فرین فاطمی

Since health in disasters and emergencies (HDE) graduates have an important role in meeting the needs of people in disaster-affected areas, it is necessary to design an accountable education. This study aimed to determine the viewpoints of students and graduates of HDE discipline regarding accountable education.

This study was carried out in 2024 using a qualitative method with Graneheim and Lundman's approach. The participants were 16 graduates and students of HDE from universities of medical sciences, hospitals, and the Red Crescent Society across Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by content analysis.

Three themes, eight categories, and 52 sub-categories were emerged. The challenges included weakness in organizing graduates and students in real events, weakness in acquiring practical skills, and a lack of consistency between theoretical education and the needs of society. The strengths included the presence of experienced university professors and the presentation of multidimensional education. The suggested solutions included capacity building, providing suitable theoretical content, and accountable education based on society's needs.

Accountable education in the field of HDE to meet the needs of society requires the promotion and fundamental changes in the educational curriculum in this field, academic policies, and inclusion of accountable education in the evaluations of universities.

The increasing use of the virtual education approach in universities has made it necessary to evaluate the quality of virtual education.

This study aims to investigate and compare the views of teachers and students about the quality of virtual education, focusing on dimensions such as access to technology, basic skills, learner motivation and course content.

In this cross-sectional study a total sample size of 160 participants was calculated for university students and faculty members, based on a priori power analysis assumptions. The final sample involved 64 faculty members and 125 students from four medical sciences universities. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising eight sections that assessed factors related to virtual education quality such as technology access, basic skills, facilities and educational environment, learner motivation, course content and lesson plan features, teaching quality, and evaluation process. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the perspectives of faculty members and students, Analytical statistics were employed to examine the associations between different dimensions of virtual education quality and the viewpoints of faculty and students.

The study found that course content and lesson plan features were important factors for virtual education quality, and there was no significant difference between the views of teachers and students. However, the perspectives of teachers and students differed on the factors influencing virtual education quality. Students emphasized the importance of technology access, learner motivation, and evaluation process. Female students had a different perception of the impact of virtual education quality dimensions, including access to technology, compared to male students.

Since cultural intelligence had a negative correlation with job burnout of nurses in the emergency department, nursing officials and managers must consider variables such as gender, marital status, number of children, level of education, familiarity with more than one language apart from the Persian language, and their work experiences.

Steel industries are considered as one of the most risky industries. Today, risk assessment is very   important in order to maintain the health of the workforce. This study assessed the risks related to various tasks in a steel industry using Job Safety Analysis (JSA) method.

This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 20 maintenance workers in a steel industry. MIL-STD standard was used to identify hazards and evaluate the risks related to the activities of maintenance workers. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) checklists were completed through direct observation and interview with operators. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical methods and control measures were suggested.

In total, 271 risks were identified. The results showed that identified risks were 5.1% at high, 32.4% at fairly high, 45% at moderate, and 17.7% at low level. More than one third of identified risks were considered to be unacceptable. The highest risk priority number was 3 with a frequency of 14 and related to the risk of exposure to noise above 100 decibels.

Based on the identification of hazardous activities of maintenance workers, priority should be given to control measures in the use of personal protective equipment, safety training, the use of occupational safety permits, and regular monitoring and inspection of equipment to prevent and reduce related risks.

Chlorine is a toxic and oxidizing gas used to purify drinking water in Iran. Failure in checking chlorine gas leaks may cause irremediable damage to employees and residents nearby the Chlorine gas storage area. This applied and analytic research, whose population includes Jalalieh water treatment plant in Tehran and the regions around, covers public regions and the nearby vital organizations for the assessment and management of crises. This research is aimed at an investigation of possible Chlorine gas leakage from a one-ton Chlorine gas reservoir in Jalalieh water treatment plant in Tehran by using software ALOHA 5-4-4 for the assessment of the mechanism, rate and the speed of emission and the resulting dangers and the endangered population.  The results demonstrated that if the one-inch valve is damaged, gas emissions can be lethal in a radius of 2.4 km, and will be effective in a radius of 8.3 km, and can be felt in a radius of more than 10 km. It was also revealed that in the first minute of emissions, gas concentration can be around 1080000 PPM in the winter, and about 311 PPM in the summer. Chlorine gas emission is higher in the winter than the summer, because of the weather stability caused by inversion phenomenon, especially in recent years. Finally, based on the results of modeling, the emergency response programs are presented.

Occupational accidents have been regarded as the third cause of mortality around the world. This study examined the rates, types, and causes of occupational accidents in industrial sites.

In a cross-sectional design, 721 accident reports were examined in the manufacturing sites in Semnan which is located in the central part of Iran from 2013 to 2015. This study used the Social Security Organization database on workplace accident investigation reports. Frequency and percentage were used for the prevalence, whereas Chi-Squarewere used to identify the predictors of occupational accidents. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis and 0.01 was considered as a cutoff for the significant level.

Accident Frequency Rates were 1.46, 1.54, and 1.40 in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Also, the Safe T-score was calculated between +3 and -3. The majority of accidents occurred in males in the age group 24-45, having the educational level of high school diploma or lower. Furthermore, most accidents occurred during the morning shift. Unsafe actions were determined as the major cause of accidents. The maximum reported statistics related to the type of accidents, injuries, and injured organs of the body were hitting sharp edges or obstacles (25%), bruising (30%), and upper limbs (44%). The results indicated a statistically significant relationship between shift work, accident type, inured organs, and injury type ( p =0.001).

This study revealed that workers’ behavior as a main contribution to accidents and injuries in the industry. Health and safety training should be designed according to worker duties.

With regard to high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry workers, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their relevant risk factors in workers of a construction factory.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. In this regard, 150 workers were selected from a construction factory located in Tehran City, Iran. The census sampling method was applied in the area under study. The data gathering tool were Cornell questionnaire and WERA ergonomic risk assessment method. The questionnaires were completed while the workers' postures were assessed in their work stations. Data were analyzed applying suitable descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS software version 22.

The analysis of questionnaires showed that the workers' lower back had the highest average score of pain. The wrist, knee, and shoulder had the highest pain average scores, respectively. The result of ergonomic assessment by WERA method indicated that the lower back had the highest risk score. Similarly, WERA assessment score was significantly related to the type of job (p-value < 0.001). Among the understudy occupations, masonry, concrete testing, and welding had the highest risk scores, respectively.

The most ergonomic risk factors in activities of the extensive occupational groups are associated with multiple occupational tasks that endanger workers for serious risk factors in the lumbar and knee areas. Therefore, implementation of ergonomic interventions is necessary for improving the working conditions of construction occupations.

Surgeons are exposed to different risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders due to environmental situations of operating rooms and the nature of their tasks. Aim of this article is assessing the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in all employed surgeons of a general hospital in Tehran, 2017. Eighty five cases of surgery were assessed by applying RULA and SI as two ergonomic observational methods. Also, the Nordic questionnaire and the other self-administered questionnaire including three parts of demographic, awareness and attitude questions were completed by under observing surgeons. The findings were analyzed in SPSS version 16. The results showed that the most prevalence of self-reported pain is allocated to lower and upper back (76.4%) while the least pain is related to thigh and hip (8.2%) in the surgeons. The maximum percentage of determined risk level of musculoskeletal disorders by RULA and SI methods were 58.2 and 54.4, respectively. Much non-compliance between operating rooms and ergonomic principles were determined based on assessing ergonomic conditions of surgeons. Conducting a participative ergonomic program including education, appropriate job planning for surgeons and equipped operating rooms with ergonomic tools and equipment has unavoidable effect on decreasing the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders.  

The massive un-exploded landmines in Iran every year take many victims among the citizens of the landmine areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the health-related consequences of landmine explosions in Kurdistan province. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 - 2017. An active sampling approach was carried out in urban and rural areas of Kurdistan province. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were calculated. Overall, 410 cases were recruited. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V. 22 software. 32.4% of the victims were immediately killed after landmine explosions and 67.6% of the survivors were living with injuries and various disabilities. The most prevalent injury was the amputation of at least one upper or lower limb with the rate of 63.5%. The prevalence rates of complete blindness and deafness were 9.8% and 1.5%, respectively. In order to prevent and mitigate the consequences, it is recommended to detect, enclose, and clear the landmine contaminated areas and implement educational programs for people and communities at risk of landmine explosions. It is also necessary for provincial planners and policymakers to implement rehabilitation and treatment programs for landmine survivors in Kurdistan.
Keywords: Landmine; Explosion; Health Impacts; Kurdistan
Please cite this article as follows:Fathollahi S, Fatemi F, Ardalan A, Bidarpoor F, Esmaeilnasab N.Yari Arezoo Assessing health-related consequences of land mine explosions in Kurdistan province during the last 37 years: 1980-2017. Hakim Health Sys Res 2018; 21(3): 200- 210.

Introduction and purpose: Surgeons are exposed to different risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to their occupational nature. The aim of the current research was to investigate the ergonomics of surgeons during laparoscopic and open surgeries and present applicable ergonomic strategies for the reduction of MSDs risk factors among this population. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 85 surgeons, performing laparoscopic and open surgeries, in one of the general hospitals of Tehran, Iran, in 2016. The participants were assessed by means of two ergonomic assessment methods, namely Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Strain Index (SI). Additionally, they filled out the Nordic body map questionnaire. Finally, the equipment and environmental conditions of the operation rooms were also evaluated. The data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. The highest MSD prevalence rate was related to the lumber (76.4%) and neck (64.7%). Furthermore, laparoscopic surgery had the upper risk level of MSDs; in this regard, this risk was obtained as 72% and 86% by RULA and SI methods, respectively. Furthermore, among the laparoscopic surgeries, neck posture risk level was significantly different from that of the open surgeries in the RULA approach (P<0.05). Likewise, in the SI method, the risk level of the wrist in laparoscopic surgeries was significantly different from that of the open surgeries (P<0.05). As the findings of the present study indicated, the risk level of laparoscopic operation was higher than that of the open surgeries. However, much non-compliance in terms of the surgeons and non-ergonomic equipment was observed with ergonomic instructions in both of the mentioned operations. Therefore, it is suggested to adopt ergonomic corrective measures with the priority of laparoscopic surgeries in order to prevent MSDs among surgeons.

On August 2012، two earthquakes measured 6 and 6. 2 on the Richter scale took place in Eastern Azerbaijan province. Environmental Health Department is accounted as one of the main units for providing and supervising environmental sanitation services at the emergencies، therefore، the objective of this study was allocated to assess environmental health response performance in recent earthquake. Through multi-stages stratified sampling، we selected 8 and 4 villages from the earthquake zones of Heris and Varzaghan respectively. The collecting data tools in this research were the WHO checklist in 7 categories، 14 subcategories، and 37 environmental health activities and also the minimum standards of Sphere Project checklist. The status of environmental health in each village was assessed using the mentioned checklists. This study was carried out with attendance of research team in earthquake zones 21 days after the occurrence of earthquake. Among the 37 environmental health activities، 7 activities were the joint ones، which Environmental Health Department had to carry it out with the coordination of other related organizations. In other words، the environmental health has the supervising role in these activities. Totally، such activities had more nonconformities compared with the activities in which environmental health was administered as the main responder. The details of results have been expressed in the full text. Providing intra-sector coordination، prioritizing the needs of the affected population and considering the principles of community based management in the natural disaster are proposed as the recommendations of this study.

Automobile manufacturing industries are considered among the main sites where accidents are likely to happen. From a cognitive point of view, stress can cause problems such as poor concentration, absent-mindedness, and hesitancy while making decisions. This study examines the relationship between job stress and occupational accidents in an automobile manufacturing company. For this descriptive – analytic study, the psychological stress of the occupational groups was measured using standard job stress questionnaire. Safety Behavior Sampling (SBS) technique was used to collect samples of dangerous behaviors. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistic, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and logistic regression tests. Based on our results 88% of the sample suffered from a high level of occupational stress. There was also a statistically significant correlation between level of stress and number of accidents experienced by an individual. (P<0.05) Having considered the relationship between occupational stress and work-related accidents, minimizing or eliminating risk factors needs to be carried out through developing occupational stress management programs as well as following safety measures through reinforcing principles of safe behavior at all levels of organization.

Vehicle manufacturing industries are as critical sites from points of safety. Unsafe acts and unsafe conditions have been recognized as effective factors in increasing the risk of occupational accidents. In order to promote of safety conditions, it's necessary to evaluate unsafe acts of workers as the main reason of accidents. The main goal of research is evaluation of relationship between unsafe Acts with occupational accidents. Safety behavior sampling (SBS) technique was employed to conduct this study. After doing a pilot study, the number of samples and views were determined 195 and 3456 respectively. The information was then analyzed using Excel, SPSS and statistic tests. The results of the study showed that the rate of unsafe acts of studying workers was 35.4%. The study of the relationship between unsafe acts and occupational accidents via Regression Logistic test showed that if one percent increases on unsafe acts, the rate of accidents multiply three. Therefore in view of this significant correlation between unsafe acts and occupational accidents and kind of unsafe acts, reducing or eliminating requires the investment and implementation of a program. It should be associated with behavioral safety principles and emphasis should be placed on implementing safety culture fundamentals at all organizational levels.

Introduction & Nowadays the vehicle manufacturing industries in Iran are critical sites as far as occupational accidents are concerned. At the same time, occupational stress and unsafe acts have also been recognized as effective factors in increasing the risk of mental and physical health problems and occupational accidents. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship between job stress and unsafe acts with occupational accidents. Data were collected using of “safety behaviors sampling technique”, standardized job stress questionnaire and analytical accident indices were calculated. The selection method of all samples was on a random basis. The information was then analyzed using Excel, SPSS and appropriate statistical tests. The results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between job stress and unsafe acts, the level of stress and unsafe acts with the number of occurred accidents (p-value<0.05). The study of the relationship between job stress, unsafe acts and occupational accidents via regression logistic test showed that increasing one percent in unsafe acts have more effect on accidents than increasing one grade in job stress. So, the rate or probability accidents can be predicted in organization by changes in the two mentioned variables. Reducing or eliminating identified effective stress factors and decreasing unsafe acts require the investment and implementation of an occupational stress management program.