Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology
Volume:3 Issue: 3, Summer 2014

Accidents, such as domestic accidents, and the resulting injuries are presently a matter of concern in communities. Some factors such as urbanization cause an increase in the incidence of accidents for recognized and unrecognized reasons. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of domestic accidents among a group of families who had migrated to the determined urban aria (Rafsanjan County, Kerman Province, Iran) and compare the results with that of urban families in the last year.

In this descriptive study, we compared the 1-year incidence rate of domestic accidents among 115 families who had migrated to Rafsanjan County from rural areas and 100 families who had lived in Rafsanjan throughout their life. Data were collected during 3 years (2009-2012) using the study checklist during interview sessions. Families were recruited via urban health centers. All indoor accidents and injuries which were serious enough to require medical intervention were considered as domestic accidents. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using parametric and non-parametric tests.

The mean age of injured individuals in migrated and urban families were 35.9 ± 18.7 and 30.7 ± 20.6, respectively. In addition, 22 cases of injuries were reported among urban families (1-year incidence rate = 220 cases per 1000 families) and 37 cases were reported among migrated families (1-year incidence rate = 322 cases per 1000 families). There was a significant difference between these incidence rates (P < 0.01).

Our finding showed that individuals who migrate to an urban area are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic accidents compared to those who are familiar with the urban lifestyle. This might be due to the novelty of the city lifestyle for those who have immigrated to the urban area from rural regions. More investigations are needed to shed more light on this phenomenon.

The use of psychology in the workplace and accurate scientific findings in this field, in addition to reducing work-related diseases, can promote the performance of employees. Nursing is a stressful job and can be the cause of physical and mental disorders. This study investigates the relationship of personality traits and demographic factors with occupational stress. This investigation was a descriptive-correlational study conducted on 95 nurses of hospitals affiliated to Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2014. The data collection tools used in this study included the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Osipow Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised (OSI-R). Data were analyzed using spearman correlation coefficient, simultaneous multiple regressions and independent t tests in SPSS software. No significant difference was observed between the mean score of occupational stress of men and women undergraduate and master’s graduates, and different age groups. The regression model showed that the predictor variables of agreeableness and gender had a significant association with the response variable of occupational stress (P = 0.005). Results showed that the two predictive variables of agreeableness and gender had a negative effect on occupational stress. Nonstandard regression coefficient showed that with 1 unit increase in agreeableness score, the score of occupational stress decreased 1.335 units. There is an association between the agreeableness personality trait and occupational stress. Thus, we recommend that more attention be paid to this feature as a predictor of occupational stress in nurses.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper limbs are the most common occupational diseases and injuries and one of the causes of disability in workers. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of MSDs and the risk of these disorders using the loading postural upper body assessment (LUBA) method. This descriptive study was performed on 100 male workers of appliance manufacturing industry. The study population included 15 workers of the foam injection workshop, 17 of the molding workshop, 17 operators of Press, 17 of the packaging, 17 of the cutting unit, and 17 of rivets. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was completed by the participants for the wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck, and back and their working postures were recorded through photography and observation. Then, The analysis and evaluation of the desired posture was performed using the LUBA method. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. NMQ results revealed that the highest rate of disorders was observed in the wrist (37%), neck (35%), and shoulder (30%), respectively. Moreover, ANOVA showed that age and work experience had significant correlation with prevalence of MSDs (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). The results of the LUBA method showed that the highest level of risk was associated with the rivet unit (risk level 4) and the lowest level of risk with the foam injection unit (risk level 2). The results of this study showed that household appliances production workers, due to the nature of their occupations, are at risk of MSDs. Therefore, ergonomic interventions such as work station design based on ergonomic principles, the use of ergonomically designed tools, and training of workers about the work are necessary.

Injuries and accidents are one of the main problems in the present century. The purpose of this study was the identification and analysis of the characteristics of pre-hospital emergency motor vehicle accidents (MVA) in Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2014. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on all patients recorded by pre-hospital emergency during a period of one year (from 21 March 2013 to 20 March 2014). Our data were obtained from a crash record book kept at pre-hospital emergency dispatch. The crash database variables include age and gender of victims, vehicle type, type of collision, response time, location, and crash hotspots, and severity of injury. Accident data have been analyzed in SPSS software. In 2014, 1878 injured patients were transported to the general hospital by pre-hospital emergency dispatch. The mean age of victims was 29.10 ± 15.65 years, with the age range of 1-95 years. Among these cases, 85.8% were men and 14.2% were women. The majority of the patients (56.7%) were in the age range of 15-29 years, 30-44 years (20.6%), and 46-65 years (10.8%), respectively. Motorcycle accidents were the major cause of injuries (48.6%), and 4 patients (0.2% of all cases) died on the accident scene. In the present study, motorcycle accidents constitute the majority of cases of MVAs. Therefore, safety training targeted at motorcyclists would be one of the best interventions for the prevention and controlling of trauma due to MVAs. This intervention could be the most efficient among younger drivers.

Testosterone level in men decreases with aging (andropause) and androgen deficiency is responsible for a variety of behavioral symptoms such as anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Pistacia atlantica (bane) fruit extract on anxiety-like behavior in intact and gonadectomized rats. In this study, adult male rats were divided into two groups of intact and gonadectomized rats. The rats were submitted to a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm, and subdivided into treated or nontreated groups (100 mg/kg of bane extract orally daily for 20 days). Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Bane treatment increased the percentage of both time spent and entries in the open arms of EPM in intact and gonadectomized rats. Additionally, the effects of chronic stress were reversed by bane treatment; the percentages of entries and time spent in the open arms decreased in intact and gonadectomized chronically stressed rats. These results suggest that P. atlantica may have some anxiolytic-like properties in castrated and intact rats.

The role of temperature changes, as an environmental risk factor, in the human health status has been investigated in recent studies. Accordingly, the present two-year study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in warm and cold seasons in Ali-ibn Abi Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 264 patients hospitalized with MI during a two-year period (2013-2014) were included. Data on the participants were obtained from their electronic medical files and on the weather from the official Rafsanjan Weather Bureau station. The collected data was then analyzed using statistical tests including chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression model in SPSS software. Data showed that 41.80% of MI occurred in hot weather, 14% in cold, and the remaining 37.12% in mild weather. According to the type of MI, 49.47% of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 44.44% of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurred in very hot weather while 13.54% of NSTEMI and 18% of STEMI occurred in very cold weather. This difference was not significant. Based on our data, MI had occurred mostly in hot weather and more than half of the cases were NSTEMI.

Ergonomics is a science that provides methods of creating reasonable adaption between occupation and worker by improving usability through consideration of job demands and human ability to satisfy them. A deep understanding of user’s thoughts on and attitudes toward utilizing a tool could improve its design. In the present study, two cushions designed particularly for one of car industries, assembly line were tested considering usability. From among the 50 employees of the assembly line, 44 employees were selected randomly to participate in the study. The research tool consisted of a researcher-made questionnaire containing 29 questions in 5 subscales (usefulness, efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, and safety). The validity of the questionnaire was estimated by a specialist (CVI = 0.85) and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.87). The mean scores of the 5 subscales of usefulness, efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, and safety were 6.5 ± 0.534, 6.5 ± 0.488, 5.3 ± 0.278, 6.4 ± 0.310, and 6.5 ± 0.534, respectively. Scores in all dimensions were above moderate and acceptable levels. Workers utilized them satisfactorily, and thus, producers can produce these cushions in large numbers without any problems. The performance of similar studies is recommended in designing other tools and instruments and the application of ergonomic principles in their design.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. The most important strategy for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome is lifestyle and nutritional changes. The aim of this review study was to survey the role of pistachio in metabolic syndrome. Web of Science databases and Google Scholar were searched using keywords pistachio, metabolic syndrome, and some related criteria of metabolic syndrome. In this study, 15 articles were retrieve. These studies reported that pistachio has favourable nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acid, Phytochemical composition, phenolic compounds, vegetable protein, arginine, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. It has been shown that pistachio has an important role in reduction of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors such as abdominal obesity, visceral fat, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Arginine and polyphenol compounds improve blood circulation. They suppress of appetite and reduce fat absorption. Arginine has vasodilator effects and folic acid is the main antiatherogenic factor and has a role in homocysteine metabolism. The study data suggest that pistachios promote a healthy metabolic profile, and reverse certain deleterious consequences of metabolic syndrome. The suggested dose of pistachios for decreasing metabolic syndrome and its risk factors is 30-100 g/daily. It seems that in order to obtain the maximum dose and a definitive conclusion, a cohort clinical trail is required.