Work Shift Research Articles

Duration of In-patient Physical Therapy at a Tertiary Hospital: Implications of a Time and Motion Study

Background and Objectives. Inpatient physical therapy (PT) care entails careful provision of service for individuals across a spectrum of disorders needing evidence-based physical rehabilitation during their hospital admission. The main difficulty is identifying adequate time allocation for safe patient service within an eight-hour working time frame. At a selected tertiary teaching government-run hospital, an arbitrary personnel-population ratio method is used for human resource allocation which may lead to issues in service delivery and healthcare workforce wellness. Apart from patient care, physical therapists also assume non-clinical roles revolving on administration, clinical education, and research. This highlights the importance of identifying the duration of tasks to assess work efficiency and manage time constraints posed by the limitations of the work shift. Practice guidelines may help improve staff workload scheduling, however, there is a lack of available guidelines regarding physical therapy practice in the hospital or acute care setting for developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the duration of care for inpatients with musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and administrative tasks, and to determine the relationship of duration of care with months of experience. Methods. A continuous observation time motion study of a typical workday of all physical therapists in an in-patient setting of a tertiary teaching hospital was conducted. An external observer will time the tasks done by the PT. The external observer kept distance from the direct patient encounter to minimize interference that may affect timing. Patients with conditions of different etiologies and functional levels were included. Results. Nineteen physical therapists with a mean experience of 54.63 months were observed. There were no adverse events during the implementation of this study. The total mean time in minutes of management of neurological patients is 37:32, and musculoskeletal patients is 28:30. Time for administrative tasks took an average of 20:33 minutes. There was also a low positive correlation on months of experience and treatment duration for patients with neurologic conditions (p=0.0471). Results showed that the allocated treatment duration is determined to be sufficient for performing PT activities. The optimal number of patients to be decked can also be appropriately determined to optimize resource allocation. Conclusion. Our pilot study attempted to quantify the duration of PT care in an inpatient setting that caters to patients with different diagnosis and varying needs for PT management. Although descriptive statistics and a weak to insignificant correlation was seen in most of the variables, there may be some benefit in gathering more duration data across different acute care settings within the country. Our pilot time and motion study can contribute to the limited evidence of duration of inpatient care that may inform human resource allocation, deliverables prioritization, and employee wellness and development. Figures have been presented which could be the basis for future policy research for management science and resource allocation studies.

Determinants of Work Fatigue in Inpatient Nurses at RSI Siti Hajar Sidoarjo

Introduction: Nurses are an important part of patient care so they are often required to provide optimal service which sometimes causes fatigue. With different individual characteristics of each worker such as age and physical condition of workers and job characteristics such as length of service and duration of work, it is possible to experience fatigue at different levels of fatigue. Objective: To determine the relationship between age, work period, and work shifts with work fatigue in inpatient nurses at RSI Siti Hajar Sidoarjo and identify the relationship between age with work fatigue, work period with work fatigue, work shifts with work fatigue in inpatient nurses at RSI Siti Hajar Sidoarjo. Method: This type of research is quantitative with random sampling technique. Data collectin was carried out with IFRC (Industrial Fatigue Research Committee) questionnaire instrument on 125 inpatient nurses at RSI Siti Hajar Sidoarjo. The bivariate analysis process is carried out by testing the data with the SPSS program using the Spearman Rank Correlation test. Result: The majority of inpatient nurses who have the potential to work fatigue are ?35 years old, had worked for ?5 years, working on the morning shift, experienced low fatigue and the majority of nurses felt thirsty, wanted to lay down after work, often yawned, sleepy, and tired all over. Based on the hypothesis test, between age and fatigue was obtained sig. 0.002 < 0.05, between tenure and fatigue obtained sig. 0.001 < 0.05, and between work shifts and work fatigue obtained sig. 0.032 < 0.05. Conclusion: There is a relationship between age, length of service, work shifts with work fatigue in inpatient nurses at RSI Siti Hajar Sidoarjo.

High-throughput glycosaminoglycan extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS quantification in human biofluids.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear, unbranched heteropolysaccharides whose structural complexity determines their function. Accurate quantification of GAGs in biofluids at high throughput is relevant for numerous biomedical applications. However, because of the structural variability of GAGs in biofluids, existing protocols require complex pre-analytical procedures, have limited throughput and lack accuracy. Here, we describe the extraction and quantification of GAGs by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Designed for 96-well plates, this method enables the processing of up to 82 study samples per plate, with the remaining 14 wells used for calibrators and controls. Key steps include the enzymatic depolymerization of GAGs, their derivatization with 2-aminoacridone and their quantification via UHPLC-MS/MS. Each plate can be analyzed in a single UHPLC-MS/MS run, offering the quantitative and scalable analysis of 17 disaccharides from chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid, with a level of precision and reproducibility sufficient for their use as biomarkers. The procedure from sample thawing to initiating the UHPLC-MS/MS run can be completed in ~1.5 d plus 15 min of MS runtime per sample, and it is structured to fit within ordinary working shifts, thus making it a valuable tool for clinical laboratories seeking high-throughput analysis of GAGs. The protocol requires expertise in UHPLC-MS/MS.

Assessment of Midwives’ Knowledge and Application of the Modified WHO Partograph at Ga South Public Health Facilities, Greater Accra, Ghana

Background The partograph, one of the vital tools available for the midwife, was originally developed from Friedman’s 1954 Cervicograph by Philpott and Castle in 1972. It was later modified and adopted by the WHO as a universal ‘gold standard’ tool for recording and monitoring progress in labour and providing interventions in cases of abnormal labour. The goal of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of midwives and their utilisation of the modified WHO partograph at the Ga South Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Methodology An institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted within the municipality from February to March 2019. One hundred and ten (110) midwives were recruited using the census approach. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. STATA statistical software version 14 was used for descriptive analysis and results were reported in the form of percentages and frequencies using charts and tables. Pearson’s Chi-Square estimation was also performed to test the association between selected variables with a p value <.05 as the threshold for statistical significance. Results Of the 110 participants, 105 (95.5%) of the midwives could properly describe the partograph and 104 (94.5%) understood that it was used as a tool for vital decision-making, while 92 (83.6%) indicated that partograph contributes in reducing maternal and new-born deaths. Almost all participants, 109 (99.09%) knew all the parameters of the partograph and were also aware that plotting the partograph begins at a cervical dilation of 4 cm. Also, while a good number of participants 103 (93.64%) knew that cervical dilation on the partograph is carried out every four hours during the active phase of labour, 110 (100%) indicated that progress of labour is assessed by the degree of cervical dilation and descent of the presenting part. Routine usage of the partograph was recorded among the majority of midwives, 102 (92.7%), to record and monitor the progress of labour in expectant women. Bivariate analysis showed a significant association between the use of the modified WHO partograph and the knowledge of midwives on Ghana Health Service (GHS) policies ( p = .045). There was, however, no positive association determined among age ( p = .66), rank ( p = .77), years of professional experience ( p = 1.00), place of work ( p = .51), work shift and highest qualification ( p = 1.00) as far as knowledge and use of the WHO modified partograph are concerned. Conclusion The findings of the study underscore the desirable level of knowledge and usage of the partograph among study participants. This affirms that the knowledge and usage of the partograph within the facilities in Ga South health facilities hold the prospect of enhancing the safety of expectant mothers.

SNOOKER: a dataset generator for helpdesk services

AbstractThe availability of suitable datasets and data generators is crucial for developing intelligent systems, especially in helpdesk services. However, the lack of publicly accessible data generators focused on helpdesk operations, where incidents are often closed without detailing the treatment procedures, poses challenges to implementing intelligent systems such as recommender systems. To address this issue, a dataset generator can be employed to simulate helpdesk incidents. This paper introduces SNOOKER (dataSet geNeratOr fOr helpdesK sERvices), a customizable dataset generator designed to create and treat helpdesk tickets, including domain-specific incidents (e.g., cybersecurity) by orchestrating simulated actions and multiple IT teams. SNOOKER’s output is compared against a real anonymized dataset from S21Sec Cyber Solutions by Thales. The datasets are evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kullback-Leibler Divergence, and Hellinger distance tests, with results indicating similar distributions. For example, the first metric returned a low K-S value and a p-value exceeding 5%, while the second and third measures presented 0.003 and 0.03, respectively. Furthermore, experiments with different team configurations revealed that ticket scheduling highly depends on each team’s operators’ numbers and work shifts, increasing with unbalanced shifts and fewer operators.

Train one and get a crew: a multilevel evaluation of team-centric leadership training for airport security screening crew leaders

PurposeThis study aims to introduce a team-centric leadership training program tailored for leaders of critical action teams. It emphasizes the critical role of effective teamwork in high-stakes environments.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed a team-centric leadership training program for crew leaders of airport security teams. The training program comprised in-class teaching on the psychological foundations of teamwork and practical simulations. The training program’s effectiveness was assessed at the individual and team levels using Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model to obtain a complete evaluation of its effectiveness. First, a pre- and posttraining questionnaire recorded changes in self-efficacy, knowledge and skills about teamwork at the individual level from 62 leaders. Second, the authors assessed the transfer effects of the team-centric leadership training on self-reported team processes and team performance during a work shift of 37 crews.FindingsResults indicate an improvement in the application of teamwork skills but not in self-efficacy or knowledge among crew leaders who underwent the training. Additional analysis revealed that leaders with initially high self-efficacy in teamwork experienced a reduction posttraining, whereas those with initially low levels reported an increase. Teams led by trained leaders demonstrated a higher engagement in key team processes than those led by untrained leaders. No effect has been found on team performance.Originality/valueThis study offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional teamwork training methods, specifically designed for high-pressure security contexts. The authors advocate for the adoption of this training model by security professionals, aiming to elevate team processes and operational efficacy in critical action teams.

Extended-duration work shifts among care workers: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe available literature reviews of shift work among care workers are almost exclusively focused on 8-hour shifts and 12-hour shifts or 24-hour on-call shifts for physicians. We do not yet know the scope of evidence regarding extended-duration work shifts (defined as on-duty shifts of 16 or more hours per shift) in diverse healthcare settings, such as the impact on care workers and recipients of care. In this proposed scoping review, we aim to provide an overview of the current research regarding extended-duration work shifts among care workers in various healthcare settings.Methods and analysisWe will conduct this scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) databases and grey literature sources. We will include empirical studies that focus on extended-duration work shifts among care workers working in different healthcare settings, including home care, community, acute care settings, long-term care homes and assisted living facilities. We will not apply language restrictions. We will conduct searches in August 2024, followed by screening of records. We will exclude research on on-call work shifts and investigations that solely focus on interns. The included literature will be screened independently by pairs of reviewers at the title and abstract review phase, followed by a full-text review for relevant literature. Any disagreement will be resolved by consensus or discussion with a third reviewer. The results will be extracted and summarised in the final report in tabular form, when possible, along with narrative synthesis.Ethics and disseminationAll data for this study will come from published literature, so an ethics review is not necessary. The findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals, with the expectation that they will guide future research and inform future management of work shifts in care workers.

Are there compensatory behaviors in response to a sit-stand desk intervention?

Office workers represent one of the most sedentary groups. Alarmingly, more than a third of their sitting time during workdays occurs in prolonged bouts. Sit-stand desk (SSD) interventions have been found to be effective in reducing sitting time, but heterogeneity exists amongst studies, which may be due to compensations outside the workplace. This study aimed to assess the impact of a 6-month SSD intervention on office workers' sitting and standing times during the work shift and outside work (leisure time). A two-arm (1:1) clustered randomized controlled trial was conducted with 38 participants randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention included a psychoeducational session, motivational prompts, and environmental modification (SSD implemented in the workplace). The waiting-list control group maintained the usual work conditions and only received the initial session. We employed repeated measures ANCOVA to compare changes between groups while adjusting for relevant covariates, with significance set at 5%. In the intervention group, there was a significant reduction in sitting time at work by 32.97 min, along with a notable increase in standing time by 27.88 min (p<0.05). Although not significant (p>0.05), there was an increase in sitting time in the leisure context of about 23.07 min. This study underscores the effectiveness of SSD as a key strategy to mitigate sitting time among office workers. However, future interventions should consider integrating comprehensive behavioral strategies beyond the workplace to sustain potential increases in sitting time during the leisure time and avoid compensatory behaviors. What is already known on this topic: Sedentary behavior, particularly in the workplace, is associated with increased risks of non-communicable diseases and premature mortality. Previous studies have shown that sit-stand desk (SSD) interventions can significantly reduce sitting time at work. However, uncertainties remain about whether these effects persist outside of the workplace and if compensatory behaviors occur during leisure time. This study demonstrated that a 6-month SSD intervention resulted in a significant reduction of 32.97 minutes in sitting time during work hours and a corresponding increase in standing time. However, a non-significant increase of 23.07 minutes in sitting time during leisure was observed, suggesting potential compensatory behaviors outside of work. Additionally, the response to the intervention varied among participants, highlighting the influence of individual factors. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: The findings emphasize the importance of extending behavioral interventions beyond the workplace to maintain sustainable reductions in sedentary behavior. To maximize health benefits, future interventions should consider personalized strategies that address sedentary behavior in the workplace and during leisure time. Moreover, the variability in individual responses suggests that more tailored interventions may be necessary to ensure widespread effectiveness.

Improving health workers’ well-being in Cittadella Hospital (Province of Padua)

Abstract Issue A healthy workplace increases productivity, creativity and decreases absenteeism and turn-over. It also contributes to creating a more secure work environment with fewer risks of violence. In the past 3 years, the healthcare system has suffered the psychological, economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the healthcare staff reductions determine high levels of work related stress that are often unsustainable. Description In an effort to improve staff well-being, in the Hospital of Cittadella, which counts nearly 1,250 employees, a wide range of activities have been initiated. A questionnaire was submitted to the hospital’s staff and the results showed that nearly 10% of workers had experienced physical symptomatology related to work. The most commonly experienced symptoms included: anxiety, nervousness, headache, stomach ache, excessive fatigue and insomnia. Participants also indicated feeling excessive mental fatigue and emotional overload at the end of their work shift. Results Psychomotor practice, held according to the Aucouturier method, is one of the projects intended especially for the staff operating in Intensive Care, Emergency and Pneumology Units. This method brings focus to controlled breathing, posture, muscle work and movement that help manage stress and fatigue. A Qigong course, which is an ancient Chinese practice designed to optimize the energy within the body reducing the stress levels and increasing general wellbeing, was held every two weeks for 5 months. And finally, Tibetan singing crystal bowls sessions consisted of monthly guided meditation sessions using the sounds of the crystal bowls. Lessons In conclusion, well-being and organizational performance are closely related to each other. It is crucial for any organization to encourage and maintain better physical and mental health of the healthcare staff as it directly affects productivity and consequently user’s satisfaction of the services provided. Key messages • Stress management is important amongst healthcare professionals as they are continuously exposed to different job stressors. • Promoting self awareness and self care can help create a healthier work environment.

Exploring the influence of music on cognitive performance in female assembly line workers at a medical device manufacturing unit.

The significance of enhancing working conditions for the physical health and performance of workers, particularly female workers, underscores the need for research in this domain and the examination of interventions such as music. Previous studies have yielded diverse outcomes regarding the influence of music on individuals' performance; hence, further research in this area appears imperative. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of music on the cognitive and task performance of female assembly operation operators. This study is an interventional (quasi-experimental) study that involved 81 participants from the female workforce of the medical equipment assembly unit in Isfahan, Iran. The evaluation encompassed task performance, working memory using N-Back test, sustained attention using continues performance test (CPT), degree of sleepiness, and mental fatigue using Flicker Fusion test, along with physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood oxygen level. Participants underwent testing both in the presence of classical music and in a condition without music playback. The provision of background music enhanced the workers' sustained attention and working memory. It led to improved task performance and a reduction in drowsiness. Concerning physiological parameters, it resulted in a slight decrease in heart rate at the end of the work shift and a marginal increase in participants' blood oxygen levels. Background music enhanced working memory (p-value = 0.001), sustained attention (p-value = 0.001), and improved the task performance of workers(p-value = 0.005). Additionally, likely due to increased relaxation, it led to a decrease in heart rate (p-value = 0.001) and an increase in blood oxygen levels (p-value = 0.016). Music also played a role in reducing participants' sleepiness (p-value = 0.001).

The Decontamination of N95 Masks as an Occupational Safety Strategy

Objective: This study aimed to monitor the use of a short-wave ultraviolet (UV-C) decontamination device for N95 masks at the João de Barros Barreto University Hospital, Belém, Pará, Brazil. The research investigated the reuse of masks, storage methods, and the perception of healthcare professionals regarding the decontamination protocol using UV-C after each work shift. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on theories related to biosafety and occupational health, focusing on the importance of decontamination processes in hospital settings to enhance the protection of healthcare workers and reduce infection risks. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 295 nursing professionals, including nurses, technicians, and assistants. Data were collected through a questionnaire addressing the reuse of N95 masks, storage between uses, and opinions on the use of the UV-C device for decontamination. Results and Discussion: All participants (n=295) agreed that UV-C decontamination improves biosafety by reducing the handling of potentially contaminated masks. The acceptance of the device was unanimous, confirming its feasibility both in high-demand scenarios, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and in routine hospital practices. Research Implications: This study demonstrates that implementing UV-C decontamination systems is a practical and effective solution for hospitals, with the potential to increase occupational safety and reduce infectious waste generation. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the feasibility and benefits of reusing N95 masks with UV-C decontamination, promoting greater safety in hospital environments.

Level of nurse–nurse collaboration and influencing factors in Türkiye and Italy: a mixed-methods study

Background: Collaboration between nurses is crucial in improving quality in healthcare and plays a key role in increasing nurses’ job satisfaction. Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the level of collaboration between nurses working in Turkey and Italy and its related factors. The study also deepened the point of view of clinical nurses and nurse managers on this topic. Methods: This study was carried out as mixed-methods research including both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study’s quantitative sample included 348 clinical nurses. The Nurse–Nurse Collaboration Scale was used to collect quantitative data. Five open-ended questions were used to analyse the nurses’ point of view about intraprofessional collaboration. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 clinical nurses and 10 nurse managers. Results: Nurse–nurse collaboration was above the cut off value in both countries. However, significant inter-country differences were found in the collaboration subscales. Qualitative results emphasised that personal characteristics, a specific training in collaboration, the opportunities for comparison and mutual consultation during working shifts may affect the level of collaboration. Nurse managers argued that factors such as manpower planning, suitable working conditions, sufficient materials, empathy, job satisfaction, motivation and effective communication affect collaboration. Conclusion: Greater efforts should be made to implement collaboration between nurses in healthcare settings. Our results help healthcare services in implementing new collaboration policies.

Effects of Smart Glasses on the Visual Acuity and Eye Strain of Employees in Logistics and Picking: A Six-Month Observational Study.

The usage of smart glasses in goods logistics and order picking has mainly been studied through cross-sectional experimental studies. Our longitudinal field study investigated the effects of smart glasses on the eyesight of 43 employees at two German companies. We combined ophthalmological examinations and questionnaire surveys at two points in time, six months apart. The vision of the employees was examined before and after each work shift. Mixed effects logistic regression was conducted to determine the associations between smart glasses use and effects on visual acuity. In the baseline examination, differences in eyesight before and after shifts were small and not statistically significant. However, some individuals experienced deteriorations, especially in visual acuity at near distances (n = 7 for the right eye, n = 6 for the left). Participants over 40 years of age had 16.1 times higher odds of deterioration compared to those under 40 years (95% CI: 2.7-95.9, p = 0.002). The most commonly reported eye strains were eye fatigue (n = 32), rubbing (n = 25), and burning (n = 24). If smart glasses are to be implemented in logistics companies, it is recommended to offer employees eye tests with an industrial physician in advance.

Occupational health and safety among farmers: a comprehensive study in Central Anatolia, Turkey

BackgroundThe agricultural sector is vital for food production, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. However, it also poses significant occupational health and safety challenges due to factors such as heavy machinery usage, exposure to chemicals, and challenging environmental conditions.MethodThis cross-sectional study involved 366 farmers affiliated with the Yozgat Chamber of Agriculture in Turkey. Data on demographic characteristics, occupational factors, and work accidents were collected with interview technique between May and August 2023. While descriptive data were expressed as categories with numbers and percentages, chi-square analysis was used to compare the obtained answers with the status of having or not having a work accident. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of independent variables on the probability of having a work accident.ResultsThe study revealed that 33.0% of farmers experienced work accidents in the last year. Most accidents occurred during work shifts (28.8%) and in the fall season (34.8%). Factors contributing to accidents included lack of personal protective equipment (51.5%) and transportation-related issues (36.4%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that working more than 8 h daily, working 5 days or more per week, and using bus/minibus transportation significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing work accidents.ConclusionFindings underscore the importance of implementing effective occupational health and safety measures, including proper training, provision of personal protective equipment, and improving transportation safety. Addressing these issues can enhance the well-being of agricultural workers and contribute to a safer working environment in the sector.

Prevalence of unplanned extubation in a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit.

Orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV) have become routine practices in intensive care units. Unplanned extubation (UE) is one of the most important complications, particularly in premature infants and critically ill newborns. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of UE in a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In this analytical cross-sectional retrospective study, all data, including perinatal data, indications for ventilatory support, days of MV at the time of UE, work shift, month of the event, reintubation, and postextubation complications, were obtained from the manual review of clinical charts. In total, 151 neonates, who received invasive MV, were included in this study. The prevalence of UE was 2.0/100 days of ventilation. The most affected were premature infants, with a gestational age of ≤ 32 weeks (54.7%) and a birth weight of ≤ 1500 g. The main cause for UE was deficient fixation of the endotracheal tube (ETT) (27.7%). Most UE events occurred during night shifts (48.1%). Reintubation was required in 83.3% of newborns. Immediate complications developed in 96.3% of the UE events, including desaturation (57.7%) and bradycardia (36.5%). The prevalence of UE was high, particularly in premature infants, with a high rate of reintubation and immediate complications. Standardized protocols for ETT care must be implemented to reduce these events.

Occupational accidents in mining workers: scoping review of studies published in the last 13 years

ObjectiveMining activity represents one of the most hazardous occupations related to health, with 8% of fatal injuries concentrated in this sector worldwide. Thus, it is crucial to timely identify the...

Analysis of Service Quality Improvement Using Service Quality (SERVQUAL) and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) Methods (Case Study at PDAM Banggai Regency)

PDAM Kab.Banggai is a service company that has the aim of meeting the needs in the field of clean water must provide the best service. The purpose of this research is to analyze service quality based on customer satisfaction and find out the factors that affect service quality to get a solution to the causes of problems based on service quality. This research will use the servqual method to measure service quality with the level of perceptions and expectations of consumers in the services provided by service providers. Furthermore, the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method is used in measuring the level of importance and performance so that the company can find out the attributes that need to be improved and maintained in service based on a Cartesian diagram and will produce a basis for customer satisfaction. After that, the Fishbone Diagram is used to analyze the consequences by finding and describing the factors that cause the existing problems. Then given the proposed improvements and submitted PDAM to be followed up by PDAM Kab.Banggai. The results of the Service Quality analysis of the quality of service of PDAM Kab. Banggai obtained a negative Gap in the Reliability dimension at attribute B5 (-1.200), in the Responsiveness dimension obtained a negative Gap at attribute C1 (-1.140), at attribute C2 with a negative Gap (- 1.120) and in the Assurance dimension with a negative Gap (-0.560). The results of the analysis using Importance Performance Analysis obtained 4 attributes that are among the top priorities for improvement, namely the attributes contained in quadrant I. The four attributes that are the top priorities for improvement are the ease with which customers can submit complaints online to the PDAM, employees are responsive when answering complaints from customers through online media such as whatsapp, officers contact customers when they cannot fulfill the specified repair promise and the use of PDAM services Kab. Banggai is guaranteed to be safe when making payment transactions. The proposed improvements given to PDAM Kab. Banggai are Attribute D2, namely conducting a re- check before making payment bills to customers, collaborating with third parties such as banks and outlets (indomaret, alfamidi, etc.) and making payment applications directly linked to PDAM accounts so that there is no manipulation during the payment process. Attribute C2 is instilling a sense of responsibility in officers and openness to customers to contact customers as soon as possible if something happens or cannot fulfill the specified repair promise, the need to make SOPs so that they have standard provisions for contacting customers if they cannot fulfill repair promises and provide facilities to contact customers. Attribute C1, namely recruiting Customer Service and implementing a 24-hour work shift system to be available if there are complaints via messages or calls, implementing online complaint services for 24 hours to be responsive to answering customer complaints and providing social media accounts that are always updated to provide information about PDAM and responsive when there are complaints from customers online. Attribute B5, namely implementing a work shift system for officers who are available when there are complaints via messages or calls, implementing online complaint services through social media and providing media for customers to submit complaints online such as providing PDAM contact numbers that are always active 24 hours. For further research, it is hoped that it will be able to research to implement the proposed improvements provided and analyze the quality of service after implementing the proposed improvements provided by the author so that the effectiveness of the services that have been implemented can be known.

Opinions of Polish postgraduate nursing students on medical humanization courses in relation to age, years of service, and nursing specialty

BackgroundThe Polish educational system for nurses has undergone a substantial transformation over the past two decades, with the introduction of a mandatory university education that encompasses humanization in medicine. Consequently, nurses who had been licensed to practice before the implementation of the reform returned to universities to pursue master’s degrees alongside their younger colleagues who had only recently obtained bachelor’s degrees. This distinctive learning environment, in which nurses of varying ages and years of practice study together, offers an opportunity to gain insight into their perspectives on the educational process. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the opinions of Polish postgraduate nursing students at one university regarding medical humanization courses, focusing on the extent to which these opinions are shaped by age, years of service, and specialty of nursing care.MethodsFrom February to June 2023, an anonymous survey was conducted on the university’s online platform, involving 89 out of 169 participants in the master’s degree nursing program. The newly designed questionnaire comprised 15 primary questions and 11 metric questions.ResultsThe study population consisted of registered nurses with a mean age of 35 years (ranging from 22 to 54 years). The majority of participants were women (97.8%). The analysis revealed that older students (Spearman’s rho 0.480, p < 0.001) and those with more years of professional experience (Spearman’s rho 0.377, p < 0.001) perceived humanizing classes as a vital component of nurse training and work. Younger and less experienced students did not share this perspective. Specialization status was also identified as a differentiating factor (Chi² = 10.830, p < 0.05). However, other characteristics, including the number of positions held during the survey, the type of position, the primary employer, and the nature of work (shift or non-shift), did not exhibit statistically significant differentiation among participants.ConclusionsThis study found age- and work-experience-related differences in nursing students’ opinions toward courses teaching humanization in health care. The results suggest that changing the teaching format and involving older and more experienced students in sharing experiences with younger and less experienced students could potentially improve the implementation of learned skills in clinical practice.

The prevalence of occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in iron and steel industries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe iron and steel industries are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world compared to other manufacturing industries. Workers are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, which predispose them to high risks of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Currently, the data on the global prevalence and associated risk factors for occupational injuries in the iron and steel industries is fragmented and incomplete. This study was undertaken to address this issue by pooling data relating to the prevalence of occupational injuries and its associated factors among workers in iron and steel industries studies around the world.MethodsThe search was conducted systematically using PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE and Google Scholar for published studies in English that reported on occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in iron and steel industries. MetaXL version 5.3 software was used in the meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence of occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in the iron and steel industries. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022344258.ResultsOf the 447 articles identified, 15 studies from 9 countries met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence estimate of occupational injury was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.93). The pooled results indicated that the odds of having an occupational injury were 4.06 times higher among workers who did not use personal protective equipment compared to those who used such equipment. Likewise the odds of occupational injuries was increased by 1.65 among night shift workers compared to the counterpart.ConclusionsThe global prevalence of occupational injuries in iron and steel industries was 55%. The results indicate that night work shift and the lack of use of personal protective equipment has a higher impact than other factors in the occurrence of occupational injuries in the iron and steel industries.

Study of Pain and Disabilities in Musculoskeletal System among Urban Bus Drivers with respect to Body Postures, Job Satisfaction, and Individuals Factors

Background and Objective: Pain and disabilities in the musculoskeletal system can lead to reduced productivity and job turnover. This research aims to study the role of posture, as well as individual and organizational factors, in causing musculoskeletal pain and disabilities among urban bus drivers. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 bus drivers from Hamadan city were investigated using a census method. Standardized questionnaires were employed to assess musculoskeletal disorders and job satisfaction. Additionally, posture evaluation was conducted using the RULA. Finally, common statistical methods were applied in SPSS version 24 for data analysis. Results: The highest and lowest frequencies of pain in the past year were related to the back (94 people, equal to 72.3%) and ankle (5 people, equal to 3.8%), respectively. The average body posture score for the left and right sides of the drivers’ bodies was 5.85±1.14 and 6.06±1.05, respectively. The intensity of pain and disability in the musculoskeletal system had a direct relationship with age, work history, body mass index, and posture score, and an inverse relationship with the average number of hours of sleep. Additionally, the type of work shift and job satisfaction were directly related to pain and disability. Conclusions: severity of pain and disability in the musculoskeletal system was associated with the drivers’ posture score, age, work experience, body mass index, exercise habits, shift work, hours of sleep, and level of job satisfaction. The findings from this study can inform interventions aimed at enhancing the musculoskeletal health of bus drivers.