Work Seniority Research Articles

Sleep Quality among Police Officers: Implications and Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.

Poor sleep is associated with bad health outcomes, worse wellbeing and decreases in performance, productivity and safety at work. Police officers are exposed to several risk factors including extended work schedules, shift work, occupational stress, dangerous and traumatic events and can, as such, develop sleep problems. The aim of the present study was to analyze the sleep quality among police officers. A systematic literature search, in PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, ISI/Web of Science (WoS) and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Original articles, published in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, the primary objective of which was the evaluation of the quality of sleep through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in Police Forces, were selected. From an initial sample of 1,149 studies, 13 articles were included in the meta-analysis (3,722 police officers). The pooled prevalence of bad sleep quality in police officers was 51% [95%CI 42–60%]. The pooled global score of the PSQI was 5.6 [95%CI 5.0–6.3], corresponding to a low average quality. At the meta-regressions, statistically significant associations could be found for work seniority (in terms of years of service) and being on shift. The poor quality of sleep in police officers could have negative consequences for workers’ health and for the safety of third parts. The implementation of health and sleep hygiene promotion programs in police forces is strongly recommended.

Workplace noise exposure and audiometric thresholds in dental technicians.

Noise is a well-known risk factor in occupational medicine. Several studies have been performed in workplaces with noise sources, especially in the industrial field; on the contrary, only a few studies have been carried to evaluate the noise exposure effects in non-industrial workplaces such as small factories, handicraft laboratories, and dental laboratories. The aims of this study were to evaluate workplace noise exposure and hearing thresholds in dental technicians. Four laboratories and 51 dental technicians were included in the study. Noise exposure levels during a nominal eight-hour working day (LEX, 8 h) were assessed in the included laboratories. Audiometric thresholds with pure tone audiometry were performed in 51 dental technicians, and results were compared with those expected in subjects not exposed to noise. The environmental noise measures showed moderate differences of the LEX, 8 h among the four laboratories (range 71.4 to 76.2); average LEX, 8 h was 73.9 ± 2.2 dB(A). The audiometric results showed a progressive increase of hearing threshold values at the frequencies mostly involved in noise-induced hearing loss (3, 4 and 6 kHz) and a correlation with age and working seniority especially in males (p<0.005). Nevertheless, in the 92.1% of subjects the threshold increases were in line with those expected in subjects of the same age and sex not exposed to noise and in the remaining 7.8% were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In 3.9% of the cases the increases were bilateral, typical of noise-induced hearing loss, and only 1.9% showed involvement of several frequencies with worsening of expected thresholds >25 dB. In conclusion, our study showed that exposure to noise in dental laboratories was not sufficient to represent a hazard to hearing, as demonstrated by the LEX, 8 h, which were below 80 dB(A) and therefore below the European exposure limit values and exposure action values for workers.

Papel del orientador/a educativo como asesor/a: funciones y estrategias de apoyo

RESUMENEn este artículo se analiza la función asesora del orientador/a educativo y su labor de apoyo al profesorado, es decir, se indaga sobre las características del papel que desempeña en su trabajo cotidiano con los docentes para identificar las funciones y actividades, así como los modelos y estrategias de asesoramiento que emplea. Para ello se desarrolla una investigación de corte cualitativo y se elige, entre los posibles diseños, el estudio de casos porque permite aproximarse al contexto real de los centros educativos en los que cobra importancia la figura de los orientadores. Se han analizado tres casos, cada uno de ellos con un perfil y características distintivas, adoptando criterios como la formación académica, las características del centro, la antigüedad en el puesto y el modelo de trabajo. A través de entrevistas semiestructuradas (individuales a los orientadores y grupales al profesorado), se lleva a cabo un proceso de análisis de contenido. Los resultados evidencian que estos profesionales asumen cada vez con mayor intensidad funciones de asesoramiento aunque complementariamente con funciones más arraigadas, como la valoración psicopedagógica. Otros resultados apuntan a que existe heterogeneidad de demandas y actuaciones en los casos estudiados y que los estilos o modelos de intervención son diversos. Las conclusiones inciden en que la identidad del rol del orientador y las características contextuales determinan, en gran medida, el estilo o modelo de trabajo, que puede ser de tipo intervencionista, facilitador o colaborativo.ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the advisory function of school counselors and their task of supporting teacher counseling. In other words, it looks into the characteristics of the role they carry out in their daily routine together with teachers, in order to identify the specific functions and activities, as well as the models and advising strategies used. For this purpose, a qualitative investigation is developed, choosing case study among other possible designs, since it allows an approximation to the real context of the educational centers, in which school counselors play an important role. Three cases have been analyzed, each one with its own profile and distinctive features, by adopting criterion such as academic education, features of the center, seniority and model of work. By using semi-structured interviews (individual ones for counselors and group ones for the teaching staff), a content analysis is carried out. The results show that these professionals increasingly assume more counseling functions, although complementary to other functions of a more deep-rooted nature, such as psycho-pedagogical assessment. Other results reflect the existing heterogeneity of demands and performances in the studied cases and that the styles or intervention models are diverse. The conclusions affect the identity of the role of school counselors and, to a large extent, the contextual features determine the style or model of work, which may be interventionist, facilitator or collaborative.

Perception of radiological risk in Tunisian female staff in interventional cardiology

Concerns about exposure to radiation and its effects on health are often seen as a constraint, especially among women of childbearing age and pregnant women who are forced to leave their jobs exposing to radiation. Evaluate in a Tunisian group of female doctors and nurses working in the cardiac catheterization unit their knowledge on radiation exposure and the perception of the radiological risk on pregnancy and the impact on pregnancy on the professionnal career. This was a descriptive, multicenter study carried out at the cardiology departments of 4 hospitals in Tunisia, which involved the female workers exposed to X-ray the cardiac catheterization unit. We used a questionnaire referring to data from the literature. The study population consisted of 30 female workers representing 56.5% of the staff working in the cardiac catheterization unit. The mean age was 39 ± 6 years. This study showed that the level of knowledge about radiation protection in the institution was overall good. We didn’t find any significant difference in the level of knowledge either by grade or by seniority of work in the cardiac catheterization unit. The main fear reported by workers was the risk of infertility in 23/30 of cases. Twenty five workers/30 of female respondents consider that a pregnant woman should stop working in the cardiac catheterization unit. Risks of radiation to the foetus reported were malformations in 25 workers/30 and the risk of abortion in 14/30. A total of 10 women workers/30 reported that pregnancy or pregnancy projects have affected their professional career. In summary, female workers in interventional cardiology are not adequately trained in radioprotection. This lack of knowledge about radiological risk can affect the evolution of professional careers. Radioprotection training and awareness deserves to be reinforced by focusing on these shortcomings and involving more participants to collaborate in radioprotection.

The status of physician-nurse collaboration in nutritional support among neurosurgical patients in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Suzhou

Objective To investigatethe status of physician-nurse collaboration in nutritional support among neurosurgical patients in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Suzhou, and to analyze the influence factors and to provide the basis for promoting cooperation consciousnes and quality of work. Methods One hundred and seventy-seven physicians and 506 nurses were investigated by the Nurse-Physician Collaboration Scale(NPCS) in 15 secondary hospitals and 15 tertiary hospitals in Suzhou. Results The cooperative status of physicians in tertiary hospitals was better than that of nurses (t=2.597, P=0.010). The cooperative status of nurses in tertiary hospitals was better than that in secondary hospitals(t=2.080, P=0.009). There was no significant difference in the cooperation between physicians and nurses in secondary hospitals (t=1.845, P=0.066). Multiple regression analysis showed that sex, profession, professional title, age, education degree and work seniority were the influence factors of physician-nurse collaboration intertiary hospitals (t=2.771, 2.597,F=3.745-12.513,P<0.01 or 0.05). Conclusions The physician-nurse collaboration in nutritional support among neurosurgical patients in secondary and tertiary hospitals is in good shape.Administrators should pay attention to influence factors of physician-nurse collaboration, and take measures to promote quality of medical care and nursing care. Key words: Neurosurgery; Nutritional support; Physician-nurse collaboration; Hospital grade

Особенности саморегуляции работников различных групп профессий вахтового труда на Крайнем Севере

Introduction. The present investigation undertakes to identify characteristics of self-regulation in shift workers from various occupational groups working during the shift period in conditions of the Far North. It draws our attention to the importance of studying a professional’s self-regulation in extreme working conditions. The study describes for the first time the parameters of conscious self-regulation in occupational groups of shift work in the Far North and examines the interrelationships between self-regulation parameters and functional states in shift workers.&#x0D; Methods. A field study was carried out during the winter expedition to an oil company at Varandey Island (latitude 68°49'28" N). To identify the parameters of conscious self-regulation, the employees were asked to respond to the Behavior Self-Regulation Style questionnaire by V. I. Morosanova. Respondents’ functional states were measured using the Luscher Color Test, activation metrics, and the tremometric method throughout the entire 30-day shift.&#x0D; Results. The findings suggest that there are interrelationships between shift-work seniority and the following self-regulation parameters: ‘flexibility’, ‘programming’, and ‘assessing the results’. Optimal working capacity is more typical for the employees with average levels of ‘modeling’ and ‘planning’ parameters and low levels of ‘programming’. The employees from the ‘management activities’ group have higher levels of ‘independence’. The employees from the ‘operator labor’ and ‘management activities’ groups have high levels of ‘flexibility’.&#x0D; Discussion. Shift workers from various occupational groups working in the Far North differ in interrelationships between the levels of regulatory processes and personality traits. The majority of the employees from all the groups are characterized by high scores on measures of the ‘modeling’ regulatory process, which is important for maintaining an optimal functional state during the shift. A nonlinear relationship was found between self-regulation parameters and shift-work seniority in the Far North.&#x0D; Highlights&#x0D; &#x0D; Shift workers from various occupational groups working in the Far North differ in interrelationships between the levels of regulatory processes and regulatory personality traits.&#x0D; The employees from the ‘management activities’ group have higher levels of ‘independence’. The employees from the ‘operator labor’ and ‘management activities’ groups have high levels of ‘flexibility’. The employees from all the groups are characterized by high scores on measures of the ‘modeling’ regulatory process.&#x0D; A nonlinear relationship was found between self-regulation parameters (‘flexibility’, ‘programming’, and ‘assessing the results’) and shift-work seniority in the Far North. Greater seniority of shift work in the Far North is associated with average levels of these parameters.&#x0D; The findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between the employees’ functional states and the levels of development of their regulatory processes during the shift period in the Far North.&#x0D; The employees with average levels of ‘modeling’ and ‘planning’ and low levels of ‘programming’ typically demonstrate optimal working capacity, activity and balance during the shift period.&#x0D;

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВИЯВУ СУБ’ЄКТИВНОГО БЛАГОПОЛУЧЧЯ ЯК ПОКАЗНИКА ПСИХІЧНОГО ЗДОРОВ’Я ОСОБИСТОСТІ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ДЕРЖАВНОЇ СЛУЖБИ)

У статті розглянуто проблему психічного здоров’я в рамках різних психологічних теорій особистості (А.Адлер, Б.Скіннер, Е.Еріксон, А.Бандура, А.Маслоу), виокремлено один з основних його показників – психологічне благополуччя, яке суб’єктивно виражається у відчутті щастя, переживанні позитивних емоцій, задоволеності собою і власним життям.&#x0D; Емпірично визначено особливості прояву суб’єктивного благополуччя як показника психічного здоров’я працівниками державної служби з урахуванням: віку, стажу трудової діяльності та специфіки роботи. В групах працівників, яких ділили за віковим критерієм, уваги потребують такі кластери: «ознаки, які супроводжують основну психоемоційну симптоматику» та «напруженість та чутливість» – в групі осіб 30-40 років; «зміна настрою» – в групі 40-50 років; «значущість соціального оточення» та «самооцінка здоров’я» і «ступінь задоволеності повсякденною діяльністю» – в групі понад 50 років. Визначено зростання значущості кластерів «напруженість і чутливість», «ознаки, які супроводжують основну психоемоційну симптоматику» та «ступінь задоволеності повсякденною діяльністю» і пік їх прояву в осіб із стажем трудової діяльності 10-15 років; відсутність значних відмінностей у вияві кластеру «зміна настрою» в респондентів незалежно від їх трудового стажу; важливість кластерів «значущість соціального оточення» та «самооцінка здоров’я» у групі досліджуваних із трудовим стажем понад 20 років. З’ясовано, що діагностовані, які працюють з людьми, вирізняються підвищеним настроєм і оптимістичним налаштуванням на майбутнє та задоволені своєю повсякденною діяльністю. Респонденти, які працюють з документами та інформацією, окрім підвищеного настрою та оптимістичного налаштування, важливого значення надають найближчому соціальному оточенню.

Occupational health and safety of road haulage company employees.

Background:This paper follows up on a project that was launched in 2008 and contributed to the development of the new Italian Society of Occupational Medicine (SIML) guidelines for the road haulage industry.Objective:To reach a better understanding of occupational illness amongst truck drivers, in order to define appropriate health monitoring protocols and promote a healthy life-style.Methods:We assessed 673 male drivers (mean age 43.85 years, SD 9.56; mean working seniority 27.28 years, SD 10.59), employed by 46 different companies. The drivers, who were gradually recruited in the study over the years, had a maximum of 8 re-assessments each, for a total of 2608 examinations. We applied a survey protocol consisting in a medical examination, questionnaires for the most common risks and instrumental and laboratory tests in compliance with SIML guidelines.Results:We identified a total of 44 work-related diseases: 22 cases of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and 22 cases of lumbar degenerative disc disease. As regards metabolic disorders, we observed 28 cases of diabetes mellitus, in most cases (71.4%) as a first diagnosis or under poor therapeutic control. We observed poorly-controlled hypertension in 103 drivers, the majority of whom (54%) were diagnosed for the first time. Over 30% of the workers in our study were obese and approximately 40% were tobacco smokers. We identified just 9 individuals (1.3%) with a positive toxicological screening for use of recreational drugs. Our data confirm a high prevalence of occupational illness amongst truck drivers. Cardiovascular and metabolic conditions require close monitoring.

A national survey of clinical pharmacy services in county hospitals in China.

BackgroundClinical pharmacy is not only a medical science but also an elaborate public health care system firmly related to its subsystems of education, training, qualification authentication, scientific research, management, and human resources. China is a developing country with a tremendous need for improvements in the public health system, including the clinical pharmacy service system.ObjectivesThe aim of this research was to evaluate the infrastructure and personnel qualities of clinical pharmacy services in China.SettingPublic county hospitals in China.Materials and methodA national survey of clinical pharmacists in county hospitals was conducted. It was sampled through a stratified sampling strategy. Responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The main outcome measures include the coverage of clinical pharmacy services, the overall staffing of clinical pharmacists, the software and hardware of clinical pharmacy services, the charge mode of clinical pharmacy services, and the educational background, professional training acquisition, practical experience, and entry path of clinical pharmacists.ResultsThe overall coverage of clinical pharmacy services on both the department scale (median = 18.25%) and the patient scale (median = 15.38%) does not meet the 100% coverage that is required by the government. In 57.73% of the sample hospitals, the staffing does not meet the requirement, and the size of the clinical pharmacist group is smaller in larger hospitals. In addition, 23.4% of the sample hospitals do not have management rules for the clinical pharmacists, and 43.1% do not have rational drug use software, both of which are required by the government. In terms of fees, 89.9% of the sample hospitals do not charge for the services. With regard to education, 8.5% of respondents are with unqualified degree, and among respondents with qualified degree, 37.31% are unqualified in the major; 43% of respondents lack the clinical pharmacist training required by the government. Most respondents (93.5%) have a primary or medium professional title. The median age and work seniority of respondents are 31 and four years, respectively. Only 18.5% of respondents chose this occupation by personal consideration or willingness.ConclusionsThe main findings in this research include the overall low coverage of clinical pharmacy services, the low rate of clinical pharmacy service software, hardware, and personnel as well as a wide variance in educational training of pharmacists at county hospitals.

Intention toward condom use and its associated factors among students of Debre Work Senior Secondary and Preparatory School, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

ObjectiveThe main aim of this research was to investigate the students’ intention toward condom use and associated factors among students in Debre Work Secondary and Preparatory School, 2015.MethodsA survey was carried out in the high school and the preparatory school. The self-administered semistructured questionnaire was distributed to 422 students. Systematic sampling techniques were employed to each class. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0 software. Descriptive and analytical data analysis and presentation were used. Logistic regression model was used to check independent associations.ResultMost (80.8%) of the respondents were not married. More than half (53.0% and 52.3%) of the respondents had low perceived benefit and low perceived self-efficacy of using condom. About 46.79% of respondents had an interest in using condoms and the rest had no intention. Males were 1.96 times more likely to have intention to use condom compared to females (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.96 [1.29, 2.99]). When the intention to use condoms was compared, married respondents were 2.41 times more likely than those who were not married (AOR, 95% CI 2.41 [1.41, 4.14]). Intention to use condoms among respondents who had high perceived benefit of using condom were 1.57 times more compared to those who had low perceived benefit of using condom (AOR, 95% CI 1.57 [1.03, 2.39]). Intention to use condoms among those who had high perceived self-efficacy on condom use was 4.37 times higher compared to those who had low perceived self-efficacy (AOR, 95% CI 4.37 [2.85, 6.71]).ConclusionThe level of intention to use condoms among students of Debre Work Senior Secondary and Preparatory School was low. Sex, current marital status, perceived benefit of using condom, and perceived self-efficacy on condom use were the most positive contributing factors for intention to condom use.

Investigation and analysis of young nurses' job satisfaction in Third-grade general hospitals of different systems

Objective To explore the job satisfaction of the young nurses in Third-grade general hospitals of different systems and its influencing factors to provide references for improving nurses' job satisfaction. Methods A total of 367 young nurses from a non-public Third-grade general hospital and a public Third-grade general hospital in a certain district of Nanjing were chosen randomly and they were investigated by the General Information Questionnaire and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results The average scores for job satisfaction of nurses from the non-public hospital and the public hospital were(3.84±0.46)and (3.87±0.53) respectively, and there was no statistical significance between them. The highest score was to do nothing against their consciences, and the lowest score was in terms of income and workload.There were differences in terms of job satisfaction among nurses with different gender, departments, education and work seniority(P<0.05). Conclusions The job satisfaction of young nurses from the non-public hospital and the public hospital were all at a medium level and managers should take some effective measures to improve their job satisfaction. Key words: Non-public hospital; Public hospital; Young nurses; Job satisfaction

Evaluation of the Family Medicine Practice in Ankara Province by Family Physicians

Turkey's family physician or practice system was established in the beginning of the 2010 across Turkey's 81 provinces and provides low-cost health care, preventive and curative basic medical services to the population. Public health centers across Turkey have now become Family Health Centers (ASMs) as part of Turkey's efforts to harmonize its health care system with that of the European Union. The aim of This studyis to analyz and evaluate the implementation and performance of Family Practice in Ankara province by family physicians. A questionairre form of 42 question was designed and used to determine opinions of the physicians about effective service &amp; quality improvement, patient-physician relationship, efficiency in the area of responsibility, productivity, job satisfaction and equity. The result of the study shows that family physicians were defined to be generally satisfied with the system and performance implementation and significant differences were found according to work seniority, gender and productivity of the participants. Finally this study should be taken within it's limiation. The work seniority and gender was one of the most important factor to improve satfications and productivity for family physcains in Turkey. The sample size was represenative for the country, however, one limitation might be cosnidred the increase of sample size in future research if appropriate funding becaome avlaible in the future. This study did not have any souirce of funding.

Wellbeing and occupational risk perception among health care workers: a multicenter study in Morocco and France.

BackgroundThe study analyzes health care workers’ (HCWs) occupational risk perception and compares exposure to occupational risk factors in Moroccan and French hospitals.MethodAcross nine public hospitals from three Moroccan regions (north, center and south), a 49 item French questionnaire, based on the Job Content Questionnaire, and 4 occupational risks subscales, was distributed to 4746 HCWs. Internal consistency of the study was determined for each subscale. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the Moroccan questionnaire. Psychosocial job demand, job decision latitude and social support scores analysis was used to isolate high strain jobs. Occupational risks and high strain perception correlation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. A comparative analysis between Moroccan and French (Nantes Hospitals) investigations data was performed.ResultsIn Morocco, 2863 HCWs (60 %) answered the questionnaire (54 % women; mean age 40 years; mean work seniority 11 years; 24 % physicians; 45 % nurses). 44 % Moroccan HCWs are at high strain. Casablanca region (1.75 OR; CI: 1.34–2.28), north Morocco (1.66 OR; CI: 1.27–2.17), midwives (2.35 OR; 95 % CI 1.51–3.68), nursing aides (1.80 OR; 95 % CI: 1.09–2.95), full-time employment (1.34 OR; 95 % CI 1.06–1.68); hypnotics, sedatives use (1.48 OR; 95 % CI 1.19–1.83), analgesics use (1.40 OR; 95 % CI 1.18–1.65) were statistically associated to high strain. 44% Moroccan HCWs are at high strain versus 37 % French (Nantes) HCWs (p < 0.001).ConclusionMoroccan HCWs have high strain activity. Moroccan HCWs and more Moroccan physicians are at high strain than Nantes HCWs. Moroccan and French’s results showed that full time workers, midwives, workers using hypnotics, and analgesics are at high strain. Our findings underscore out the importance of implementing a risk prevention plan and even a hospital reform. Further research, with an enlarged study pool will provide more information on psychosocial risks (PSR) and HCWs’ health.

Work challenges and respond to demands of NSICU nurse with different working seniority: a qualitative research

Objective To probe into the work challenges and respond to demands of Neurosurgery intensive care unit (NSICU). Methods By phenomenology methods, 18 NSICU nurses with different ages of work experience had in-depth interviews. Results After data analysis, 5 themes were summarized for nurses′ challenge, including hectic work, heavy atmosphere, to many pressure sauces, too difficult to communicate, low recognition of society; the demand had 5 themes as well containing better targeted training knowledge, more advanced knowledge concept, more humanized training opportunity, more personalized off-duty regulation. Conclusions NSICU nurses with different length of work confront different and same challenges and demands. To master these kind of different and same points of challenges and demands can provide common and individualized knowledge training, planning of career development, humanized training regulation, etc. for nurses with different work years, so as to contribute them to confront the clinical work challenge and push the development of nursing. Key words: Neurosurgery intensive care unit; Challenge; Respond to demands; Qualitative research

Teachers of various school grades and representations of epilepsy: problems, relational aspects and perspectives of life quality.

IntroductionThe analysis of the representations of the health of their students by teachers is key to the understanding of the attitudes and behaviors that, in general, take place inside the school community and the educational processes. In fact, social attitudes by teachers and individual within the school environment are often the result of simple categorization and stereotypes, which hinder the process of evolutionary change.AimsOn these premises it was necessary to investigate the level of knowledge of the epilepsy syndrome, the representations by a group of teachers of the quality of life of people with epilepsy and the representations of the interpersonal relationships between students with epilepsy and their classmates.MethodologyWe used an ad hoc questionnaire, with 33 multiple choice answers, focusing on these variables: work seniority, experience with epileptic students, special education or main teacher.ParticipantsThe sample consisted of 113 female teachers with a mean age of 44.4.ResultsThere aren’t significant differences between the answers of special education and main teachers: a) teachers with work seniority > 11 years showed a more than adequate knowledge of information about epilepsy. Moreover, in case of seizure in the classroom, first aid is to call an ambulance rather than administering rescue drugs; b) teachers, who have had a real experience, represent the epileptic student as more limited in the possibilities of getting married, having children, finding a job, and practising a sport; c) teachers, who have had a student with epilepsy don’t report interpersonal relationships with his/her classmates as being difficult. Moreover, they claim to have inadequate knowledge of the educational strategies needed to integrate the epileptic student with his/her classmates; d) there are some different answers for primary school teachers and for secondary school teachers.ConclusionsTeachers demonstrate inaccurate information about epilepsy, its impact in educational contexts and management of seizures in the classroom. Also, critical areas have emerged indicating efforts should focus on education, sharing the role of teacher, awareness and integration in the class group.

Psychosocial and occupational risk perception among health care workers: a Moroccan multicenter study.

BackgroundInternational studies on occupational risks in public hospitals are infrequent and only few researchers have focused on psychosocial stress in Moroccan Health Care Workers (HCWs). The aim of this study was to present and analyze Moroccan HCWs occupational risk perception. Across nine public hospitals from three Moroccan regions (northern, central and southern), a 49 item French questionnaire with 4 occupational risks subscales, was distributed to 4746 HCWs. This questionnaire was based on the Job Content Questionnaire. Psychosocial job demand, job decision latitude and social support scores analysis were used to isolate high strain jobs. Occupational risks and high strain perception correlation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results2863 HCWs (60 %) answered the questionnaire (54 % women; mean age 40 years; mean work seniority 11 years; 24 % physicians; 45 % nurses). 44 % of Moroccan HCWs were at high strain. High strain was strongly associated with two occupational categories: midwives (2.33 OR; CI 1.41–3.85), full-time employment (1.65 OR; CI 1.24–2.19), hypnotics and sedatives use (1.41 OR; CI 1.11–1.79), analgesics use (1.37 OR; CI 1.13–1.66).ConclusionMoroccan HCWs, physicians included, perceive their job as high strain. Moroccan HCWs use of hypnotics, sedatives and analgesics is high. Risk prevention plan implementation is highly recommended.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1326-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Work seniority as a determinant of employment intensity

The purpose of this article is to analyse the intensity of unemployment leaving in relation to the length of an unemployed person’s work seniority. A hypothesis was made that its intensity changes depending of that person’s employment history and on its gender as well as education. The research material consisted of individual data of 21,398 unemployed people registered by the Poviat Labour Office (PUP) in Szczecin in 2012 and observed throughout 2013. The author used the event history analysis, which was conducted in three steps. First, the author assessed the likelihood of remaining unemployed depending on the unemployment period. Secondly, she divided the registered unemployed into groups according to their employment history and determined the relationship between the employment intensity and the span of time when the members of those groups remained registered in PUP. In the third step, she used the average hazard rates to compare the intensities of unemployment leaving in individual groups.

Who reports low safety commitment levels? An investigation based on Chinese coal miners

Safety commitment is very important for the safety of coal miners. Based on one-to-one interviews with 707 coal miners in Chinese state-owned coal mining enterprises and an exploratory factor analysis, we determined the dimensions of coal miner safety commitment. The different effects of demographic variables and organizational/work-related variables on coal miner safety commitment and its dimensions were investigated using a one-way ANOVA. Our study showed that coal miner safety commitment is a three-dimensional concept, which comprises safety attitude commitment, safety behavior commitment, and safety results commitment. Coal miner safety commitment and its dimensions differed significantly with respect to demographic and organizational/work-related variables. We found that coal miners with a low safety commitment level tended to be localized and they were distributed mainly in groups of underground front-line coal miners, young coal miners, and coal miners with middle and higher degrees, low underground work seniority, poor physical condition, and low income levels. This study provides practical guidance (e.g., recruitment, personnel promotion, employee assistance program) to help managers address the present situation and to improve the safety commitment of coal miners, as well as enhancing the organizational management policy.

Sensitization to workplace respiratory allergens among bakery workers in Douala, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundSensitization to flour or fungal alpha-amylase is a prerequisite for the development of respiratory allergy in bakers. The knowledge of occupational allergen sensitization among bakery workers will facilitate the implementation of preventive measures for respiratory allergies in bakeries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with sensitization to wheat flour and α-amylase in bakers in Douala.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 42 of the 151 bakeries that are present in the city of Douala. Demographics, clinical data, as well as results of skin prick tests to wheat flour, α-amylase and common aeroallergens were collected from all participants. A logistic regression model of the SPSS.20 software was used to identify factors associated with sensitization to wheat flour and α-amylase.ResultsOf the 229 participants included in the study, 222 (96.9%) were male. The mean age was 36.3 ± 8.9 years. The prevalence of sensitization to flour and α-amylase were 16.6% and 8.3% respectively. After multivariate analysis, factors associated with sensitization to flour were work seniority and sensitization to storage mites while an age of 30 years and above was the only factor associated with sensitization to α-amylase.ConclusionBakers in Douala are at risk of sensitization to occupational allergens. The environmental hygiene in bakeries, health surveillance and the use of personal protective equipment could reduce the risk of respiratory allergies among bakers.

The use of Career Growth Scale in Chinese nurses: Validity and reliability

PurposeTo test the validity and reliability of a modified Career Growth Scale (CGS) to assess nurse career growth. MethodA cross-sectional design was used to analyze the use of the CGS to survey 600 full-time registered nurses from Grade A hospitals in Tianjin. ResultsA modified scale we called Career Growth of Nurse Scale (CGNS) is acceptable, valid, and reliable for the evaluation of nurse career growth in Chinese hospitals. This scale measured three main factors (career goal, career capacity, and career opportunity) and showed that nurse career growth differed across age, work seniority, and professional title. ConclusionsA three-dimensional scale of nurse career growth was presented. The results revealed CGNS has good validity and reliability.