Working Time Research Articles

The Influence of Motivation on Work Effectiveness in the Tolinggula Subdistrict Office, North Gorontalo Regency

Motivation has two basic forms, namely artificial (extrinsic) and intrinsic (intrinsic). Organizations need both in order to improve employee performance. (extrinsic or intrinsic), extrinsic refers to the actions that the organization will take to motivate employees, while intrinsic refers to the forces or causes within the organization that push employees towards certain goals. Because every employee who works certainly has motivation which is the reason why they join the organization of their choice. Based on the results of the researcher's initial observations, work effectiveness at the Tolinggula Subdistrict Office, North Gorontalo Regency is not yet optimal. This can be seen where there are still many public services that cannot be completed on time, simply because the employees serving the public are not there or arrive late to go to the office. Another problem that appears is the slowness of employees in working due to lack of communication. Some employees lack responsibility for their duties and work. If you look at the behavior of employees, it is very clear that employees arrive on time for attendance or roll call in the morning, but after roll call and roll call are finished they do not immediately enter the room and start work, but choose to be quiet and talk to their colleagues and then enter the work room for an hour. after they did attendance and morning assembly. If you assess employees' efforts in carrying out their duties, some employees often delegate their tasks or work to other employees. When appointed by the leadership to carry out work, both inside and outside the office, there are employees who nominate other employees to carry out the task. It was found that the services provided by employees at the Tolinggula Subdistrict Office still showed signs that employee discipline in their work had not been carried out well, this had an impact on employee work results which still showed signs of ineffectiveness in terms of both work quality and time issues. The problem phenomenon above is caused by a lack of motivation for employees. Work effectiveness and employee motivation are closely related; With the support of the right motivation, every employee will try to increase their productivity and have high work morale.

The Effectiveness of Dual Roles for Style Attendants at Hotel WXY

This study was motivated by guest complaints about the housekeeping department at Hotel WXY due to the lack of accuracy of the style attendant in handling work, which was caused by the dual role they had. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the dual role. Data were collected through interviews with two style attendants and a supervisor, using three indicators of work effectiveness from Hasibuan: work quality, work quantity, and time utilization. The results of the study showed that the dual role was not yet effective in terms of work quality, but was quite effective in terms of work quantity and time utilization. This study is expected to improve the effectiveness of the style attendant's work, especially in terms of work quality

A Method for Predicting the Remaining Service Life of Finite Data Products Based on Gaussian Stochastic Processes

There is a problem of poor predictive performance when predicting the remaining service life of products. Therefore, this paper proposes a finite data product remaining service life prediction method based on Gaussian stochastic processes. Analyze the types of product failure and degradation under limited data, and determine the factors affecting the degradation performance of product life through constant stress accelerated degradation tests, step stress accelerated degradation tests, and sequential stress accelerated aging tests; using the Wiener process to analyze the performance degradation characteristics of products, setting product failure thresholds, defining the remaining life of the product based on the degradation process, and using equal interval partitioning methods to determine the product health index, and clarifying the product failure process under limited data; by calculating the mathematical expected value, the numerical characteristics of the remaining life of the product are defined. Variance and moments are used to determine the predicted second-order central moment and origin moment. Based on the monotonic increasing characteristics of the inverse Gaussian process, the probability distribution of the random variable of product failure is determined after the Gaussian process. Under limited data, the actual working time of the product and the degradation amount at the time scale are clarified, and a preset threshold is set for the degradation amount. Build a residual life prediction model for product degradation and output the prediction results. The experimental results show that this method can accurately predict the remaining service life of the product and has good predictive performance.

The Use of Heart Rate Measures to Evaluate Stress Levels among Air Traffic Controllers

This paper looks at the possibility of using a heart rate monitor to evaluate stress levels among Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs). Air Traffic Control (ATC) service requires constant good planning, situation awareness, and always making sound decisions. A study was conducted on two ATCOs for three complete work cycles: the morning shift from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the afternoon shift from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., and the night shift from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. Both participants have different roles, with Subject A being a planner controller while Subject B is a radar controller. The study used the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) survey to collect the subjective workload rating and a heart rate monitor armband to measure the heart rate reading of an ATCO and then compare it with the number of aircraft within the controlled area. Two hypotheses were investigated: the first one is the relationship between the number of traffic and heart rate readings, and the second hypothesis is the relationship between the elapsed working time and heart rate reading. The Spearman correlation test has been used to determine these relationships. Based on the results, a p-value of less than 0.05 and a positive correlation indicates a significant relationship between the number of aircraft and heart rate readings for both subjects. Elapsed time and heart rate measurement, on the other hand, do not significantly correlate with a p-value greater than 0.05 and a negative correlation was produced for both subjects. The unweighted NASA-TLX workload measure confirmed the findings for Subject A but not for Subject B. This might be due to the different roles carried out by both subjects during the experiment. This shows that different work tasks resulted in different workload-induced factors. The results show a promising outcome of using a heart rate monitor to evaluate stress levels among ATCOs. However, more subjects were needed to enable the use of this concept for future purposes of measuring ATCO stress levels to manage workload.

Cost estimation of preventive dental hygiene care using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC)

Objectives: This study used Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to measure the value of preventive dental hygiene care and offering a more practical and adaptable cost management method than compared to traditional cost accounting approaches.. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted using 164 questionnaires collected from dental hygienists actively involved in preventive dental care. The cost data related to labor, materials, and overheads, were anlyzed using detailed classifications of procedures such as scaling, fluoride application, and sealant application. Results: The total allocated cost of 10,163,355 South Korean Won (KRW) was divided by the total working time of the dental clinic (23,520 min), providing a unit cost of 432 KRW/min. Among the three preventive dental care procedures, scaling had the highest total activity cost of 5,867,243 KRW. Conclusions: This study provides valuable evidence for the implementation of an appropriate fee system for preventive dental care performed by dental hygienists. Therefore, this study contributes to the establishment of a fair and rational reimbursement structure.

Differences in Pediatricians' Income by Sex Over Time.

Previous Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study (PLACES) 2016 data revealed that female pediatricians reported earning ∼94% of what male pediatricians reported, after adjusting for factors that might impact income. Has this disparity persisted? Data from PLACES, a national longitudinal study, was used to examine pediatrician-reported income from 2017 to 2022. A regression analysis estimated the adjusted differences in female and male pediatricians' annual income for each survey year. Models included sex and other key personal and practice characteristics for which female and male pediatricians' careers might differ. A mixed effects regression for longitudinal analysis examined income across years for female and male pediatricians and if time-variant characteristics are associated with increased or decreased income. PLACES participation ranged from 83.6% in 2017% to 75.5% in 2022 (analytic n = 1251 in 2017 and 1077 in 2022). The unadjusted mean annual income in 2022 was $237 168, $220 374 for female pediatricians and $284 286 for male pediatricians. Adjusting for key characteristics, female pediatrician income was ∼93% of male pediatrician income, a gap of ∼$ 11 000 annually. Income increased across years (coefficient = 0.03, P < .001). The year-sex interaction was not significant, indicating that the female-male disparity did not change over time. Three time-variant characteristics associated with increased income over time included increased portion of continuous full-time work, work hours, and time in administrative work. A national longitudinal study revealed that female pediatricians reported earning ∼93% of what their male colleagues reported, with a consistent gap from 2017 to 2022.

Analysis of Intervention Effects of Prototyping Utilizing UI Stencils in Elementary School Students

This study examines the impact of using stencils in paper prototyping on work time, subjective burden, and idea generation among Japanese sixth-grade students, focusing on the role of personality traits, specifically openness. Two groups were involved: Group 1 used stencils after a lecture, and Group 2 worked freehand without prior instruction. Results showed no significant difference in work time; however, a reduction in subjective burden was noted in the stencil group. While no significant correlation was found between openness and the number of stencil icons used, children with higher openness scores engaged more intensively, suggesting that stencils influence the quality and depth of engagement. The findings highlight the importance of tailored educational approaches to enhance learning outcomes.

Perception of stress among healthcare workers in hospitals in Belgrade during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare institutions and workers, exposing them to unfamiliar and hazardous conditions, increased workloads, and changing directives. This has led to work-related stress, resulting in burnout, depression, anxiety disorders, and other health issues among healthcare workers. Methods This cross-sectional study utilized an anonymous questionnaire with closed-ended questions. To assess stress levels among healthcare workers, a Likert-type scale was used. Over 6.000 healthcare workers completed the questionnaire in 2022. The relationship between the dependent variable (perceived stress level) and predictors was modelled using generalized ordinal univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Almost a third (30.7%) of respondents felt a very high amount of tension, stress, or pressure while performing their jobs under the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic, while 422 (6.8%) did not feel tension, stress, or pressure at all. In the multivariate logistic regression model, statistically significant predictors of higher levels of perceived stress in the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic include female sex (OR = 0,80), older age (OR = 1.19), being in a managerial position (OR = 1.32), lower satisfaction with available work time (OR = 0.82), patient relations (OR = 0.81), financial compensation (OR = 0.83), and cooperation with colleagues (OR = 0.93). Conclusions Through the identification of potential stress predictors, valuable insights are gained to aid policymakers in the planning and enhancement of healthcare personnel’s work during pandemics, as well as in situations characterized by heightened stress levels. Key messages • These findings emphasize supporting healthcare workers during the pandemic. • Strategies for reducing stress should be directed towards healthcare professionals who experience higher stress levels.

Gendered trends in unpaid labour by educational level in Sweden 2004-2022

Abstract Background Unpaid labour has recently been recognised as an important yet neglected social determinant of health. Our aim was to investigate the gendered trends in unpaid labour/domestic work by educational level in prime working-age Swedish adults (30-49 years) from 2004-2022. Methods The study is based on a postal survey sent to a random general population sample of adults from central Sweden in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The 30-49-year age group included between 5,500 and 12,200 respondents depending on the survey year. Trends in hours spent in domestic work and in experiencing domestic work as burdensome by gender and educational level were estimated by age-standardised proportions with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results Women reported spending more time in domestic work than men throughout every survey period from 2004 to 2022. For example, in 2022, 31% of women spent more than 20 hours per week in domestic work compared to 20% of men. Over time, hours spent in domestic work decreased in women whereas no trend was observed in men. Among women, educational level appeared to make no difference to prevalence of high domestic work time whereas, among men, it was consistently greater among those with higher educational levels. In general, women experienced domestic work as burdensome to a higher degree than men did. Conclusions As gender differences in unpaid labour/domestic work persist in Sweden, more effort is needed to implement social policies to increase men’s participation in domestic work, especially among men with low and middle educational levels, which has the potential to reduce gendered health inequities. Key messages • Amongst Swedish adults aged 30-49 years, the gender gap in unpaid labour has declined during the last two decades, but this is only due to women reducing their domestic work time. • For men, prevalence of high domestic work time was consistently greater among those with higher educational levels, whereas no difference was observed among women.

Heavy Work Investment (HWI) and Its Effect on Employees’ Physical and Mental Health

Abstract Background Economic reality and centrality of work have led to employees investing much time and effort in work. However, The number of hours spent at work may not be the only explanation, and other characteristics, such as type of work, employees’ personality, economic status, motivations, etc., need to be considered. The Heavy Work Investment model (Snir &amp; Harpaz, 2012) considers these variables and classifies employees into four types of investors. This study examines the physical and mental health consequences of each HWI group. Methods Participants (N = 962) were workers who came to a medical center for annual medical screenings. About 70% were males, and the average age was 50.13 years (SD = 9.53). They divided into 5 groups: Typical full-time workers (N = 208, 29.2%), ‘Needy’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Employer directed’ (N = 111, 15.6%), ‘Workaholic’ (N = 192, 26.9%) and ‘Work devoted’ (N = 91, 12.7%). The personal data was cross-referenced with the respondents’ health data. Differences for categorical variables were examined with Chi-square analyses. Results ‘Employer-directed’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as preventing them from performing mild activities. ‘Employer-directed’ and ‘needy’ employees, more than ‘work-devoted’ employees, perceived their health status as interfering with their social activities and their pain as interfering with their regular activities. ‘Workaholic’ employees suffered from more diseases than ‘work-devoted’ employees, and they were found to be 3.70 times more likely to be at a high risk of cardiovascular disease than typical full-time workers. Conclusions It is possible to anticipate types of health damage according to occupation type and develop occupation-adjusted health promotion programs. It is necessary to base labor laws on protecting employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload’ outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work). Key messages • Inspire organizations to be aware of potential injuries caused by HWI and promote the creation of intervention programs, potentially significantly improving employees’ health and well-being. • Evidence for the necessary laws that protect employees’ health, particularly regarding time and workload ‘outside of work’ in both hours (additional or flexible) and location (hybrid work).

Women’s Economic Participation, Time Use, and Access to Childcare in Urban Bangladesh

This study documents the labor market outcomes and time-use patterns of women in urban Bangladesh. Using survey data collected in 2018 in low-income neighborhoods of Dhaka, the paper finds that women with children aged 0–5 years have lower likelihood of labor market participation, lower likelihood of being employed, and lower likelihood of being an earner, compared to women with no children and women with children aged 6 years or older. While all mothers of young children face a labor market penalty, those who have young children but have no access to childcare support face the largest penalty. Time-use patterns indicate that mothers of young children generally spend less time on market work and more time on unpaid work, compared to those without children or with older children. When mothers have access to childcare support, they tend to spend more time on market work than those without childcare support, yet still devote the same amount of time to unpaid work as mothers without childcare support. They are also equally likely to perform childcare as a secondary activity, which could impact both their productivity and the quality of care they provide.

Real-time EEG-based detection of driving fatigue using a novel semi-dry electrode with self-replenishment of conductive fluid

A novel semi-dry electrode that can realize self-replenishment of conductive liquid is proposed in this study. Driving fatigue is detected by extracting the refined composite multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy (RCMFDE) features in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals collected by this electrode. The results show that the new semi-dry electrode can automatically complete the conductive fluid supplement according to its own humidity conditions, which not only notably improves the effective working time, but also significantly reduces the skin impedance. By comparing with the classical entropy algorithms, the computational speed and the stability of the RCMFDE method are Substantially enhanced.

Enhancing digital health competencies: insights from european human resources for health

Abstract Background Mixed-skills for digital health transformation are critical for human resources for health (HRH). This study aimed to inform the design of new training programmes that address soft, hard and digital health skills. Methods Using a mixed-methods design science approach, focus groups were conducted by invitation and with informed consent, online or in-person. A script was prepared with key questions for orientation and facilitation, addressing the topics of current situation, desired situation, desired skills, practical and organisational needs to implement continuous training in healthcare. The collected data were analysed using Nvivo. Results Focus groups (14) had 87 participants (Norway, Latvia, Belgium, Italy and Portugal): 26 healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, nutritionists, pharmacists, assistants and doctors); 27 managers or directors of hospitals and care centres; 34 experts (digital health specialists, researchers, technical officers, members of professional societies and national authorities). Real needs were identified, with 2 direct sub-themes that were best related to each other (Pearson coefficient, p &amp;gt; 0.40 - cluster analysis): 1. ‘Current situation’: Cybersecurity (eg. privacy, law and ethics); Time (work time versus private time, p = 0.69); Type (informal versus formal training, p = 0.32); Programmes (graduation, continuing education and post-graduation levels). 2. ‘Desired situation: Desired skills (eg. digital - basic ICT, data analysis, soft - communication, emotional intelligence, and hard skills - medication administration, catheters, ECG, vital signs, telehealth - digital stethoscope); Learning design and objectives (eg. collective learning, simulations, location - peer-to-peer and hybrid); Emergency care and the link between primary and secondary levels of care were considered important. Conclusions These findings of convergence among HRH inform Program design process to support the training programs and course syllabus design. Key messages • The identified needs and priorities inform Program design further to support Digital Health Transformation training programs and course syllabus design. • Real needs points to Current and Desired situation, where HRH give important insights that need to be considered to engage people to perform training courses.

Longitudinal association between nonstandard work schedule and depressive symptoms

Abstract Background Nonstandard work schedules (NSWSs) have been linked to increased risk of depression, but the evidence is mostly from cross-sectional studies and data on the risk distribution across various groups is lacking. We examined the impact of different NSWSs on depressive symptoms and assessed effect modification by sex, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Methods We used five waves of longitudinal data from the Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which were collected biennially from 2010/11 to 2018/19. The study sample comprised 11371 employed workers aged 16 to 58 years in 2010/11. Generalised estimating equation with logistic regression was used to assess crude and adjusted effects of NSWS types (work time arrangement, work hours, and weekend working) on depressive symptoms. Independent correlation was specified in all the models. Complete-case and multiple imputation analyses were performed. Results After adjusting for confounders, only weekend work was associated with depressive symptoms. Workers who worked most/all (OR 1.24; 95%CI 1.13 - 1.37) or some (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.18) weekends had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than workers who did not work on weekends. Ethnicity modified the association between work hours and depressive symptoms, indicating a higher risk among White workers working &amp;gt; 40 hours/week (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.02 - 1.20) and Asian workers working &amp;lt;35 hours/week (OR 1.72; 95%CI 1.32 - 2.25) compared to White workers working 35-40 hours/week. No effect modification by sex or immigrant status was observed. The results were the same as those obtained from the imputation model. Conclusions Weekend work, long work hours (for White workers), or working &amp;lt; 35 hours/week (for Asian workers) were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. These findings indicate the need to review the working conditions of workers exposed to NSWSs, especially those working on weekends and Asian workers who work part-time. Key messages • Weekend work schedule is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms among employed workers in the UK. • The effect of work hours on depressive symptoms varies by ethnicity.

Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on different life dimensions among working women in Sweden

Abstract Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS), like many other chronic diseases, may impact the whole life situation. MS is more common among women than men, in addition, women tend to report worse health status. We aimed to explore the self-reported impact of MS on different dimensions of life such as work, family, leisure activities and, contact with friends and acquaintances. Methods All individuals 20-50 years of age listed in the Swedish MS Registry were invited to answer a survey in 2021. Responses from 2659 working women regarding impact of MS in different dimensions (1, not at all; 2-3, occasionally; 4-5, frequently; 6-7 to a high extend) were explored with descriptive statistics. Results Reported impact of MS varied across the different life dimensions. Working women reported that MS had a greater impact on their leisure activities (20.7% - responding to ‘to a high extent’), followed by contact with friends and acquaintances (15.8%), work (15.5%) and family (11.7%). This despite the fact that 77.1% had mild levels of disability. Further, the MS diagnosis was reported to have contributed to reduced working time (31.4%), refrained from changing job (28.8%), changed jobs (20.5%) or changed career track (20.4%). When questioned about positive life-changing experiences due to MS diagnosis, a majority of the women stated that it had contributed to learning how to adapt to things one cannot change (59.2%) and being grateful for everyday (51.7%). Conclusions An MS diagnosis can significantly impact various aspects of life. While work is notably affected, leisure activities also undergo substantial changes after MS diagnosis. However, acceptance, adaptability and finding meaning, among other, can be important parts of the journey. Key messages • At early stages of MS, the disease tend to affect leisure activities more than other dimensions of life. • Finding coping mechanisms to handle MS may contribute to compensate the impact of MS.

Sociodemographic differences in low back pain: which subgroups of workers are most vulnerable?

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common health problem in workers that contributes to work disability and reduces quality of life. However, studies examining vulnerable groups in relation to sociodemographic differences in LBP remain scarce. Therefore, the current study investigates which sociodemographic groups of workers are most affected by LBP.MethodsData from the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey were used (N = 16252). Age, education, occupational group, income, working hours, atypical working time, relationship status, and having children were used as sociodemographic predictors. Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses and intersectional classification tree analyses were conducted.ResultsA higher prevalence of LBP was observed for women compared to men. Significant differences in LBP emerged for age, working hours, atypical working time, occupational group and education, with some gender differences in the importance of predictors: Age was a significant predictor mostly in men as compared to women, atypical working hours had a slightly greater effect in women, whereas differences in LBP according to the occupational group were more pronounced for men. Vulnerable groups were found to be women who work in occupations other than professionals or managers, work atypical hours and have an intermediate or low educational level as well as men who work as skilled agricultural workers, craft workers, machine operators, or elementary occupations and are between 35 and 64 years old.ConclusionsThus, workers with certain occupations and lower levels of education, middle-aged men and women with unfavourable working time characteristics are most affected by low back pain. These groups should be focused on to potentially increase healthy working life and prevent work disability.

Assessment of the research potential of healthcare specialists in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the implementation of clinical research: results of online questionnaires and self-assessments. Global crisis of clinical researcher shortage

The study aimed to identify and analyze the potential of practical healthcare professionals in terms of skills and knowledge for conducting clinical research in Kazakhstan, as well as to identify obstacles that may arise and cause the low involvement of specialists in research activities.Materials and methods. A specially developed questionnaire was conducted online. Various healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, teachers of medical educational organizations) from all regions of Kazakhstan participated. By random sampling, 337 respondents answered the questions. Data was collected anonymously through Google Forms.Results and discussion. 29,7% respondents had participated in clinical research. Most respondents do not have sufficient knowledge in conducting clinical research; on average, 35% of respondents answered correctly. On average, respondents' self-assessment of knowledge and skills in choosing a study design, forming groups of study objects, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data obtained during clinical trials, and performing statistical processing of results was 3 points (max = 5 points). A majority expressed a need for further training in clinical research. The main barriers to conducting clinical research were identified as lack of working time (44%), insufficient knowledge in conducting clinical research (34%), inaccessibility of educational programs (28%), lack of personal interest (27%), non-compliance of clinical base infrastructure (23%), difficulties in patient recruitment (20%), and the risk of losing professional autonomy (13%).Conclusions: The survey results show an unsatisfactory level of existing research potential of healthcare professionals in the organization and conduct of clinical research. the findings reveal a significant gap in the research potential of healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan. There is a lack of understanding of clinical research concepts, international standards, and local legislative requirements. The main obstacles are inadequate time for research, insufficient knowledge and experience, limited access to training, and low interest among professionals.

The Effect Of Air Lead (Pb) And Individual Characteristics On Subjective Complaints Of Gas Station Operators

Lead (Pb) is an air pollutant present in particulate form, often known as metallic powder. Gas station operators are one of the groups at risk of exposure to lead from motor vehicle emissions, which is harmful to health because it can accumulate in the body. This study aims to analyse the effect of airborne lead (Pb) and individual characteristics on the subjective complaints of petrol station operators in Surabaya. This study is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach with a sample size of 28 respondents. Data were collected through measurements, observations and interviews, which were then processed and analysed using chi-square test. The results showed that airborne Pb measurements at two points met the NAB based on Permenaker No. 5 of 2018, which is less than 0.05 mg/m3. Based on the chi-square test, it was found that the variables of working time and the habit of using PPE had an effect on subjective complaints with a p-value &lt;0.05. The variables airborne Pb, age and smoking habits had no effect on subjective complaints.

Current status of the working environment of brachytherapy in Japan: a nationwide survey-based analysis focusing on radiotherapy technologists and medical physicists.

Brachytherapy (BT), especially in high dose rate (HDR), has become increasingly complex owing to the use of image-guided techniques and the introduction of advanced applicators. Consequently, radiotherapy technologists and medical physicists (RTMPs) require substantial training to enhance their knowledge and technical skills in image-guided brachytherapy. However, the current status of the RTMP workload, individual abilities and quality control (QC) of BT units in Japan remains unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a questionnaire survey from June to August 2022 in all 837 radiation treatment facilities in Japan involving RTMPs. This survey focused on gynecological cancers treated with HDR-BT (GY-HDR) and permanent prostate implantation using low-dose-rate BT (PR-LDR). The responses revealed that the average working time in the overall process for HDR varied: 120min for intracavitary BT and 180min for intracavitary BT combined with interstitial BT. The QC implementation rate, in accordance with domestic guidelines, was 65% for GY-HDR and 44% for PR-LDR, which was lower than the 69% observed for external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Additionally, the implementation rate during regular working hours was low. Even among RTMP working in facilities performing BT, the proportion of those able to perform QC for BT units was ~30% for GY-HDR and <20% for PR-LDR, significantly lower than the 80% achieved for EBRT. This study highlights the vulnerabilities of Japan's BT unit QC implementation structure. Addressing these issues requires appropriate training of the RTMP staff to safely perform BT tasks and improvements in practical education and training systems.

Improving Water Productivity in Irrigated Agriculture: A Review of Techniques and Water Conservation Methods in Ethiopia

Water is a scarce resource and the competition for it is increasing from time to time due to population growth and economic status change. The population growth leads to high expectations to produce more food from irrigated agriculture which could not be satisfied by rain-fed conditions. As irrigated agriculture is by far the largest water consumer in an inefficient way, improving water productivity has paramount importance both for the production of more food and for wise utilization of scarce water. Beyond these, studies suggest that improving water productivity in Ethiopia contributes to an increase in the irrigated area, reduced competition, and conflict between users, increased profitability due to reduced labor cost, water pumping and working time, and generally increased food production. Different water productivity improvement techniques and water conservation methods have been tested in different parts of the country. These include improving the performance of irrigation schemes, regulated deficit irrigation practice, partial root zone drying, application of irrigation on selected crop growth stages, supplementary irrigation, drip irrigation, surge and cutback irrigation, and water conservation methods like mulching and integrating irrigation with conservation agriculture. The level of water productivity improvement varies considerably for different methods, study areas, crop types, and seasons. Generally, more studies concentrated on deficit irrigation and irrigation application at different crop growth stages. Water conservation and integration of cultivation practices with efficient irrigation led to an improvement in water productivity. Despite few studies, scheme-level study results suggest that the level of deficit irrigation should be selected based on the available irrigation water and cultivable land area for maximizing the benefit of the scheme. According to the economic profitability, crop types and crop varieties also should be selected for production with site-specific conditions. Despite different types and levels of reduced irrigation leading to lower crop yield, the inclusion of the economic importance is essential as most crops showed higher water productivity at lower irrigation levels. On the other hand, studies on the integration of different water productivity enhancement techniques and crop planting patterns are minimal in the country, though current studies revealed better water productivity. Moreover, basin-level water productivity improvement studies could contribute to alleviating water competition and increasing irrigated areas. Therefore, studies on the optimization of these different methods could be done at the basin level for better water resource utilization. Government policies should also focus on water productivity improvement for the implementation of research findings.