scholarly journals Disparity in the risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust among non-manual and manual employees in the construction industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Fluck ◽  
Lamine Mahdjoubi ◽  
David Fluck ◽  
Christopher H. Fry ◽  
Thang S. Han
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Crystalline Silica ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Professional Project

AbstractConstruction workers are at increased health risk due to exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. We examined differences in health risk among non-manual and manual employees in the construction industry. The participants were drawn randomly from the construction industry by targeting UK construction workers’ websites. Online survey of construction industry employees using a questionnaire consisted of 17 items to obtain information on demographic data, employment history and health risk exposure. Chi-squared tests were used to explore differences in health risk between manual and non-manual employees, and logistic regression to determine the risk of adverse events in manual workers. Of the 47 employees invited, 45 completed the questionnaire (95% response rate). Seventeen were non-manual (professional, project managers and managers) and 28 were manual employees (tradesmen and construction workers). There was a significantly higher percentage of non-manual employees below 45 years than older group (70.6% vs 39.3%; χ2 = 4.2, p = 0.039) and they worked less than 20 years than those working longer (82.4% vs 32.1%; χ2 = 10.7, p = 0.001). Compared to non-manual workers, manual workers were more likely to work >20 years: OR = 2.2 (95% CI = 1.3–3.6); be exposed to RCS dust and smoke: unadjusted OR = 1.8 (1.1–3.1), age and length of time working in construction industry adjusted OR = 2.2(1.2–4.2); and have breathing problems: unadjusted OR = 3.9 (1.5–10.4), age, smoking and length of time working in construction industry adjusted OR = 3.7 (1.1–12.5). The risk of breathing problems was increased among individuals working more than 20 years: OR = 4.8 (1.2–18.6), exposed to dust and smoking: unadjusted OR = 3.8 (1.0–14.1), age and length of time working in construction industry adjusted OR = 5.4 (1.2–24.4), whilst those with adequate information on health hazards were associated with lower risk of breathing problems. There is an increased risk of exposure to RCS dust and pulmonary symptoms among manual employees in the construction industry. Further efforts are required to provide greater protection for this group of workers to reduce their health risk.

scholarly journals Double jeopardy from the COVID-19 pandemic: risk of exposure and income loss in Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Gama ◽  
Joana Alves ◽  
Daniela Costa ◽  
Pedro A. Laires ◽  
Patrícia Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Income Loss ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Lower Education

Abstract Background Increasing evidence indicates that the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had immediate health and social impact, disproportionately affecting certain socioeconomic groups. Assessing inequalities in risk of exposure and in adversities faced during the pandemic is critical to inform targeted actions that effectively prevent disproportionate spread and reduce social and health inequities. This study examines i) the socioeconomic and mental health characteristics of individuals working in the workplace, thus at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, and ii) individual income losses resulting from the pandemic across socioeconomic subgroups of a working population, during the first confinement in Portugal. Methods This study uses data from ‘COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion’, a community-based online survey in Portugal. The sample for analysis comprised n = 129,078 workers. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of factors associated with working in the workplace during the confinement period and with having lost income due to the pandemic. Results Over a third of the participants reported working in the workplace during the first confinement. This was more likely among those with lower income [AOR = 2.93 (2.64-3.25)], lower education [AOR = 3.17 (3.04-3.30)] and working as employee [AOR = 1.09 (1.04-1.15)]. Working in the workplace was positively associated with frequent feelings of agitation, anxiety or sadness [AOR = 1.14 (1.09-1.20)] and perception of high risk of infection [AOR = 11.06 (10.53-11.61)]. About 43% of the respondents reported having lost income due to the pandemic. The economic consequences affected greatly the groups at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, namely those with lower education [AOR = 1.36 (1.19-1.56)] and lower income [AOR = 3.13 (2.47-3.96)]. Conclusions The social gradient in risk of exposure and in economic impact of the pandemic can result in an accumulated vulnerability for socioeconomic deprived populations. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a double effect in these groups, contributing to heightened disparities and poor health outcomes, including in mental health. Protecting the most vulnerable populations is key to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate the deepening of social and health disparities. Action is needed to develop policies and more extensive measures for reducing disproportionate experiences of adversity from the COVID-19 pandemic among most vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals PERSEPSI TENTANG RISIKO BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION COVID-19 DALAM LINGKUNGAN HEALTH RISK MESSAGES

Kinesik ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-233
Author(s):  
Tandiyo Pradekso ◽  
Djoko Setyabudi
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Breakthrough Infection ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Several Variables ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

The Covid-19 vaccination rate continues to increase, it is important to pay attention to the possibility of a breakthrough infection, which is a viral infection that occurs after a person has been vaccinated. This is a case that is expected to occur in some of those who have received the vaccine, as no vaccine for any disease is 100 percent effective. During the time of living in this period of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are always exposed to information about the dangers or threats of exposure to the virus, known as health risk messages. This study was conducted to explain how a number of individual characteristics in the health risk message information environment correlate to their attitudes towards the risk of exposing Covid-19. This online survey of people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine found that several variables related to lifestyle and disease history were correlated to perceptions of the risk of exposure to Covid-19. It also confirms that there is a positive correlation between awareness of the amount of risk an individual has and perceptions of the risk of exposing Covid-19.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Glenohumeral Instability Related to Sporting Activities Using the FEDS (Frequency, Etiology, Direction, and Severity) Classification System: A Multicenter Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 232596711986103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Wagstrom ◽  
Brett Raynor ◽  
Sunil Jani ◽  
James Carey ◽  
Charles L. Cox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Anterior Dislocation ◽  
Glenohumeral Instability ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Severity Classification ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sporting Activities

Background: Glenohumeral instability is common in athletes. There are an estimated 0.12 episodes of instability per 1000 sporting exposures. Instability can lead to time away from sport and an increased risk of shoulder arthritis. Purpose: To determine the prevalence, demographic data, anatomic features, and likelihood of surgery for the different types of instability as defined by the FEDS (frequency, etiology, direction, and severity) classification system for different sports. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Databases at 3 institutions (University of Iowa, Vanderbilt University, and University of Pennsylvania) were searched for International Classification of Diseases--Ninth Revision codes related to shoulder instability in 2010. Demographic data, symptoms, causes, imaging findings, and operative reports were obtained. Data were entered into a custom-designed REDCap online survey. Patients with subjective instability related to sporting activities were included for analysis. Results: A total of 184 athletes had glenohumeral instability; 20.1% were female. The mean age at the time of the first instability episode was 19.0 years for both male and female patients. The most common sports were football (29.3%), basketball (19.0%), and wrestling (9.8%). The most common type of instability based on the FEDS system was occasional, traumatic, anterior dislocation. Surgery was performed on 69.6% of athletes, and 14.1% had a recurrence of instability after surgery overall. Football had the highest rate of recurrence postoperatively at 23.8%. There was no difference in surgery rates between athletes with subluxations versus dislocations ( P = .8458). Surgery was significantly more likely in those with frequent dislocations ( P < .0001) and posterior instability ( P = .027). There was a 10.7% recurrence rate overall with conservative treatment. Conclusion: Glenohumeral instability most commonly occurs in contact sports, affects male more than female patients, and is most frequently in the anterior direction. Recurrent instability is most common in football players. Attention should be turned to the specific characteristics of each type of instability to determine the best treatment for each athlete.

scholarly journals Belief in Protecting Others and Social Perceptions of Face Mask Wearing Were Associated With Frequent Mask Use in the Early Stages of the COVID Pandemic in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Warnock-Parkes ◽  
Graham R. Thew ◽  
David M. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Social Cognitions ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Increased Risk

Face masks are now seen as a key tool in the world’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during the early stages of the outbreak, face mask use in the United Kingdom (UK) was significantly lower than that of countries equally impacted by the virus. We were interested to explore whether social cognitions played a role in levels of mask wearing. A cross-sectional online survey of UK adults (n=908) was conducted in July 2020. Estimated face mask use and thoughts about wearing face masks were assessed using measures developed for this study. Participants also answered questions about their general mood, social anxiety and basic demographic data. Multiple regression was used to examine factors associated with mask wearing. Participants’ estimated mask wearing was low when in public spaces, such as the park (17%) or walking on the high street (36%). However, broadly fitting with UK guidance at the time, rates were considerably higher when in situations of closer proximity to others, such as on public transport (94%), in a shop or café (62%), when speaking to somebody in an enclosed public space (67%) or in a busy area when social distancing was not possible (79%). When looking at estimated mask wearing when in proximity to others, positive social cognitions (e.g., I’ll look confident and competent wearing a mask) were associated with more wearing, whereas negative social cognitions (e.g., I’ll look anxious, I’ll look foolish) were associated with less wearing. These results remained after controlling for factors that have indicated increased risk from COVID-19 (age, gender, ethnicity, presence of a health condition or pregnancy), belief about the health benefit for others and levels of depression and social anxiety. The largest predictors of mask wearing were the amount of people believed wearing a mask would keep others safe and the presence of an underlying health condition. The study findings indicate that future public health campaigns would benefit from a focus on strengthening beliefs about the protective benefits of masks, but also promoting positive social messages about wearing in public (e.g., mask wearing means you are confident and competent).

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic and related isolation measures on violence against children in Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seham Ahmed AboKresha ◽  
Elsayed Abdelkreem ◽  
Rasha Abd Elhameed Ali
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Physical Punishment ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Violence Against Children ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related isolation measures have substantial adverse economic, social, and psychological consequences and expose children to increased risk of violence. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against children in Egypt. Methods An online survey, in Arabic, was disseminated during the period from 9 to 13 April 2020, to parents of children who were up to 18 years old residing in Egypt, selected using a snowball sampling technique, during the period from 25 March to 8 April during the implementation of the nationwide compulsory isolation measures against COVID-19 (25 March to 8 April 2020). The survey covered three areas: socio-demographic data, psychological impact measured using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and violence against children during the past 2 weeks measured using a modified parent-report of a child abuse screening tool (ICAST-P) developed by the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Results Out of 1118 completed survey responses, 90.5% of children were subjected to violent discipline, 88.7% experienced psychological aggression, and 43.2% encountered severe physical punishment. Approximately 60% of respondents reported a moderate-to-severe psychological impact (IES-R scores ≥ 33), which was associated with a higher rate of violent discipline (OR: 9.3; 95% CI: 5.37–16.027; p < 0.001). Conclusions This is the first study in Egypt to provide evidence on the association of COVID-19 pandemic, its psychological impact, and increased rates of violence against children. Effective multilevel strategies are urgently required to protect children from violence and its catastrophic consequences during the continually evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk of venous thromboembolism following surgical treatment of superficial venous incompetence

VASA ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 484-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Barker ◽  
Felicity Evison ◽  
Ruth Benson ◽  
Alok Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Varicose Vein ◽  
Lower Incidence ◽  
Varicose Veins ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Foam Sclerotherapy ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
One Year

Abstract. Background: The invasive management of varicose veins has a known risk of post-operative deep venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate absolute and relative risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following commonly used varicose vein procedures. Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis of secondary data using Hospital Episode Statistics database was performed for all varicose vein procedures performed between 2003 and 2013 and all readmissions for VTE in the same patients within 30 days, 90 days, and one year. Comparison of the incidence of VTEs between procedures was performed using a Pearson’s Chi-squared test. Results: In total, 261,169 varicose vein procedures were performed during the period studied. There were 686 VTEs recorded at 30 days (0.26 % incidence), 884 at 90 days (0.34 % incidence), and 1,246 at one year (0.48 % incidence). The VTE incidence for different procedures was between 0.15–0.35 % at 30 days, 0.26–0.50 % at 90 days, and 0.46–0.58 % at one year. At 30 days there was a significantly lower incidence of VTEs for foam sclerotherapy compared to other procedures (p = 0.01). There was no difference in VTE incidence between procedures at 90 days (p = 0.13) or one year (p = 0.16). Conclusions: Patients undergoing varicose vein procedures have a small but appreciable increased risk of VTE compared to the general population, with the effect persisting at one year. Foam sclerotherapy had a lower incidence of VTE compared to other procedures at 30 days, but this effect did not persist at 90 days or at one year. There was no other significant difference in the incidence of VTE between open, endovenous, and foam sclerotherapy treatments.

scholarly journals Predictive modeling for peri-implantitis by using machine learning techniques

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoaki Mameno ◽  
Masahiro Wada ◽  
Kazunori Nozaki ◽  
Toshihito Takahashi ◽  
Yoshitaka Tsujioka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Machine Learning Methods ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vector Machines

AbstractThe purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to create a model for predicting the onset of peri-implantitis by using machine learning methods and to clarify interactions between risk indicators. This study evaluated 254 implants, 127 with and 127 without peri-implantitis, from among 1408 implants with at least 4 years in function. Demographic data and parameters known to be risk factors for the development of peri-implantitis were analyzed with three models: logistic regression, support vector machines, and random forests (RF). As the results, RF had the highest performance in predicting the onset of peri-implantitis (AUC: 0.71, accuracy: 0.70, precision: 0.72, recall: 0.66, and f1-score: 0.69). The factor that had the most influence on prediction was implant functional time, followed by oral hygiene. In addition, PCR of more than 50% to 60%, smoking more than 3 cigarettes/day, KMW less than 2 mm, and the presence of less than two occlusal supports tended to be associated with an increased risk of peri-implantitis. Moreover, these risk indicators were not independent and had complex effects on each other. The results of this study suggest that peri-implantitis onset was predicted in 70% of cases, by RF which allows consideration of nonlinear relational data with complex interactions.

scholarly journals 764 Human Factors in Operative Theatres During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Operating Theatre Staff Experiences in a Regional Centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Murchison ◽  
R Anbarasan ◽  
A Mathur ◽  
M Kulkarni
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Operating Theatre ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Theatre Staff

Abstract Introduction In the already high-risk, high-stress environment of the operating theatre, operating during Covid-19 has brought its own unique challenges. Communication, teamwork and anxiety related new operating practices secondary to Covid-19 are hypothesised to have a negative impact on patient care. Method We conducted a single-centre online survey of operating theatre staff from 22nd June–6th July 2020. Respondents completed 18 human factors questions related to COVID-19 precautions including communication, teamwork, situational awareness, decision making, stress, fatigue, work environment and organisational culture. Questions consisted of yes/no responses, multiple choice and Likert items. Kruskall-Wallis tests, Chi-Squared, Mann Whitney U tests, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, lambda and Cramer’s V tests were used. Free-text responses were also reviewed. Results 116 theatre staff responded. Visual (90.5%), hearing/ understanding (96.6%) difficulties, feeling faint/lightheaded (66.4%) and stress (47.8%) were reported. Decreased situational awareness was reported by 71.5% and correlated with visors (r = 0.27 and p = 0.03) and FFP2/3 mask usage (r = 0.29 and p = 0.01). Reduced efficiency of theatre teams was reported by 75% of respondents and 21.5% felt patient safety was at greater risk due to Covid-19 precautions in theatre. Conclusions Organisational adjustments are required, and research focused on development of fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE).

scholarly journals Risk Perception in the Construction Industry: Differences Between Italian and Migrant Workers Before and After a Targeted Training Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Federico Ricci ◽  
Giulia Bravo ◽  
Alberto Modenese ◽  
Fabrizio De Pasquale ◽  
Davide Ferrari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Visual Tool ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Linguistic Barriers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Difference

We developed a visual tool to assess risk perception for a sample of male construction workers (forty Italian and twenty-eight immigrant workers), just before and after a sixteen-hour training course. The questionnaire included photographs of real construction sites, and workers were instructed to select pictograms representing the occupational risks present in each photograph. Points were awarded for correctly identifying any risks that were present, and points were deducted for failing to identify risks that were present or identifying risks that were not present. We found: (1) Before the course, risk perception was significantly lower in immigrants compared to Italians ( p < .001); (2) risk perception improved significantly ( p < .001) among all workers tested; and (3) after the training, the difference in risk perception between Italians and immigrants was no longer statistically significant ( p = .1086). Although the sample size was relatively small, the results suggest that the training is effective and may reduce the degree to which cultural and linguistic barriers hinder risk perception. Moreover, the use of images and pictograms instead of words to evaluate risk perception could also be applied to nonconstruction workplaces.

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