scholarly journals Gender and other factors associated with the use of hearing protection devices at work

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiane Costa Meira ◽  
Vilma Sousa Santana ◽  
Silvia Ferrite
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Protection Devices

OBJECTIVE To analyze whether sociodemographic, occupational, and health-related data are associated with the use of hearing protection devices at work, according to gender. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006, using a random sample of 2,429 workers, aged between 18 and 65 years old, from residential sub-areas in Salvador, BA, Northeastern Brazil. Questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic, occupational, and health-related data. Workers who reported that they worked in places where they needed to shout in order to be heard were considered to be exposed to noise. Exposed workers were asked whether they used hearing protection devices, and if so, how frequently. Analyses were conducted according to gender, with estimates made about prevalence of the use of hearing protection devices, prevalence ratios, and their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Twelve percent (12.3%) of study subjects reported that they were exposed to noise while working. Prevalence of the use of hearing protection devices was 59.3% for men and 21.4% for women. Men from higher socioeconomic levels (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.14;1.90) and who had previous audiometric tests (PR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.15;1.88) were more likely to use hearing protection devices. For women, greater perceived safety was associated with the use of protection devices (PR = 2.92; 95%CI 1.34;6.34). This perception was specifically related to the presence of supervisors committed to safety (PR = 2.09; 95%CI 1.04;4.21), the existence of clear rules to prevent workplace injuries (PR = 2.81; 95%CI 1.41;5.59), and whether they were informed about workplace safety (PR = 2.42; 95%CI 1.23;4.76). CONCLUSIONS There is a gender bias regarding the use of hearing protection devices that is less favorable to women. The use of such devices among women is positively influenced by their perception of a safe workplace, suggesting that gender should be considered as a factor in hearing conservation programs.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the use of hearing protection devices in Irish mine workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Patrick McGuinn ◽  
Conor Buggy ◽  
Anne Drummond ◽  
Penpatra Sripaiboonkij
Keyword(s):  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Binary Regression Analysis ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Background: Workers who are exposed to high levels of noise should consider wearing HPDs when elimination of noise cannot be put in place. There are several factors including health and safety management systems, peers and policy that could influence workers to either use or not use HPDs. Objectives: To determine worker’s perception of noise risk in a mining setting and to determine if there is an association between organisational rules, knowledge, and the wearing of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs). Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted at a mining setting in Ireland in which 116 workers participated; a self-administered questionnaire survey was used. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and binary regression analysis. Results: The study had a response rate of 94% of the entire population. The mean exposure to noise levels that require HPDs is 5.32 hours. The results showed an association between using HPDs and organisation rules; and no association between preventing abnormal hearing, perceived influences in the workplace, knowledge and information. Conclusion: Factors that can influence workers likelihood to wear HPDs are organisation rules; this is unaffected by the influence of colleagues. Each company should have a clear policy to encourage workers to wear HPDs for preventing Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Application: The findings highlighted that a company’s health and safety policy is important to encourage employees to wear HPDs. Mine settings or noisy workplaces should have transparent policies for employees to follow and benefit their hearing health, even if an employee is not aware of the full content of a policy, aspects are known.

scholarly journals The Efficacy of Earplugs at a Major Hazard Facility

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kah Heng Lee ◽  
Geza Benke ◽  
Dean McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hearing Protection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fit Testing ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Maintenance Technicians ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Protection Devices ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Introduction:At a major hazard facility, sporadic cases of occupational noise-induced hearing loss have occurred despite the use of hearing protection devices. Preliminary testing with a system for measuring personal attenuation ratings (PAR) suggested that earplugs may not achieve the attenuation implied by their Australian Class designation in field-use conditions. We believe that ours to be a world-first study at the time it was conducted to check the relationship between Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) and the Australian SLC80 classification for hearing protection devices, and the findings can be used to complement studies based on the American Noise Reduction Ratio (NRR).Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed with 65 volunteers. Participants were recruited from Operations and Maintenance Technicians at the major hazard facility. The participants had their PARs checked with different earplug types using the 3MTM E-A-RfitTM system. An earplug is deemed to have achieved a ‘pass’ if it achieved 22 dB attenuation for 80% of users (the definition for Australian Class 4 hearing protection)Results:None of the earplug types achieved the attenuation implied by their class rating when tested in field-use conditions. There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of achieving a ‘Pass’, and in PAR, depending on earplug type. Roll-down foam earplugs may provide superior attenuation compared to pre-moulded earplugs.Conclusion:Earplugs are unlikely to achieve the attenuation found in laboratory conditions during field-use. Personalised selection of hearing protection devices based on fit-testing results should be encouraged.

Socio-Demographic Factors and Health-Related Behaviors Associated with Gerontology

GIS Business ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-370
Author(s):  
Dr. Ravi S. Dalawai
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Work Culture ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Insight Into

Indian population is in growing trend from 942.2 million in 1994 to 1.36 billion in 2019.Among this six per cent of India's population was of the age 65 and above (UNFPA, 2019). Today the work culture is totally changed. Both husband and wife are forced to work in the current scenario and unable to take care of their parents. The changing structure created increased problems for old age people leads to loneliness, psychological, physical health and financial insecurity. The study paper provides insight into the social and demographic factor and health related sickness of the oldest people. This research explained the cross-sectional study included a representative sample (n=116) of adults aged ≥60 years. The sample was chosen using a four-stage stratified random-cluster survey sampling method .The Chi Square test and ANOVA test was analyzed using SPSS20.

Health related quality of life of rosacea patients in China assessed by DLQI and willingness to pay: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqun Huang ◽  
Sha Yan ◽  
Hongfu Xie ◽  
Ben Wang ◽  
Zhixiang Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with facial skin involved, leading to physical and emotional problems, which greatly affected quality of life (QoL) of patients. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and willingness to pay (WTP) are well-established instruments assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), while very few studies have been focused on this topic about rosacea in China. OBJECTIVE To investigate HRQoL in Chinese rosacea patients assessed by DLQI and WTP and investigate potential predictors for patients with HRQoL severely affected. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 973 patients with rosacea. Sociodemographic data, clinical features and DLQI were collected, and WTP was assessed by three standardized items. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to investigate independent factors influencing QoL. RESULTS 921 questionnaires were accomplished by participants. The mean DLQI score was 11.6 (median 11). Patients were willing to pay an average of $1050.2 or € 896.2 (median $431.4 or € 368.1) for complete cure. 33.3% would like to pay more than 20% of their monthly income to achieve sustainable control. There were positive correlations between WTP with DLQI (P < .05). DLQI could be independently impacted by age (21-30 and 31-40, OR = 3.242 and 3.617, respectively), the occupational requirement of appearance (high, OR = 4.410), disease duration (< 2 years, OR = 1.582), oedema (OR = 1.844) and severity of flushing, burning, stinging and pruritus (severe, OR = 2.003, 1.981, 2.491, 2.249, respectively). There were no significant associations between WTP and most of the clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS The QoL was negatively affected and should not be ignored among rosacea patients in China. Patients aged 21-40y, having occupational requirement of appearance, with the disease duration less than 2 years, and suffering severe flushing and related symptoms were more likely to have severe or very severe limitation of QoL.

scholarly journals Examination of Construct Validity and Criterion-Related Validity of the German Motor Test in Egyptian Schoolchildren

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8341
Author(s):  
Osama Abdelkarim ◽  
Julian Fritsch ◽  
Darko Jekauc ◽  
Klaus Bös
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Latent Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Order ◽  
Motor Test ◽  
Health Related

Physical fitness is an indicator for children’s public health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the construct validity and the criterion-related validity of the German motor test (GMT) in Egyptian schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 931 children aged 6 to 11 years (age: 9.1 ± 1.7 years) with 484 (52%) males and 447 (48%) females in grades one to five in Assiut city. The children’s physical fitness data were collected using GMT. GMT is designed to measure five health-related physical fitness components including speed, strength, coordination, endurance, and flexibility of children aged 6 to 18 years. The anthropometric data were collected based on three indicators: body height, body weight, and BMI. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with IBM SPSS AMOS 26.0 using full-information maximum likelihood. The results indicated an adequate fit (χ2 = 112.3, df = 20; p < 0.01; CFI = 0.956; RMSEA = 0.07). The χ2-statistic showed significant results, and the values for CFI and RMSEA showed a good fit. All loadings of the manifest variables on the first-order latent factors as well as loadings of the first-order latent factors on the second-order superordinate factor were significant. The results also showed strong construct validity in the components of conditioning abilities and moderate construct validity in the components of coordinative abilities. GMT proved to be a valid method and could be widely used on large-scale studies for health-related fitness monitoring in the Egyptian population.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Confidence and Preparedness in Paramedics in Metropolitan, Regional, and Rural Australia to Manage Mental-Health-Related Presentations: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1882
Author(s):  
Kate Emond ◽  
Melanie Bish ◽  
Michael Savic ◽  
Dan I. Lubman ◽  
Terence McCann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Manage Mental ◽  
Manage Mental Health

Mental-health-related presentations account for a considerable proportion of the paramedic’s workload in prehospital care. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the perceived confidence and preparedness of paramedics in Australian metropolitan and rural areas to manage mental-health-related presentations. Overall, 1140 paramedics were surveyed. Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables by sex and location of practice; continuous variables were compared using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Perceived confidence and preparedness were each modelled in multivariable ordinal regressions. Female paramedics were younger with higher qualifications but were less experienced than their male counterparts. Compared to paramedics working in metropolitan regions, those working in rural and regional areas were generally older with fewer qualifications and were significantly less confident and less prepared to manage mental health presentations (p = 0.001). Compared to male paramedics, females were less confident (p = 0.003), although equally prepared (p = 0.1) to manage mental health presentations. These results suggest that higher qualifications from the tertiary sector may not be adequately preparing paramedics to manage mental health presentations, which signifies a disparity between education provided and workforce preparedness. Further work is required to address the education and training requirements of paramedics in regional and rural areas to increase confidence and preparedness in managing mental health presentations.

scholarly journals Health-Related Quality of Life of Persons with Direct, Indirect and No Migration Background in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3665
Author(s):  
Thomas Grochtdreis ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
Judith Dams
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
German Population ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Student’S T

Global migration towards and within Europe remains high, shaping the structure of populations. Approximately 24% of the total German population had a migration background in 2017. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between migration background and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in Germany. The analyses were based on 2014 and 2016 data of the German Socio-Economic Panel. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics between migrant and non-migrant samples were equal by employment of the entropy balancing weights. HrQoL was measured using the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of the SF-12v2. Associations between PCS and MCS scores and migration background were examined using Student’s t-test. The mean PCS and MCS scores of persons with migration background (n = 8533) were 51.5 and 50.9, respectively. Persons with direct migration background had a lower PCS score (−0.55, p < 0.001) and a higher MCS score (+1.08, p < 0.001) than persons without migration background. Persons with direct migration background differed with respect to both physical and mental HrQoL from persons without migration background in the German population. Differences in HrQoL for persons with indirect migration background had p = 0.305 and p = 0.072, respectively. Causalities behind the association between direct migration background and HrQoL are to be determined.

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life in different trimesters during pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huailiang Wu ◽  
Weiwei Sun ◽  
Hanqing Chen ◽  
Yanxin Wu ◽  
Wenjing Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Pregnant women experience physical, physiological, and mental changes. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a relevant indicator of psychological and physical behaviours, changing over the course of pregnancy. This study aims to assess HRQoL of pregnant women during different stages of pregnancy. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed using the The EuroQoL Group’s five-dimension five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) to assess the HRQoL of pregnant women, and demographic data were collected. This study was conducted in a regional university hospital in Guangzhou, China. Results A total of 908 pregnant women were included in this study. Pregnant women in the early 2nd trimester had the highest HRQoL. The HRQoL of pregnant women rose from the 1st trimester to the early 2nd trimester, and dropped to the bottom at the late 3rd trimester due to some physical and mental changes. Reports of pain/discomfort problem were the most common (46.0%) while self-care were the least concern. More than 10% of pregnant women in the 1st trimester had health-related problems in at least one dimension of whole five dimensions. In the whole sample, the EuroQoL Group’s visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) was 87.86 ± 9.16. Across the gestational stages, the HRQoL remained stable during the pregnancy but the highest value was observed in the 1st trimester (89.65 ± 10.13) while the lowest was in the late 3rd trimester (87.28 ± 9.13). Conclusions During pregnancy, HRQoL were associated with gestational trimesters in a certain degree. HRQoL was the highest in the early 2nd trimester and then decreased to the lowest in the late 3rd trimester due to a series of physical and psychological changes. Therefore, obstetric doctors and medical institutions should give more attention and care to pregnant women in the late 3rd trimester.

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