Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome Among Iranian Medical University Employees and Graduate Students in their Occupational Environment

Background and Objectives: The prolonged use of digital screens can cause a set of visual and ocular symptoms known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), which is a common health issue among computer users. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CVS among university employees and graduate students in their occupational environment in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Rehabilitation School of Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. The study population (n=154) included all university employees and graduate students who spend at least one hour of computer work per day in their workplace. The participants completed a validated self-administered questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed and the prevalence of CVS was calculated. The correlations between variables were assessed using the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and non-parametrical tests were used to evaluate the association between CVS and predictor variables, as well as differences between subgroups. Results: The Mean±SD age of the sample was 37.7±11.0 years, 64.3% were women, 57.8% were employee, 56.5% have higher education and the Mean±SD of computer usage time was 5.08±2.2. The total prevalence of CVS was 48.7% and the most frequent symptoms were eye redness (62.3%) and burning (56.5%). A significant positive correlation was found between the number of hours working with a computer and the total score of CVS (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.248, P=0.02). Moreover, the total score of CVS significantly differed between participants who use six or more hours the computer and those who spend less than six hours (Mann-Whitney U test: P=0.007). Conclusion: This is the first investigation using a validated questionnaire to estimate the prevalence of CVS among computer users in the occupational environment, in Iran. The results show a relatively high prevalence of CVS these populations. The most affected are those who use the computer for a longer duration.

COVID-19 hotspots through clusters analysis in France (may–October 2020): where should we track the virus to mitigate the spread?

Background In France, the lifting of the lockdown implemented to control the COVID-19 first wave in 2020 was followed by a reinforced contact-tracing (CT) strategy for the early detection of cases and transmission chains. We developed a reporting system of clusters defined as at least three COVID-19 cases, within seven days and belonging to the same community or having participated in the same gathering, whether they know each other or not. The aim of this study was to describe the typology and criticality of clusters reported between the two lockdowns in France to guide future action prioritisation. Methods In this study we describe the typology and criticality of COVID-19 clusters between the two lockdowns implemented in France (between May and end of October 2020). Clusters were registered in a national database named “MONIC” (MONItoring des Clusters), established in May 2020. This surveillance system identified the most affected communities in a timely manner. A level of criticality was defined for each cluster to take into consideration the risk of spreading within and outside the community of occurrence, and the health impact within the community. We compared the level of criticality according to the type of community in which the cluster occurred using Pearson’s chi-square tests. Results A total of 7236 clusters were reported over the study period, particularly in occupational environment (25.1%, n = 1813), elderly care structures (21.9%, n = 1586), and educational establishments (15.9%, n = 1154). We show a shift over time of the most affected communities in terms of number of clusters. Clusters reported in occupational environment and the personal sphere had increased during summer while clusters reported in educational environment increased after the start of the school year. This trend mirrors change of transmission pattern overtime according to social contacts. Among all reported clusters, 43.1% had a high level of criticality with significant differences between communities (p < 0.0001). A majority of clusters had a high level of criticality in elderly care structures (82.2%), in disability care centres (56.6%), and health care facilities (51.7%). Conclusion These results highlight the importance of targeting public health action based on timely sustained investigations, testing capacity and targeted awareness campaigns. The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants strengthen these public health recommendations and the need for rapid and prioritise vaccination campaigns.

Could /can we prevent mental and physical injuries at work by acting on managers?

Nowadays, in a waving working world managers could and can play an important role in the process enable people to find wellbeing at workplace and some people believe they can no more work as correctly and efficiently than before. Often, as a psychologist I hear difficulties encountered by people who are suffering in an occupational world where they sometimes become mentally and physically injured. Many of their problems seem to be induced by their occupational environment, more specifically by management practices. The aim of this paper is on one hand to identify and explain some inappropriate management practices which are often applied by managers, and then on another hand to underline effects of those management practices on wellbeing at work, essentially not only as a function of the difficulties or problems encountered by workers but also in relationship with potential psycho(sociological) effects of some management practices on the workers. Even if the key points and proposals mentioned in that article must be considered to be a suggested framework to be brought to the attention of managers, we firmly believe that the transformation of management practices from an instrument of suffering into an instrument of wellbeing can /could happen, in particular through a case-by-case training of managers / leaders. Hoy en día, en un mundo laboral tan cambiante, los directivos pueden desempeñar un papel importante en el proceso que permite a las personas encontrar el bienestar en el lugar de trabajo y algunas personas creen que ya no pueden trabajar tan correcta y eficazmente como antes. A menudo, como psicóloga, escucho las dificultades que encuentran las personas que sufren en un mundo laboral en el que a veces se lesionan mental y físicamente. Muchos de sus problemas parecen estar inducidos por su entorno laboral, más concretamente por las prácticas de gestión. El objetivo de este trabajo es, por un lado, identificar y explicar algunas prácticas de gestión inadecuadas que suelen aplicar los directivos y, por otro, subrayar los efectos de esas prácticas de gestión sobre el bienestar en el trabajo, esencialmente no sólo en función de las dificultades o problemas que encuentran los trabajadores, sino también en relación con los posibles efectos psico(sociológicos) de algunas prácticas de gestión sobre los trabajadores. Aunque los puntos clave y las propuestas mencionadas en ese artículo deben considerarse como un marco sugerido para llamar la atención de los directivos, creemos firmemente que la transformación de las prácticas de gestión de un instrumento de sufrimiento en un instrumento de bienestar puede/podría ocurrir, en particular a través de una formación caso por caso de los directivos/líderes.

Effects of Occupational Environment on Employee Performance in Sugar Industries in Western Kenya

The Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 and reread in 2010, offers for the safety health and benefit of personnel and all individuals lawfully current at places of employment in Kenya. Despite this workers have continued to face occupational health and safety challenges which expose them to a wide range of accidents which eventually pull down their performance. According to ILO statistics on safety and health at work of 28th April 2016, 6300 individuals succumb daily due to occupational accidents or employment associated ailments and deaths exceeding 2.3 million yearly. The study was purposed to investigate the effect of occupational health and safety (OHS) on employee performance in Sugar Industries in Western Kenya. The explicit objective was to determine the effects of occupational environment on employee performance in sugar industries in Western Kenya. The target population comprised 8801 staff in all the sugar firms in Western Kenya. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 383. Primary data was gathered by use of questions which were validated through a pilot study of 10 staff prior to the main research. Cronbach alpha coefficient with a threshold of 0.70 was used to test the reliability of the research instrument. The study findings revealed that: occupational environment contributed to employee performance β=0.585. The R2 change after incorporating Top Management Support was 0.290, P=0.000 implying that TMS statistically moderates the relationship between occupational health and safety and employee performance. Study concluded that: Occupational environment has a significant effect on employee performance while TMS has a significant moderator and influences the relationship between OHS and employee performance.

Reproducibility of task description questionnaire among brazilian pregnant workers

Background: The increase in the number of pregnant women working to the end of gestation has attracted interest in studying the effects of work on maternal fetal health. A task description questionnaire (TDQ) was developed to evaluate pregnant women and labor tasks performed in this period. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the TDQ and its questions regarding the labor tasks performed by pregnant workers. Methods: Test-retest reproducibility was performed with data collected at seven-day intervals in 37 pregnant women. A Spearman test and κ coefficients were calculated for test-retest agreement. Results: With regard to κ, the results showed good to total agreement for questions 3 and 4. The Spearman correlation was excellent to moderate (for questions 5 and 6). Conclusions: The results of the reproducibility of the TDQ reflected the good understanding of this tool, because it was simple, easy and fast to apply. A TDQ can detect the need for changes in the occupational environment of pregnant workers. This ensures the examination of maternal fetal health and safety.

The Use of Risk Evolution Models in Evaluation of Risk Levels for Diseases Developing under the Influence of Factors of Occupational Environment and Work Process

Background: The analysis of temporal changes in the value of occupational risk for workers based on evolutionary models helps predict long-term effects of occupational factors and develop effective preventive measures. The objective of our study was to test application of evolutionary modeling to assessing the relationship between prevalence rates of occupational and occupation-related diseases in workers induced by various factors of occupational environment and work processes. Materials and methods: We made epidemiological assessment of the association between workers’ health and working conditions in compliance with the requirements of Guidelines R 2.2.1766–03. The parameters of paired mathematical models constructed for different exposure levels were used for risk evolution models accounting for accumulation of functional changes attributed to external causes. Results and discussion: The results of risk evolution modeling showed that 20 years of high occupational noise exposures exceeding the maximum permissible level posed a very high risk of developing sensorineural hearing loss by the age of 48, this risk being high and moderate in the age ranges of 36–47 and 24–35, respectively. According to the same model, 20-year-long high occupational vibration exposures exceeding the maximum permissible level posed a moderate risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue in workers aged 46–65. The risk of developing diseases of the nervous system posed by xylene exposures below the maximum permissible level was assessed as negligible.

ANTIOXIDANT PROVISION AND INSTRUMENTAL METHODS FOR EXAMINING PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN ENGINEERING INDUSTRY

Introduction. In the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, free radical oxidation is known as one of the leading chains, which is able to damage the pulmonary structures. Activation and deepening of lipid peroxidation processes, which play an important role in the progression of pathology, promote toxic effects of metabolites onto the myocardium, bronchial wall and aggravate ischemic changes. Chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are quite prevalent among employees at the machine-building industry due to occupational environment. Materials and methods. The study included 66 machine-building industry employees with chronic bronchitis: 34 of them working at places harmful to their health make up the main group of patients, and 32 patients, who are not exposed to any occupational harm, make up the control group). Among 66 surveyed women, 34 and 32 men and 64 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease I and II classes. 33 of the employees working at the places with unfavourable conditions make up the main group of patients, and 31 patients are not being exposed to occupational harm (control group). 66 subjects involved into the study include 33 women and 31 men. All the subjects were compared with the group of comparison made up of 31 healthy individuals. The average age of the subjects was 48.0 ± 2.5 years, the average length of their employment was 15.8 ± 3.2 years. The study was carried out at the Municipal Clinical Hospital №1 in Poltava. Results. The main pathogenetic feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease demonstrated by the patients is the more pronounced intensity of the inflammatory process in the bronchopulmonary apparatus that is manifested by more marked changes in different organs and systems. Harmful occupational factors have been found out to produce adverse effect on the cardiovascular system: the patients with chronic bronchitis are found out to have atrial fibrillation (15.8%), and the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have premature heartbeats (30.3%) and signs of overload of the right heart chambers (42.4%). The effect of harmful factors onto the patients with chronic bronchitis led to more serious disorders in the state of lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation that was manifested by the significant increase in the blood serum content of β-lipoproteins, malonic dialdehyde and ceruloplasmin by 6.3% ± 0.41%, 12,66 ± 0.83% and 12,0% respectively, compared to the patients who worked in healthier occupational environment. The patients with chronic bronchitis working at various places did not differ in catalase activity, but differed in the content of ceruloplasmin (the employees working in harmful conditions its content was higher by 12.0%). In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the effect of harmful occupational factors contributed to the activation of lipid peroxidation in the form of a significant increase in serum β-lipoprotein content by 6.45 ± 0.63%, as well as increase in the level of spontaneous erythrocyte haemolysis by 20.35 ± 1.8% and malonic dialdehyde by 10.11 ± 0.47 % compared to the employees working in the healthy occupational environment. Disturbance of antioxidant supply in these patients were manifested by reduced catalase activity by 20.74 ± 1.39% and increased content of ceruloplasmin, by 14, 32 ± 0.84% ​​compared with those working in the safe environment. In general, both in chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the effect of occupational harmful factors has contributed to the additional activation of lipid peroxidation and the reduction of the body antioxidant provision, more pronounced in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusions. Thus, the influence of occupational harmful factors leads to a more severe clinical course of chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease accompanied by more pronounced disorders of free-radical lipid oxidation, which adversely affect the cardiovascular system.