Workplace measures against COVID-19 during the winter third wave in Japan: company size-based differences

AbstractObjectivesLittle is known about workplace measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan after the first state of emergency period, especially in micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This study aimed to provide an overview of the current situation of anti-COVID-19 measures in Japanese enterprises, considering company size.MethodsThis study was an Internet-based nationwide cross-sectional study. Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire in December 2020 during the third wave of COVID-19. The chi-squared test for trend was performed to calculate the p-value for trend for each workplace measure across company sizes.ResultsFor the 27,036 participants, across company sizes, the most prevalent workplace measure was encouraging mask wearing at work, followed by requesting that employees refrain from going to work when ill and restricting work-related social gatherings and entertainment. These measures were implemented by approximately 90% of large-scale enterprises and by more than 40% of micro- and small-scale enterprises. In contrast, encouraging remote working and restricting eating and drinking at personal workspaces were implemented by less than half of large-scale enterprises and by around 15% of micro- and small-scale enterprises. There were statistically significant differences in all workplace measures by company size (all p-values < .001).ConclusionsWe found that various responses to COVID-19 had been taken in workplaces. However, some measures, including remote working, were still not well implemented, especially in smaller enterprises. The findings suggest that occupational health support for MSMEs is urgently needed to mitigate the current wave of COVID-19.

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HONEYBEE PRODUCTION SYSTEM, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN NATION, NATIONALITIES AND PEOPLES REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH ◽

10.29121/granthaalayah.v4.i4.2016.2754 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 49-63

Author(s):

Teklu Gebretsadik ◽

Dinku Negash

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Large Scale ◽

Market Access ◽

Production Systems ◽

Skill Training ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Small Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Regional State

The study was carried out in selected districts of Gedeo zones of southern Nation nationality and people’s regional state: such as Wonago, Kochere and DillaZuria/chichu/ districts. The objective of the study was to asses production systems, opportunities and constraints of apiculture farming in Gedeo zones of SNNPRs. Beekeeping is a long-standing practice in the study districts and appears as ancient history of the country as a whole. A cross sectional study, in which 90 households were purposively included and conducted in selected district to assess the current beekeeping practices, production potentials and production constraints. Most (72%) of the beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional hives and produce honey for home consumption. The beekeeping practice was dominated by male. Despite the area have production constraints, the area opportunities like existence of large sized natural forest and artificial forest, due attention provision from regional, federal and local government and nongovernmental organizations, yearly flowering and variety floral availability, some small scale farmers highly experienced in apiculture farming, market access and high demand of apicultural products at nationally and international level. Therefore, Designing effective honeybee pests and predators controlling methods, Introduction of full package improved beekeeping technologies with adequate practical skill training on all bee keeping trends and queen rearing practices promoting beekeepers important indigenous knowledge, Producing areal major honeybee plants in large scale, Avoiding discarding of bee colonies after honey harvest, Availing the strategies to support farmers with beekeeping business support services, Improving pre- and post-harvest handling of bee products and Improving the utilization of stingless bee’s resources, without damaging the colony is important to make the honey production system in the area more economical, so as to enhance bee products for national and international need.

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Influence of Psychosocial and Sociodemographic Variables on Sickness Leave and Disability in Patients with Work-Related Neck and Low Back Pain

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17165966 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (16) ◽

pp. 5966

Author(s):

Israel Macías-Toronjo ◽

José Luis Sánchez-Ramos ◽

María Jesús Rojas-Ocaña ◽

E. Begoña García-Navarro

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Educational Level ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Low Back ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sociodemographic Variables ◽

Work Related ◽

Degree Of Disability

The purpose of this study was to describe the association between psychosocial factors in patients with work-related neck or low back pain (n = 129), in order to study sickness leave, its duration, the disability reported, and to analyze the relationship of these factors with different sociodemographic variables. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data on kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, disability, and pain were gathered. Sociodemographic variables analyzed included sex, age, occupational, and educational level. Other data such as location of pain, sick leave status and duration of sickness absence were also collected. Educational level (p = 0.001), occupational level (p < 0.001), and kinesiophobia (p < 0.001) were found to be associated with sickness leave; kinesiophobia (b = 1.47, p = 0.002, r = 0.35) and catastrophizing (b = 0.72, p = 0.012, r = 0.28) were associated with the duration of sickness leave. Educational level (p =0.021), kinesiophobia (b = 1.69, p < 0.000, r = 0.505), catastrophizing (b = 0.76, p < 0.000, r = 0.372), and intensity of pain (b = 4.36, p < 0.000, r = 0.334) were associated with the degree of disability. In the context of occupational insurance providers, educational and occupational factors, as well as kinesiophobia and catastrophizing, may have an influence on sickness leave, its duration and the degree of disability reported.

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Factors Influencing a University Hospital Nurses’ Intentions to Leave the Unit, Organisation and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Health Management ◽

10.1177/09720634211011560 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 240-250

Author(s):

Hatice Çamveren ◽

Gülseren Kocaman

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Affective Commitment ◽

Intent To Leave ◽

Nurse Managers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

University Hospital ◽

Powerful Predictor ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related

Nurses’ organisational and professional attitudes play an important role in their intent to leave nursing, a serious problem worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the demographic and work-related characteristics, organisational-professional commitment, and job satisfaction, which are the predictors of nurses’ intent to leave their unit, organisation and profession. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 335 nurses working at a university hospital in Turkey. The multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the study data. While job satisfaction was the more powerful predictor of intent to leave the unit than were the commitment variables, affective commitment to the organisation was the more powerful predictor of intent to leave the organisation, and affective commitment to the profession was the more powerful predictor of intent to leave the profession. Different dimensions of commitment and job satisfaction are the predictors of intent to leave the unit, organisation and profession. The present study provided useful evidence for nurse managers and policy makers.

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The effect of work-related psychosocial stressors on musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in hospital attendants

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-203297 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 477-486

Author(s):

H. Salmani Nodooshan ◽

P. Rastipisheh ◽

G. Yadegarfar ◽

H. Daneshmandi ◽

N. Alighanbari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Psychosocial Stressors ◽

Individual Risk ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Posture Analysis ◽

Work Related ◽

Lower Back ◽

Stress At Work

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress at work is an important issue among hospital attendants. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine psychosocial stressors in the work environment and assess their impacts on WMSD symptoms among hospital attendants in Shiraz, southern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 hospital attendants from Shiraz. The study data were collected using a basic demographic questionnaire, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Persian version of Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (F-ERIQ), and an individual risk assessment (Evaluación del Riesgo Individual [ERIN]). The data were entered into SPSS version 16 and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Spearman’s correlation tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of WMSD symptoms was 29.8% in the lower back, 25.3% in knees, and 20.7% in ankles/feet. Posture analysis by the ERIN technique demonstrated that 95.5% of the postures were high risk for WMSDs. F-ERIQ identified that 83.4% of the hospital attendants belonged to the “1 < ER-ratio” category. Besides, the “effort” subscale of the F-ERIQ was significantly associated with reporting of MSD symptoms in the neck, shoulders, wrists/hands, and lower back. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between effort (r = 0.367, p = 0.028), esteem (r = –0.273, p = 0.041), security (r = –0.253, p = 0.045), and over-commitment (r = 0.301, p = 0.019) and the total score of the ERIN technique. CONCLUSION: Intervention programs and coping strategies for reduction of work-related stress and, subsequently, prevention of WMSD symptoms are recommended among hospital attendants.

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Sales-Orientation and Customer-Orientation on Performance of Direct Sales Executives of Fidelity Bank, Ghana

International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies (2147-4486) ◽

10.20525/ijfbs.v9i4.753 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 70-86

Author(s):

Charles Adusei ◽

Isaac Tweneboah-Koduah ◽

Gloria K.Q. Agyapong

Keyword(s):

Customer Orientation ◽

Strong Association ◽

Sales Performance ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Listening Skills ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Direct Sales ◽

Customer Information ◽

Chi Squared

This study focused on sales-orientation and customer-orientation of Direct Sales Executives (DSEs) on sales performance at Fidelity Bank, Ghana; which was a cross-sectional study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, cross tabulation and chi-squared test of independence. The result showed a strong association between prior sales experience and employment status. DSEs customer orientation was influenced by customer information while the sales orientation was on convincing customers to buy. The customer-oriented culture was based on reliable market and customer information. DSEs sales performance were influenced by complete knowledge of the bank’s products and services, listening skills and empathy. The study suggests that Fidelity Bank must sensitize its DSEs on the bank philosophy on its customer orientation culture. This study appears to be the first of its kind to explore the connection between sales orientation and customer orientation on performance in the Banking Industry in Ghana, thus providing empirical evidence for academics and practitioners.

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Biosecurity and management practices in different dog breeding systems have considerable margin for improvements

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.104996 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 183 (12) ◽

pp. 381-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pierre-Alexandre Dendoncker ◽

Christel Moons ◽

Steven Sarrazin ◽

Claire Diederich ◽

Etienne Thiry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Post Partum ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Breeding Systems ◽

Small Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Different Types ◽

Dog Breeding

To investigate the current management and biosecurity practices and identify possible differences between different types of breeders, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 102 Belgian dog breeding facilities ranging from small (less than 10 dams on site) to large-scale (more than 50 dams on site or at least 500 puppies sold yearly) breeders. Veterinary prophylactic protocols (ie, vaccination, endoparasite control, ectoparasitic treatments) were highly implemented (91.5 per cent, 92.6 per cent, 42.7 per cent, respectively) across all breeder categories. 13.8 per cent of all visited breeders reported to administer antimicrobials to each female post partum and 10.3 per cent reported to treat all puppies, or at least of one breed, systematically with antimicrobials. Large-scale breeders reported to employ staff more frequently (p<0.01), and appeared to be more familiar with the principles of biosecurity. They reported to apply disinfection (p<0.01) and hygienic measures (p=0.03) across all parts of the facility, and to quarantine newly acquired dogs (p<0.01) more often compared with small-scale breeders. Nonetheless, a moderate knowledge of and use of disinfection was recorded, as was the presence of pet dogs, breaking the compartmentalisation. Results of this study indicate that there is substantial room for improvement in hygiene and disease management across all categories of breeders. The characterisation of different types of dog breeders with respect to biosecurity and management practices is a first step towards improvement of dog husbandry and biosecurity measures. Tailored guidelines should permit breeders to further improve the health of breeding animals and puppies while reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks and associated expenses.

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On the origin of puppies: breeding and selling procedures relevant for canine behavioural development

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.104979 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 184 (23) ◽

pp. 710-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pierre-Alexandre Dendoncker ◽

Tiny De Keuster ◽

Claire Diederich ◽

Jeroen Dewulf ◽

Christel P H Moons

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Small Scale ◽

Health Issues ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Behavioural Development ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Environmental Learning ◽

Dog Breeding

The success of the dog as a companion animal has undeniably led to a shift in dog breeding practices. While effects of inbreeding or large-scale breeding have given rise to numerous studies about potentially related health issues, it remains unclear to what extent behavioural development of dogs is influenced. By investigating the environment of puppies while at the breeder, the authors aimed to make an inventory of current practices regarding management, socialisation and environmental learning and subsequently to identify potential differences between breeder types. The cross-sectional study, conducted during 2016, revealed considerable variability in environment among dog breeders. Small-scale breeders, and especially occasional breeders (less than 10 adult dogs on-site) provided most enrichment, both social and non-social, by, for instance, providing more outdoor access for pregnant dams and puppies or by providing access to visitors more freely. Environmental stimuli were less controlled in occasional breeders, raising the debate about quantity versus quality of stimuli at a young age. Large-scale breeders declared to screen potential owners less intensely and time to advise them was limited. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that compares a large number of environmental factors between the different dog breeding categories.

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Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Pains Among Newly Admitted University Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Iranian Rehabilitation Journal ◽

10.32598/irj.19.4.1406.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 361-368

Author(s):

Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi ◽

◽

Mohammad Karimizadeh Ardakani ◽

Meysam Yavari Kateb ◽

Mohammad hani Mansori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Test Results ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Chi Squared ◽

The University

Objectives: This study aimed to examine Musculoskeletal Pains (MPs) among newly admitted university students and investigate the effect of gender differences on the prevalence of MPs. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 2641 university students (1303 men, 1338 women). The study data were collected from the Health Center of the University of Tehran in the fall of 2019. Musculoskeletal pains in students were examined using the Nordic questionnaire. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the Chi-squared test. Results: The highest prevalence rates of MPs in the past 12 months, past 7 days, and problems that inhibited routine activities in the past 12 months were reported in the neck area (13.4%, 5.8%, and 10.5%, respectively), and the lowest rates in the elbow (1.5%, 0.6%, and 1%, respectively). Findings also indicated a significant difference between men and women regarding MPs in the neck and shoulders in all three items of the Nordic questionnaire (P<0.05). Discussion: Based on these results, it is necessary to prevent musculoskeletal pains, especially in the neck and back, among the newly admitted students to the university.

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Studying and More: Part-Time Employment as an Educational Challenge?

Journal of Medical Psychology ◽

10.3233/jmp-200024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 57-63

Author(s):

Silke Heuse ◽

Cathrin Dietze ◽

Daniel Fodor ◽

Edgar Voltmer

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Study Data ◽

Future Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Professional Students ◽

Educational Challenge ◽

Part Time

Background: Future health-care professionals face stress both during education and in later professional life. Next to educational trainings, many students are forced to assume part-time employment. Objective: Applying the Job Demands-Resources Model to the educational context, we investigate which role part-time employment plays next to health-care professional students’ education-specific demands and resources in the prediction of perceived stress. Method: In this cross-sectional study, data from N = 161 health-care students were analysed, testing moderation models. Results: Education-specific demands were associated with higher and education-specific resources with lower amounts of perceived stress. Part-time employment functioned as moderator, i.e. demands were less associated with stress experiences in students who were employed part-time. Conclusion: Identifying part-time employment as a resource rather than a demand illustrates the need to understand students’ individual influences on stress. Both educators and students will benefit from reflecting these resources to support students’ stress management.

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