scholarly journals Evaluation of musculoskeletal symptoms and of work ability in a higher education institution

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-306
Author(s):  
Denise Hollanda Iunes ◽  
Melissa Louyse Duarte ◽  
Leticia do Vale Pereira ◽  
Murilo César do Nascimento ◽  
Valdeci Carlos Dionisio

Introduction Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a significant object of study for the field of occupational health, as they can lead to absenteeism, compensation costs and different levels of functional disability. Nonetheless, there are few studies assessing WMSDs in public higher education institutions. Objective The present study aimed to investigate, describe and correlate musculoskeletal symptoms and work ability of staff members of the Federal University of Alfenas (Unifal-MG), in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods A descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 213 professors, 188 administrative technicians and 124 outsourced staff members using two self-administered questionnaires: the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Results Most of the teaching staff presented good work ability 47.9% (n = 102). Among administrative technicians and outsourced staff, on the other hand, excellent work ability predominated, with 43.6% (n = 82 technicians) and 51.61% (n = 68 outsourced). The most affected region among professors and administrative staff was the neck/cervical area 36.15% (n = 77 professors); and 28.19% (n = 53 technicians). Among outsourced staff, the lower back was reported as the main source of pain, with 23.28% (n = 29). Conclusions The presence of pain interfered in the work ability of workers regardless of the affected region. Having another occupation outside the institution did not influence pain of self-assessed staff members. The work ability of Unifal-MG staff was classified as good or excellent; thus, we recommend preventive work for this population, directed at the physical and mental aspects of work activities in order to maintain or improve such rates.

10.3823/2372 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Aurília Ferreira Macêdo Maximino ◽  
Adriana do Carmo da Silva ◽  
Eva Pôrto Bezerra ◽  
Danielle Martins do Nascimento Oliveira ◽  
Cássia Surama Oliveira da Silva ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms in teachers of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) located in João Pessoa – PB. This is a descriptive research with a quantitative approach, held at the Faculties of Nursing and Medicine (FACENE/FAMENE), in the city of João Pessoa-PB. The instrument for data collection consisted of a form with objective questions and divided into two parts, the first with data characterizing the sample and the second with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questionnaire. The data were analyzed quantitatively in percentage numbers and distributed in graphs. The results indicated that 30 teachers accepted to participate in the study with female predominance (67%). The regions most affected in the last 12 months were: dorsal (60%), lumbar (53%), neck, shoulders, wrists and hands (47%). Of the teachers interviewed, 20% reported having had difficulties in routine activities due to discomfort in the cervical region and 27% reported having sought medical or physiotherapeutic care due to neck pain, while 20% due to pain in the shoulders, dorsal, wrist/hands and hip/thighs. As for the occurrence of symptoms in the last week, the regions with the highest frequency of pain were shoulders (40%), neck and dorsal (27%). The significant percentage in the regions cited certifies that they are the regions most burdened in the professors and, therefore, deserve special attention in possible projects of occupational preventive action. This research evidences the necessity of new approaches and deepening on the subject, including the formulation of intervention strategies in the process of sickness of teachers. Descriptors: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. University Teachers. Worker's Health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Zamzam Amhimmid Mare

This study aims to show the importance of evaluating the teaching performance level of the University teaching members. It also aims to provide the suggested mechanisms for evaluating the teaching performance of the teaching staff members of Sebha University. This study was based mainly on documents and analytic description to collect information about the importance and ways of evaluating teachers with reference to some of the international experiences on teaching performance development. This study concluded that the absence of an experienced entity that would develop the teaching performance of faculty members is one of the main reasons for the weak teaching performance at Sebha University. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that there should be a planned system based on measured standards and criteria for evaluating staff members to improve the quality of teaching in the higher education domain. 


Author(s):  
Hatem Abdel Maged El-Sadek , Rehab Bashir Hassan Al-Awad

The study aimed to identify the necessary requirements needed for employing e. learning in the (teaching staff) in the faculty memberof education, from the point of view of the teaching staff. In this study the researcher employed the analytical descriptive method and the size of the sample in which the study was applied was (127) individualsof the teaching staff with a degree of Assistant Professorand above The researcher has employed questionnaire technique as a study tool. The most important findings of the study are: The study has come to the fact that the majority of the researchers managed to answer the study areas which are summarized in (the requirements needed for employing e. learning by the teaching staff، which was specified by this study، these requirements are vitally important from the point of view of the teaching staff. The most important requirements for the use of e-learning in the university faculty member. It consists in possessing the competencies of preparing courses electronically, which means designing the content or electronic curriculum in accordance with the principles of educational design. The most important recommendations of the study are: Providing all the requirements needed to put e. learning into practice (for the teaching staff members) which was determine by the study to employ e. learning in the institutions of the higher education in Sudan.  


Author(s):  
Olha Yeromenko

The article raises the topical issue of training competitive professionals capable of working under modern market conditions. The transition to market relations changes the education policy and the system of educational services provision. The professional destiny of a future manager and the success rate of an educational institution depend on the quality of providing educational services to graduate students specialised in educational institution management. The purpose of the article is to analyse the results of a survey of graduate students aimed at determining the status of educational services given within the specialty 073 "Management" (specialization "Educational Institution Management") in various higher education institutions of Ukraine. Monitoring the state of the educational services provided to graduate students majoring in educational institution management has been carried out on the basis of general scientific and empirical cognition methods: comprehensive study of quality training of master-course students, observation, survey in the form of questionnaires, analysis of graduate students’ responses, analogy. The criteria enabling graduate students to assess the quality of educational services provided by higher education institutions have been defined: the fundamental nature of training; level of knowledge and experience of teaching staff; organization of the educational process; culture and communication level of teachers; reaction of teachers and administration of higher education institution to further demands of graduate students, etc. On the basis of the analysis and generalisation of the processed material, the basic demands of master-course students majoring in educational institution management for increase in the level of educational services have been defined: decrease in theorising of educational material; practice orientation; increase in the use of interactive teaching methods by teachers; expansion of the list of optional courses; increase in opportunities for individual counselling at a convenient time; involvement of leading specialists, experts, experienced educational institution managers in teaching; improvement of facilities and resources of an institution; increase in the level of additional educational services provision in higher education institutions. According to the results of the study, it has been concluded that it is necessary to establish a flexible system of training master-course students majoring in educational institution management.


Author(s):  
Liezel Cilliers ◽  
Willie T. Chinyamurindi ◽  
Kim Viljoen

Orientation: The rapid development of information communication technology (ICT) has changed much of contemporary society. ICT’s influence extends to the working context with ramifications not only for employees but also for the entire organisation.Research purpose: The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the behavioural intention of a sample of employees at a traditional higher education institution to make use of social media within the workplace.Motivation for the study: Social media has become a common tool within society for communication and networking purposes. An understanding of the factors that influence behavioural intention to use social media within the workplace can assist the organisation to better manage social media usage within the workplace.Research design, approach and method: The research adopted the positivism paradigm with a quantitative research approach. The data were analysed making use of exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis. A traditional higher education institution was chosen as the research site for the study, relying on a convenience sample (n = 134) and data gathered using the work-related social media scale and behavioural intention to use scale.Main findings: Although most employees make use of social media for problem-solving and communication purposes already in the workplace, organisations should allow their employees to help manage their reputation on social media.Practical and managerial implications: An understanding of the factors that influence behavioural intention to use social media within the workplace can serve as a useful precursor for both employee and organisational-specific interventions. This study has specific relevance to the use of ICT platforms, such as social media, in traditional higher education institutions in South Africa. The study’s results are therefore useful to both employees as end-users and managers as drivers of such interventions in the workplace.Contribution: This study is one of the first within a South African work context to investigate social media usage in a traditional higher education institution and proposes a workplace social media usage framework (WSMUF) that helps not only employees but also the entire organisation to predict intention to use social media in the workplace.


2020 ◽  
Vol Special Issue ◽  
pp. 101-116
Author(s):  
Waldemar Zubrzycki

One of the state entities which have the task of preventing and combating terrorism is the Police, while the Police Academy in Szczytno is their intellectual base. It is not only an organisational unit of the Police, but also a higher education institution with legal personality. This status entitles it to teach at different levels of civilian higher education, as well as conduct in-service training for police officers. Education in the area of terrorist threats and counteracting them is aimed, on the one hand, at making the students aware of the scale of such threats and their accurate identification, as well as the ways of responding to them by the state and its institutions, and, on the other hand, at learning specific reflexes that will allow anyone who finds themselves in an area threatened by a terrorist attack to quickly assess the resulting threat and to react immediately. The goals set in this way are reflected in the employment structure of the academy, which includes specialist organisational units, and among the scientific and teaching staff are experts, including practitioners, who in the past carried out the tasks of the state at different levels of the system for counteracting terrorist threats. They systematically participate in scientific undertakings, including research projects, scientific conferences and publication work, participate in the work of expert teams, both national and international, and cooperate extensively with external entities. The result of their multidimensional activities is shaping and deepening social awareness of terrorist threats and desired attitudes towards them, as well as appropriate preparation of police officers, but also other services, to safely perform tasks related to the elimination of terrorist threats.


Author(s):  
Haji Omid Kalte

Abstract Background: The work ability index (WAI) is one the most widely used instruments for measuring perceived work ability. However, very few studies have used this instrument in Iran. The present study is designed to assess effect of individual and work-related risk factors on the WAI in one dairy factory. Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed among 117 workers. Work ability was measured by the Persian versions of Work Ability Index (P-WAI). An author-developed measure was used to assess individual and work-related factors. All Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21 (USA, SPSS Inc.). Results: The mean age of participants was 32.38 ± 7.3 and the Mean score of the WAI was 44.92 ± 5.56. According to the categorical classification of WAI score, 10.9, 35.6, and 53.5 % of participants had moderate, good and excellent work ability, respectively. The results of statistical analyses showed that mean WAI significantly differed with age (0.049), sleep quality (p= 0.035) and employment status (p= 0.014). Conclusion: To improve the workers’ work ability, intervention programs should focus on improving sleep quality and exercise. Also, we suggest that increasing job insecurity should be considered an important intervention in promoting worker’s work ability. Keywords: Work Ability Index (WAI), Sleep Quality, Job Insecurity


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Gharibi ◽  
Hamidreza Mokarami ◽  
Abrahim Taban ◽  
Mohsen Yazdani Aval ◽  
Kazem Samimi ◽  
...  

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