scholarly journals Occupational medicine - then and now: Where we could go from here

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Belkic ◽  
Olesja Nedic
Keyword(s):  
Work Stress ◽  
Occupational Medicine ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Research Perspective ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Starting Point

Occupational medicine has a long-standing history in the region of the former Yugoslavia with seminal contributions to the theory and practice of this discipline. This tradition should be expanded to incorporate psychosocial stressors. We review the sociological work stress models and empirical evidence gleaned thereby, and then the occupational stressor index, an additive burden model developed from a cognitive ergonomics perspective. In numerous studies, the occupational stressor index is significantly associated with risk behaviors: smoking, obesity and sedentariness and clinical outcomes: hypertension, ischemic heart disease, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. The occupational stressor index characterizes the work conditions of physicians including surgeons and anesthesiologists; professional drivers and other groups at elevated risk for stress-related disorders. Much of these empirical data are from this region. Work-stress related health disorders are a major public health problem, with enormous human and economic costs. A more proactive role for physicians is needed vis-?-vis our working environment and that of patients. We physicians face a heavy job stressor burden strongly implicated with adverse health outcomes. The challenge is to identify effective strategies to lower the risk of work-stressor related illness. The critical gap is the lack of evidence-based guidelines. Intervention studies are needed in which job stressors are ameliorated as a therapeutic/preventive modality; the logical starting point is within our own profession. We also suggest how the relevant clinical competence could be enhanced. Alongside clinical enhancement should be the full restoration of physician empowerment to implement work-related recommendations. A participatory action research perspective by physicians for physicians and for our patients is needed.

scholarly journals Why are job stressors relevant for psychiatry?

2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (6) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Čedo Savić ◽  
Karen Belkić
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Clinical State ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Job Stressors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Health Disorders

SummaryWork-related mental health disorders are a major public health problem. Consequently, psychiatrists encounter many patients whose clinical state is profoundly affected by work conditions. Psychiatrists therefore, need training in occupational/stress medicine. This would help integrate health services for these patients, aimed at preservation of work fitness and mental health.

scholarly journals Burns in Tehran: demographic, etiological, and clinical trends

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-245
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Bahar ◽  
Mohammadreza Pakyari ◽  
Rayeheh Bahar
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Burn Injuries ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Background: Burns are a major public health problem. They often require intensive care and long periods of hospitalization. In Tehran, about 5% of all hospitalized injuries are burns. There are no published long-term epidemiological studies regarding burn injuries of adults in Iran. Objective: To identify risk factors for burn injuries and provide a starting point for the establishment of an effective prevention plan. Methods: We analyzed the demographic, etiological, and clinical data of 1860 burn patients admitted to a major acute care hospital in Tehran between March 2010 and April 2011. Data were obtained from the registry recorded in Shahid Motahari Trauma Hospital and evaluated using a chi-square test. Results: Males were more than twice as likely to be burn patients than females (72.0% vs. 28.0%). Second and third-degree burns with a body surface area of 21%-30% constituted the highest injury reported (75.3%). The most common causes of the recorded burns were natural gas, gasoline (42%) and open fire (10.2%). Unintentional burns were reported in 85% of the cases, and 15% of the burn victims were suicide-related incidents; mainly among women. In 75% of suicide attempts, women set themselves on fire to commit suicide. The mean duration of hospitalization was 25 days and the mortality rate was 10.7%. Mean age of reported deaths was 38.6 years; with a mean of 30 years among women and 51.5 years among men. Conclusion: The group at highest risk was young men 21-30 years old. However, an astonishing finding was that 75% of suicidal-related incidents involved women setting themselves on fire. Those with the highest mortality rate were victims of burns with gas, gasoline, and kerosene; with a mean age of 30 years of death among women.

scholarly journals 3rd Etnean Occupational Medicine Workshop—Breast Cancer and Work

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1925
Author(s):  
Venerando Rapisarda ◽  
Caterina Ledda
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Occupational Medicine ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem

Breast cancer, the most frequently occurring cancer in women, is a major public health problem, with over 1 million estimated new cases worldwide and nearly 459,000 related deaths every year [...]

scholarly journals Perceptions of Working Conditions and Work-related Stress in Iceland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arelia Eydis Gudmundsdottir ◽  
Inga Minelgaite ◽  
Svala Gudmundsdottir ◽  
Christopher R Leupold ◽  
Thelma Kristín Snorradóttir
Keyword(s):  
Work Stress ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Family Conflict ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Work Family Conflict ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Work Family

Research Question: This study examines the attitudes of 106 of Iceland’s highest-level public officials towards their current work conditions and the constraints around them. Motivation: Rapidly changing internal and external environments create pressure on organizations to perform, which in turn place heightened demands and expectations on individuals who lead them. This situation demands to continuously revisit empirical evidence on perceived working conditions and work-related stress of top management. Furthermore, specific contexts, e.g., organization or country, might provide new insights and contribute to the existing body of knowledge. Idea: The aim of this study was to assess work conditions that could potentially contribute to work-related stress among top leaders in public agencies. In addition, gender differences regarding perceptions of workload, work-stress, and work-family conflict were examined. Data: A 10-item questionnaire was sent electronically to all 154 leaders of the highest government institutions in Iceland. The response rate was 69.2% (n=107). Tools: The items were selected and adapted from the QPS Nordic Questionnaire. All items were in five-point Likert-type format (1=very rarely to 5=very often/always), where participants indicated the extent to which they experienced a variety of work-related stressors. Findings: Results indicated that these leaders are potentially at risk of elevated work stress due to insufficient budgets and flexibility to control workflows. Likewise, there are strong patterns that indicate that, despite often feeling overworked and stressed, these leaders are given little feedback on their performance. Compared to men, women appear to feel that their workloads are more burdensome, and statistically significant findings support this. There were no significant gender effects for overall work-family conflict or overall work stress, although patterns suggest that in women they are slightly higher on both. Contribution: This paper provides information about public leaders’ attitudes in Iceland towards stress-inducing work conditions, giving future researchers and practitioners a platform to better pinpoint how to provide necessary support.

scholarly journals Educating undergraduate students on malaria: results from a pragmatic pre-test post-test intervention study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 2575
Author(s):  
Sanjay Kini ◽  
Akshay Nabar ◽  
Muthukumar R. ◽  
Nishanth Krishna K.
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Test Score ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
P Value ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Inter Quartile Range ◽  
Quartile Range ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Post Test

Background: To tackle the major public health problem of malaria, India has launched the National Vector borne Diseases Programme. Various strategies of this programme strongly depend on community’s knowledge and participation. However, there is a deficiency in evidence on the same from India.Methods: A single-group pre-test post-test study was carried out among consenting adult students of hotel management in Mangalore, India using a self-administered pre-tested questionnaire with an innovative scoring scheme. Following pre-test, an interactive audio-visual health education session was delivered. The intervention, which was prepared after reviewing the latest guidelines, incorporated many pictures and diagrams. The session covered aetiology, transmission, diagnosis and treatment aspects as well as personal, household and community level measures for prevention and control. Thereafter, post-test was administered.Results: 91 out of 120 students approached agreed to participate in the study. 4 out of these were lost at post-test yielding an overall response rate of 72.5%. The final participants’ mean age was 20.43 years (SD 1.12 years); 69% were male and all had completed 10+2 education. The median pre-test score was 8.4 points with inter-quartile range from 6.5-9.75; the median post-test score was 9.68 points with inter-quartile range from 7.76–11.1. Wilcoxon signed-ranks test yielded a p value of 0.001365 which was highly significant.Conclusions: Pending the conduct of better-designed intervention evaluation studies, this study provides a good starting point for designing pragmatic and scalable health education interventions against malaria.

scholarly journals Professional moral character of physicians and clinical working environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 590-596
Author(s):  
Svanur Sigurbjörnsson ◽  
◽  
Vilhjálmur Árnason ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Moral Character ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Professional Autonomy ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
General Physicians ◽  
First Time

INTRODUCTION. A survey of the experience of Icelandic medical candidates, general physicians, and specialty physicians of clinical work, aimed to show how the working environment affects doctors’ moral character and experience of support, well-being and expectations. For comparison, results of a British survey with the same questions for specialty physicians were used. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 89 physicians answered 15 questions. Statistical comparison was made between results from topical clusters of questions. RESULTS. The results show a significant problem in work conditions of Icelandic doctors. Their experience is rated low in the second quarter (2,1 – 3,0) on a numerical scale of how the environment thwarts professional character and of lack of support. In comparison with British specialists, their experience is similar but slighly better regarding supportiveness. Icelandic candidates and general physicians experience significantly more stress, less support and autonomy in their work than specialists. Compared to the British, the experience of Icelandic specialists was more positive about professional autonomy and emotional attachment to the work. Our survey shows for the first time the effect of the working environment on professional virtues of Icelandic doctors. DISCUSSION. These findings resonate with the literature that the moral character of doctors contributes to satisfaction, flourishing and experience of meaningfulness. They substantiate views raised by Icelandic physicians about tremendous work stress and scarcity of staff. The survey demonstrates the doctors‘ experience of work-related challenges and provides reasons for society to improve their working conditions to enable them to live up to their ideals.

scholarly journals DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL WORK CONDITIONS ON HUMAN FACTOR

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (4) ◽  
pp. 4841-4846
Author(s):  
DANIELA ONOFREJOVA ◽  
◽  
JAROSLAVA KADAROVA ◽  
JAROSLAVA JANEKOVA ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factor ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
External Disturbances ◽  
Work Related ◽  
The Social ◽  
Environmental Work ◽  
The Eu

Industry 5.0 follows the idea of continuous digitization and transfer to digital factory. Industries must adopt the green and digital transitions to continue to be competitive. Besides the preservation of resources, climate change, the social stability is in the focus. Industries strive to become more resilient against external disturbances, such as Covid-19 crisis. Work environment considerably affects the productivity, health and safety of workers. Monitoring of the working environment with reliable miniaturized technology can guarantee suitable working conditions. In the line with the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020, one of EU-OSHA's priorities is to fortify the prevention of work-related diseases.

Work related injury and its disparity across selected occupations in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wodaje Gietaneh ◽  
Muluye Molla Simieneh ◽  
Muluneh Alene ◽  
Moges Agazhe Asemie ◽  
Daniel Shitu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Injury ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste Management ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Work Related Injury

Abstract BackgroundGlobally, work related injury has been continued as a major public health problem. In Ethiopia there are few fragmented empirical studies particularly among workers of fast growing sectors and there is no a national representative study on work related injury. Therefore, this study aims to determine the magnitude of occupational injury and to identify its predictors among construction, textile and municipal solid waste management workers in Ethiopia.Objectiveto determine magnitude of Work related injury and its disparity across selected occupations in EthiopiaMethod:Both published and unpublished articles conducted in Ethiopia on work related injury were searched between the periods 12 October, 2019 to 15 December, 2019. Random effect model was employed to estimate the overall magnitude of occupational injury and its predictors.ResultsThe overall magnitude of work related injury was 39.35% (95% CI: 27.40, 51.30%). Subgroup analysis revealed that there was slight disparity across occupations and regions. Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarette, khat chewing habit, work related stress, level of education and utilization of PPE were significantly associated with work related injury.ConclusionThis study found that more than 1 in 3 workers had at least one occupational injury at work. There was slight disparity across occupations and regions. It is strongly recommend that health education programs about the risk of substance use on occupational injury and apply strict occupational safety practices regulations should be strengthened.

scholarly journals Work-related Burden of Diabetes Mellitus among Employees

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Hajar J. Alsalem ◽  
Aqil S. Alhaiz
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Early Retirement ◽  
English Language ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Working Age ◽  
The Impact

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem. The prevalence of DM had increased worldwide despite the availability of medications. Working-age group is mostly affected by DM and its complications which subsequently would affect their quality of life and work productivity. A narrative review of the related literature published in English language from January 2010 to December 2020 using PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed to explore the burden of DM among employees. There is an increase in absenteeism from work among employees due to DM and its complications, presenteeism was negatively affected. Moreover, employees with DM went through early retirement due to DM and its complications compared to employees without DM. This call to focus on implementing a prevention program to help reduce the impact of DM in employees' work productivity.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Workers In An Industry in Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra.

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-41
Author(s):  
Sneha Chordiya ◽  
Nitin Nikhade
Keyword(s):  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Industrial Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Questionnaire ◽  
Work Related ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Chart Paper

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are a major public health problem in industrialized and developing countries. The present study was aimed to find out the prevalence of acute and chronic WMSD’s in Industrial workers. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in 60 workers of the Adon Block department workers of the electrical & automation industry, Ahmednagar. Pre-structured occupational Performa was filled by asking questions in the worker’s local language. The Nordic pain Questionnaire was filled by asking the subjects to mark the sites of pain on body chart paper. The risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal problems were assessed by the working posture of workers and repetitive movements in industrial set up. The data collected were interpreted and analyzed. Results: In the present study, 60 workers were selected, of which a number of females were 39 (65%) while males were 21 (35%). The Neck (20.2%) followed by the shoulder (14.9%), elbow (14.4%) and knee (14.4%) were most commonly involved. There was a statistically significant variation in the number of workers involved according to the posture (sitting vs standing) and part of the MSK system involved. Conclusion: The WMSD’s are common in Adon block department workers. The involvement of neck, shoulder, lower back and arm was common in sitting position, while the involvement of upper back, elbow and knee were common in standing position. The disorders are commonly seen in workers irrespective of their duration of work and gender. Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders; Industry Workers; Nordic pain Questionnaire; Ahmednagar.

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