Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Spring 2016

Individuals, who spend most of their time sitting, are at 30% more risk of suffering from lumbar disc than other people. One of the causes of pain in the lumbar region is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs are the most common and most costly injuries in occupational, administrative, and academic environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chair dimensions and the prevalence of MSDs in female students.
This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 female students of Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran. Dimensions of chairs (width and length of chair seat, backrest length, and etc.) were measured using a tape measure and goniometer. Lordosis and kyphosis were evaluated using a Gravity line. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. All p values of less than 0.05 were considered significant.
The subjects’ mean age was 27.12 years and 50% of the subjects had normal BMI. There was no significant relationship between ergonomic dimensions of chairs and kyphosis abnormality (P According to the results, the dimensions of chairs that were used in the university were not favorable. This could lead to the presentation of some MSDs. It is recommended that the anthropometric dimensions of the consumer society be considered before the purchasing of chairs.

Social phobia is a pervasive and debilitating disorder, with relatively high prevalence, which is affected by different variables and influences many aspects of human life. This study was carried out with the aim to determine the relationship between social anxiety and personality dimensions among students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2013.
The study population included all students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The sample volume was estimated utilizing Cochran’s formula as 284 individuals. The participants were chosen through stratified random sampling method from among the statistical population. Participants answered the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) designed by Connor et al.ý, which evaluates social phobia and its components that are fear, avoidance, and physiological signs, and the NEO Personality ýInventory (NEO PI-R) which evaluates five personality traits. The data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation, ANOVA, independent t-test, and multivariate regression.
The prevalence of social phobia among the subjects, except in mild cases, was 58.5%, of which, 19.4% suffered from severe social phobia and 10.2% from very severe social phobia. Among personality dimensions, neuroticism had a direct meaningful relation with social phobia and its aspects. In addition, extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, and conscientiousness were inversely associated with social phobia. The personality dimensions of neuroticism and openness to experience were effective predictors of social phobia.
The results are indicative of the high prevalence of social phobia among medical students. They also suggest that social phobia and its dimensions have a direct meaningful relation with neuroticism personality dimension. Neuroticism and agreeableness personality dimensions had the necessary power to predict social phobia.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to most antibiotics and is an important pathogen of nosocomial infections. The prevalence of community (CA-MRSA) and hospital acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) infection is increased. In this study we investigated the frequency of MRSA colonization and its antibiotic susceptibility in students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 200 nursing, midwifery and paramedical students. Nasal swabs were taken from all cases and were cultured on a blood medium agar. Methicillin resistance was confirmed using Oxacillin and cefoxcitin disks. Inducible clinadamycin resistance was identified using D-zone test. Demographic and specific information were collected by questionnaire. Data were analyzed by chi-square test.
Among 200 studied cases, the frequency of nasal carriers for S. aureus was 5%. Six (60%) out of 10 S. aureus isolates were MRSA strains. Fifty percent of MRSA and 25% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) were resistant to clindamycin. Four out of 6 strains of MRSA and 1 of the MSSA strains were resistant to erythromycin and D test was positive in 50% of cases.
Nasal carriers of the resistant strains of S. aureus are always a serious threat to themselves and others. The rate of MRSA colonization, especially clindamycin-resistant strains, was high among studied cases, emphesizing the need for screening S. aureus.

For decades, it was suspected that diabetes contributed to poorer oral health and the increased frequency of periodontitis. More recently it was found that periodontitis could adversely affect glycemic control in diabetics. The aim of this study was to compare periodontal parameters with the metabolic sugar levels of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.
In this cross-sectional study the experimental group were individuals with the diagnosis of diabetes. The control group consisted of healthy individuals without any systemic condition that affected periodontal status. Periodontal parameters, body mass index, HbA1c level and duration of diabetes were measured and recorded. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Spearman’s correlation coefficient in a bivariate normal distribution.
Patients with diabetes had worse periodontal status compared with control group. On the other hand, both patients with diabetes type 1 and 2 showed higher plaque index, bleeding index and clinical attachment loss compared with healthy control group. There was no meaningful relation between HbA1c and periodontal indices. In type 2 diabetic individuals, there was a significant correlation between the number of missing teeth and the duration of their illness.
Based on the evaluated parameters in this study, the experimental groups, (type 1 and 2 diabetics), experienced worse conditions than healthy control individuals with respect to their periodontal status. Deterioration of periodontal status is directly related to diabetes progression.

Musculoskeletal pain accompanied by psychological problems leads to reduced health efficiency. On the other hand, work-related anxiety and depression is another important factor that could result in reduced productivity in organizations and physical and mental problems in personnel. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational health problems that have high costs and lead to productivity loss in military personnel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of anxiety and depression with MSDs among military personnel in 2016.
This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 military personnel in July 2016 through convenience sampling method. The data collection tools used were the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ)ý and Goldberg Anxiety and Depression ýScale. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test, and ANOVA in SPSS software.
The highest prevalence of MSDs was observed in the back (48%), thoracic spine (41%), and shoulder (37%). The Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale scores showed that anxiety and depression were at a medium level. The Pearson correlation test showed a significant correlation between anxiety (P = 0.01) (r = 0.79) and depression (P = 0.01) (r = 0.76), and MSDs; with increase in anxiety and depression, MSDs also increased.
The results of this study showed that anxiety and depression have a direct relationship with MSDs. Therefore, interventions must be carried out for MSDs prevention such as reducing physical and psychological job demands, and reducing anxiety and depression level among military personnel.

Manual handling, lifting, or carrying of material is responsible for non-fatal injuries among employees in industries. It is the second most prevalent reported risk factor in workplaces that can lead to potential manual handling accidents and longer-term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The aim of this study was the evaluation of manual material handling using the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ý(NIOSH) equation in a tile and ceramic factory in Tehran, Iran, in 2016.
Material and This cross-sectional study was carried out in a tile and ceramic factory in Tehran, Iran, in 2016. Three tile production lines (A, B, and C) were selected. On each line, cartons were lifted from a conveyor and placed onto a pallet. The task variable data were measured and recorded according to the NIOSH equation.
According to the results, composite-lifting index (CLI) value in all three lines exceeded 3 (3.34, 4.53, and 5.99, respectively, for lines C, B, and A). The values of frequency-independent recommended weight limit (FIRWL) and single-task recommended weight limit (STRWL) in all tasks were less than load weight. In addition, values of frequency-independent lifting index (FILI) and single-task lifting index (STLI) in all tasks exceeded 1.0.
The results show that CLI value for these jobs exceeded 3, which means that a significant level of physical stress is associated with these jobs for nearly all workers. Both strength and endurance are a problem for many workers. Therefore, the first priorities of job redesign should be the decreasing of the physical demands through modifying the job layout, and decreasing the physiological demands through reducing the frequency rate or duration of continuous lifting.

Today, the growth of major industries depends on their appropriate interaction with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In Iran, SMEs have 49 or fewer employees. The present study was an attempt to present an overall view of the condition of professional health and safety in such industries in order to gain information regarding activities related to occupational health and safety.
This study was a cross-sectional enquiry, in which 541 SMEs in Arak, Iran, were selected through systematic sampling and questionnaires were mailed to these companies. The questionnaires were sent to the occupational health units of the health centers in order to investigate target industries. The collected data was entered into SPSS software and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.
The total response rate of the SMEs was 59%. Approximately, 59.2% of the enterprises monitored their workplace every 6 months in order to reduce and control risks. In addition, 44% of the target enterprises had written and regulated health and safety policies. With respect to safety, 64.7% of the enterprises had included health and safety training in the work plans of all employees at all levels. Moreover, 72.3% trained their staff on how to use self-protection devices, and 69.7% of the target SMEs had safety and technical protection committees.
Welfare facilities and health management in SMEs were satisfactory. With respect to safety management, it can be inferred from this study that the essential safety and health factors for SMEs include announcing and investigating accidents, and education safety, because 70% of the target enterprises performed these activities.

Ethical issues are essential components in any piece of research. In fact, they ought to be considered during designing, planning and conducting each research study particularly among the vulnerable. The aim of this paper is to describe and explain some of the ethical issues and challenges faced by a researcher who carried out a research in three Malaysian residential homes.
This paper describes the challenges experienced by a researcher during two pilot studies and a main ethnographic study in three Malaysian residential homes. For this, relevant literatures were explored as well.
This manuscript is divided into three sections. First, it provides the key definitions. Second, it describes the ethical issues before entering the fields work. And third, it elaborates on the ethical considerations when researcher was making observations and writing field notes, and when the elderly participants were interviewed.
Better understanding of ethical considerations can help researchers to better handle their research and avoid harming others.