Hand Washing Compliance among Retail Food Establishment Workers in Minnesota

Inadequate hand washing by food workers is an important contributing factor to foodborne disease outbreaks in retail food establishments (RFEs). We conducted a survey of RFEs to investigate the effect of hand washing training, availability of hand washing facilities, and the ability of the person in charge (PIC) to describe hand washing according to the Minnesota Food Code (food code) on workers' ability to demonstrate food code–compliant hand washing. Only 52% of the PICs could describe the hand washing procedure outlined in the food code, and only 48% of workers could demonstrate code-compliant hand washing. The most common problems observed were failure to wash for 20 s and failure to use a fingernail brush. There was a strong positive association between the PIC being a certified food manager and being able to describe the food code hand washing procedure (odds ratio [OR], 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 13.7), and there was an even stronger association between the PIC being able to describe hand washing and workers being able to demonstrate code-compliant hand washing (OR, 15; 95% CI, 6 to 37). Significant associations were detected among correct hand washing demonstration, physical infrastructure for hand washing, and the hand washing training methods used by the establishment. However, the principal determinant of successful hand washing demonstration was the PIC's ability to describe proper hand washing procedure. These results suggest that improving hand washing practices among food workers will require interventions that address PIC knowledge of hand washing requirement and procedure and the development and implementation of effective hand washing training methods.

Download Full-text

Association between Blood Pressure and Serum Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Concentration within the Reference Range: A Population-Based Study

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jc.2006-2208 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 841-845 ◽

Cited By ~ 119

Author(s):

Bjørn O. Åsvold ◽

Trine Bjøro ◽

Tom I. L. Nilsen ◽

Lars J. Vatten

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Reference Range ◽

Positive Association ◽

Population Based ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Based Study

Abstract Context: The association between thyroid function and blood pressure is insufficiently studied. Objective: The objective of the investigation was to study the association between TSH within the reference range and blood pressure. Design and Setting: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study. Subjects: A total of 30,728 individuals without previously known thyroid disease were studied. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure and odds ratio for hypertension (>140/90 mm Hg or current or previous use of antihypertensive medication), according to categories of TSH. Results: Within the reference range of TSH (0.50–3.5 mU/liter), there was a linear increase in blood pressure with increasing TSH. The average increase in systolic blood pressure was 2.0 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–2.6 mm Hg] per milliunit per liter increase in TSH among men, and 1.8 mm Hg (95% CI 1.4–2.3 mm Hg) in women. The corresponding increase in diastolic blood pressure was 1.6 mm Hg (95% CI 1.2–2.0 mm Hg) in men and 1.1 mm Hg (95% CI 0.8–1.3 mm Hg) in women. Comparing TSH of 3.0–3.5 mU/liter (upper part of the reference) with TSH of 0.50–0.99 mU/liter (lower part of the reference), the odds ratio for hypertension was 1.98 (95% CI 1.56–2.53) in men and 1.23 (95% CI 1.04–1.46) in women. Conclusion: Within the reference range of TSH, we found a linear positive association between TSH and systolic and diastolic blood pressure that may have long-term implications for cardiovascular health.

Download Full-text

Factors Affecting the Rate of Fuel Consumption in Aircrafts

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13148066 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 8066

Author(s):

Thowayeb H. Hassan ◽

Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih ◽

Amany E. Salem

Keyword(s):

Fuel Consumption ◽

Positive Association ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

Aviation Industry ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Fuel Flow ◽

Homogeneity Of Variance ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

Ground Distance ◽

The Cost

The cost of fuel and its availability are among the most major concerns for aircrafts and the aviation industry overall. Environmental difficulties with chemical pollutant emissions emitted by aviation machines are also connected to fuel consumption. As a result, it is crucial to examine factors that affect the overall fuel usage and consumption in the airport-based aviation industry. Several variables were investigated related to the total fuel consumed, such as dry operating weight (DOW) (KG), zero-fuel weight (ZFW), take-off weight (TOW), air distance (AIR DIST) (KM), and ground distance (GDN DIST). Analysis of the correlation between total fuel consumed as well as the extra fuel and selected variables was conducted. The results showed that the most positively associated factors with the total used fuel were the air distance (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.01), ground distance (r2 = 0.78, p < 0.01), TOW (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01), and flight time (r2 = 0.68, p < 0.01). There was also a strong positive association between the average fuel flow (FF) and actual TOW (r2 = 0.74, p < 0.01) as well as ZFW (r2 = 0.61, p < 0.01). The generalized linear model (GLM) was utilized to assess the predictions of total energy usage after evaluating important outliers, stability of the homogeneity of variance, and the normalization of the parameter estimation. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that the most significant predictors of the total consumed fuel were the actual ZFW (p < 0.01), actual TOW (p < 0.01), and actual average FF (p < 0.05). The results interestingly confirmed that wind speed has some consequences and effects on arrival fuel usage. The result reflects that thermal and hydrodynamic economies impact on the flying fuel economy. The research has various implications for both scholars and practitioners of aviation industry.

Download Full-text

Hypertension, Cerebrovascular Disease and Stomach Cancer: Is the Salt Hypothesis True?

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs061369s ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 61 (s7) ◽

pp. 369s-371s ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul K. Whelton ◽

Peter Goldblatt

Keyword(s):

Stomach Cancer ◽

Death Certificate ◽

Positive Association ◽

Special Relationship ◽

Death Rates ◽

Disease Associations ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

Diagnostic Concordance ◽

The Relationship ◽

Unique Relationship

1. Analysis of age-adjusted death rates from 21 countries over a 20-year period identified the presence of a strong positive association between recorded mortality from stroke, hypertension and stomach cancer. However, the slopes of regression lines for secular trends analyses varied considerably from country to country, suggesting an inconsistency in the pattern of the relationship. 2. A death certificate study of diagnostic concordance correctly identified previously known disease associations but failed to recognise any special relationship between stroke and stomach cancer or hypertension and stomach cancer. 3. Our results fail to confirm the presence of a unique relationship between stroke and stomach cancer. On the basis of these observations, the hypothesis that exposure to salt increases an individual's risk of developing both stroke and stomach cancer seems unlikely.

Download Full-text

Hand Washing Frequencies and Procedures Used in Retail Food Services

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-71.8.1641 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 71 (8) ◽

pp. 1641-1650 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

CATHERINE STROHBEHN ◽

JEANNIE SNEED ◽

PAOLA PAEZ ◽

JANELL MEYER

Keyword(s):

Assisted Living ◽

Service Industry ◽

Food Service ◽

The Elderly ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Assisted Living Facilities ◽

Food Services ◽

Managerial Control ◽

Lost Productivity ◽

Retail Food

Transmission of viruses, bacteria, and parasites to food by way of improperly washed hands is a major contributing factor in the spread of foodborne illnesses. Field observers have assessed compliance with hand washing regulations, yet few studies have included consideration of frequency and methods used by sectors of the food service industry or have included benchmarks for hand washing. Five 3-h observation periods of employee (n = 80) hand washing behaviors during menu production, service, and cleaning were conducted in 16 food service operations for a total of 240 h of direct observation. Four operations from each of four sectors of the retail food service industry participated in the study: assisted living for the elderly, childcare, restaurants, and schools. A validated observation form, based on 2005 Food Code guidelines, was used by two trained researchers. Researchers noted when hands should have been washed, when hands were washed, and how hands were washed. Overall compliance with Food Code recommendations for frequency during production, service, and cleaning phases ranged from 5% in restaurants to 33% in assisted living facilities. Procedural compliance rates also were low. Proposed benchmarks for the number of times hand washing should occur by each employee for each sector of food service during each phase of operation are seven times per hour for assisted living, nine times per hour for childcare, 29 times per hour for restaurants, and 11 times per hour for schools. These benchmarks are high, especially for restaurant employees. Implementation would mean lost productivity and potential for dermatitis; thus, active managerial control over work assignments is needed. These benchmarks can be used for training and to guide employee hand washing behaviors.

Download Full-text

Erythrocyte omega-3, omega-6 and trans fatty acids in relation to risk of preeclampsia among women delivering at harare maternity hospital, Zimbabwe

Physiological Research ◽

10.33549/physiolres.930859 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 37-50

Author(s):

K Mahomed ◽

MA Williams ◽

IB King ◽

S Mudzamiri ◽

GB Woelk

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Trans Fatty Acids ◽

Positive Association ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Omega 6 ◽

3 Omega ◽

Risk Of Preeclampsia

We sought to examine the association between maternal erythrocyte omega-3, omega-6 and trans fatty acids and risk of preeclampsia. We conducted a case-control study of 170 women with proteinuric, pregnancy-induced hypertension and 185 normotensive pregnant women who delivered at Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. We measured erythrocyte omega-3, omega-6 and trans fatty acid as the percentage of total fatty acids using gas chromatography. After multivariate adjustment for confounding factors, women in the highest quartile group for total omega-3 fatty acids compared with women in the lowest quartile experienced a 14% reduction in risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 1.63). For total omega-6 fatty acids the odds ratio was 0.46 (95% confidence interval 0.23 to 0.92), although there was suggestion of a slight increase in risk of preeclampsia associated with high levels of arachidonic acid. Among women in the highest quartile for arachidonic acid the odds ratio was 1.29 (95% confidence interval 0.66 to 2.54). A strong statistically significant positive association of diunsaturated fatty acids with a trans double bond with risk of preeclampsia was observed. Women in the upper quartile of 9-cis 12-trans octadecanoic acid (C(18:2n6ct)) compared with those in the lowest quartile experienced a 3-fold higher risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio = 3.02, 95% confidence interval 1.41 to 6.45). Among women in the highest quartile for 9-trans 12-cis octadecanoic acid (C(18:2n6tc)) the odds ratio was 3.32 (95% confidence interval 1.55 to 7.13). Monounsaturated trans fatty acids were also positively associated with the risk of preeclampsia, although of much reduced magnitude. We observed a strong positive association of trans fatty acids, particularly diunsaturated trans fatty acids, with the risk of preeclampsia. We found little support for the hypothesized inverse association between omega-3 fatty acids and preeclampsia risk in this population. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, were comparatively lower in Zimbabwean than among US pregnant women. Given the limited inter-person variation in omega-3 fatty acids among Zimbabwean women, our sample size may be too small to adequately assess the relation in this population.

Download Full-text

Explaining a Dark Side: Public Service Motivation, Presenteeism, and Absenteeism

Review of Public Personnel Administration ◽

10.1177/0734371x17744865 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 487-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ulrich Thy Jensen ◽

Lotte Bøgh Andersen ◽

Ann-Louise Holten

Keyword(s):

Public Service ◽

High Performance ◽

Panel Study ◽

Positive Association ◽

Public Service Motivation ◽

Dark Side ◽

Public And Private ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

Public And Private Sector

Public service motivation (PSM) has many bright sides, but recent studies also find dark sides, connected to, for instance, higher stress and burnout. However, results on the PSM–absenteeism association are inconclusive. One reason could be that PSM increases presenteeism (going to work even when ill), which in turn increases absenteeism and counteracts—or even exceeds—PSM-based reductions of absenteeism. Based on a three-wave panel study of Danish public and private sector employees, we find a strong positive association between PSM and presenteeism and indications that the PSM–absenteeism link is mediated by presenteeism. The findings suggest that going to work even on days when employees feel ill is a potential dark side of PSM and that it may have long-term consequences for the extent to which employees are absent from their jobs due to sickness. This cautions managers not to expect that high PSM automatically guarantees high performance and low absence.

Download Full-text

Intergenerational transmission of ethnic identity in mixed native couples in Finland

Acta Sociologica ◽

10.1177/0001699319847507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 103-123

Author(s):

Ognjen Obućina ◽

Jan Saarela

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Identity ◽

Parental Education ◽

Positive Association ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Parental Education Level ◽

Second Child ◽

Ethnic Affiliation ◽

First Child ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

Using Data

The aim of this study is to analyse the factors determining the ethnic affiliation of children born to interethnic native couples in Finland, using data from couples with one Finnish-speaking and one Swedish-speaking partner, between 1988 and 2014. In addition to individual characteristics of each partner and contextual factors, we also consider the role of couple characteristics. We look at the affiliation of the first child, as well as the combined affiliation of the first two children, in order to analyse how often children from the same parents are affiliated to different ethnicities. Around 60% of first- and second-born children of interethnic couples born between 1988 and 2014 were affiliated to the Swedish-speaking minority. The affiliation of the second child seldom differs from that of the first. Children of mixed couples with a Swedish mother are more likely to be affiliated to the Swedish-speaking community. Boys are more likely than girls to be affiliated to the father’s community, and vice versa. In line with our expectations based on ethnic awareness, preference for cultural plurality and parental aspirations, the multivariate analysis shows a strong positive association between parental education level and the likelihood of the first child being Swedish speaking. The analysis also indicates that bargaining is not an important strategy when choosing a child’s ethnic identity.

Download Full-text

Impact of Political Connections on Corporate Environmental Performance：From a Green Development Perspective

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11051317 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1317 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Liming Zhang ◽

Fei Ye ◽

Li Yang ◽

Guichuan Zhou

Keyword(s):

Public Participation ◽

Environmental Performance ◽

Positive Association ◽

Green Technology ◽

Political Connections ◽

Corporate Environmental Performance ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Green Development ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

The Relationship

Employing a sample consisting of Chinese A-share listed companies, this study carries out an empirical research to investigate the influence path of political connections on enterprise environmental performance. The results show a strong positive association between political connections and corporate environmental performance, and green technology innovation plays the mediating role between them. In addition, public participation negatively moderates the relationship between political connections and corporate environmental performance. When the level of public participation is higher, the relationship between political connections and corporate environmental performance becomes weaker.

Download Full-text

Outbreaks Where Food Workers Have Been Implicated in the Spread of Foodborne Disease. Part 9. Washing and Drying of Hands To Reduce Microbial Contamination

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-73.10.1937 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 73 (10) ◽

pp. 1937-1955 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

EWEN C. D. TODD ◽

BARRY S. MICHAELS ◽

DEBRA SMITH ◽

JUDY D. GREIG ◽

CHARLES A. BARTLESON

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

Microbial Contamination ◽

Potable Water ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Skin Damage ◽

Foodborne Outbreak ◽

Toilet Paper ◽

Diarrheal Episode ◽

Single Use ◽

Food Workers

During various daily activities at home and work, hands quickly become contaminated. Some activities increase the risk of finger contamination by pathogens more than others, such as the use of toilet paper to clean up following a diarrheal episode, changing the diaper of a sick infant, blowing a nose, or touching raw food materials. Many foodborne outbreak investigation reports have identified the hands of food workers as the source of pathogens in the implicated food. The most convenient and efficient way of removing pathogens from hands is through hand washing. Important components of hand washing are potable water for rinsing and soaps to loosen microbes from the skin. Hand washing should occur after any activity that soils hands and certainly before preparing, serving, or eating food. Antimicrobial soaps are marginally more effective than plain soaps, but constant use results in a buildup of the antimicrobial compound on the skin. The time taken to wash hands and the degree of friction generated during lathering are more important than water temperature for removing soil and microorganisms. However, excessive washing and scrubbing can cause skin damage and infections. Drying hands with a towel removes pathogens first by friction during rubbing with the drying material and then by wicking away the moisture into that material. Paper rather than cloth towels should be encouraged, although single-use cloth towels are present in the washrooms of higher class hotels and restaurants. Warm air dryers remove moisture and any surface microorganisms loosened by washing from hands by evaporation while the hands are rubbed together vigorously; however, these dryers take too long for efficient use. The newer dryers with high-speed air blades can achieve dryness in 10 to15 s without hand rubbing.

Download Full-text

Reflux Disease and Laryngeal Neoplasia in Nonsmokers and Nondrinkers

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820917669 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (3) ◽

pp. 560-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sean M. Parsel ◽

Andrew L. Iarocci ◽

Mariella Gastañaduy ◽

Ryan D. Winters ◽

Jeffrey P. Marino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laryngeal Cancer ◽

Reflux Disease ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Carcinoma In Situ ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Positive Association ◽

Smoking History ◽

Drinking History ◽

History Of

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been hypothesized as a risk factor for development of laryngeal cancer. A case-control study was performed to assess the association of laryngeal neoplasia with GERD. Cases consisted of patients with a history of laryngeal cancer or carcinoma in situ. Controls were patients without neoplasia who matched cases 2:1 on age, sex, race, and smoking history. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess risk of laryngeal neoplasia and GERD. In total, 2094 patients were included. Cases had higher rates of GERD. Univariate analysis demonstrated a positive association between GERD and laryngeal neoplasia (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.07-1.64). Multivariate analysis controlling for alcohol use history also demonstrated a positive association between GERD and laryngeal neoplasia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04-1.59). These results suggest increased odds of laryngeal carcinoma and carcinoma in situ in patients with GERD when controlling for smoking and drinking history.

Download Full-text