights. The cognitive load was created by having participants perform a concurrent math task while lifting the box. The study measured the muscle activity in trunk and shoulder muscles. Results: The study found that, in select muscles, the cognitive load conditions led to longer lift times and increased cumulative muscle activity, but lower peak muscle activity. Conclusion: These findings suggest that lifting tasks with a concurrent cognitive load could lead to greater cumulative muscle activity, increasing the risk of muscular fatigue during manual material handling tasks.

Eliciting Ergonomic User-Defined Gestures for Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study

People are increasingly using virtual reality (VR) for work. As a result of extended use, fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders affecting the upper arms and shoulders are already becoming common among VR users. This pilot study presented a “virtual working area” (VWA) to reduce the risk of fatigue resulting from using gestures obtained in gesture elicitation studies, and explored how the distance to the user interface (UI) interacted with different functions (select, scroll) during a mock reading task. Results showed that keeping the hands within the VWA had the potential to reduce Rapid Upper-Body Limb Assessment (RULA) and Borg CR10 scores at clinically significant levels. Scores were worse when the UI was far away and for the select function, suggesting the design of virtual UIs can play a role in eliciting naturalistic yet ergonomic interactions. The results also provide effect sizes and variance estimates to plan future work.