Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter 2019

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with 690,000 new cases identified in 2012. There are some arguments over an increase or a decrease in the incidence rate of head and neck cancers in different locations. This study is conducted aimed at determining the frequency of head and neck cancers in patients referring to Rafsanjan Ali-ibn Abi Talib hospital pathology lab from 2005 to 2016 and comparing frequencies in different years. In this descriptive study, a datasheet was prepared from medical files from 2005 to 2016, containing the date, age, sex, type, and site of tumors in patients admitted to Ali-ibn Abi Talib hospital pathology lab, Rafsanjan, Iran. Data were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. In this study, 343 cancer cases were obtained from 27414 files (1.25%). Out of these cases, 33.2% (114 cases) and 66.8% (229 cases) occurred in women and men (P < 0.001), respectively. The most common site of the tumor was skin, and the most common cancer was basal cell carcinoma. There was no evidence of a significant linear trend for the incidence of malignancies from March 21, 2005 to September 22, 2015. The present study did not show any significant changes in the frequency of head and neck cancers in different years. We need to study the incidence rates of more prevalent risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol in these patients simultaneously.

Several factors influence the growth in the number of road traffic accidents and the resulting death rate. Road accident scenarios can be considered in different seasons and time intervals. In the present study, the role of factors effective in the growth of the number of accidents was explored in the south of Kerman during the period from 2013 to 2017. In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected from the Traffic Police Unit’s database in the south of Kerman during the period from 2013 to 2017. The data obtained included the time of the day, roads of accidents, numbers of fatal accidents, and years of occurrence. The data were analysed using the logistic regression. After examining the role of various factors in fatal road traffic accidents, it became clear that the chances of death were higher in road accidents on main roads (OR = 1.30; 95%CI=1.02-1.70; p=0.037) than on rural roads. In terms of the seasons of occurrence, death rates were higher in autumn (OR= 1.30; 95%CI=1.02-1.80; p=0.027) than in winter. From among the effective factors, overspeed (OR= 1.90; 95%CI=1.40-2.50; p<0.001) and deviation to the left lane (OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.70-2.90; p-value<0.001) were more likely to lead to death than drowsiness and inattention to the front. The results showed that overspeed, deviation to the left lane, as well as accidents on main roads, and in autumn resulted in an increase in the mortality rate. The severity of road accidents would probably decrease in the region by paying more attention to main roads especially in autumn and training drivers.

Second only to malaria, cutaneous leishmaniasis is considered the most serious disease in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Although leishmaniasis is a self-limited disease, the scar left by it on the affected person’s skin can cause mental and emotional problems. The present study investigated the lifetime prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis scar among the affected people in the city of Kherameh in 2015. Using a census method in this cross-sectional study, we interviewed 11905 families in the city of Kherameh. The epidemiological data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire prepared through scientific methods and were analyzed through Pearson, t-test, Fisher's, and Chi-square tests. The cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence was estimated to be 31.49% across the studied area, with the scar lifetime prevalence of 25.93% and 20.32% among the female and male participants, respectively. The highest age-gender specific prevalence was found among the 5-9 years old female participants. Furthermore, the risk of the disease recurrence was found to be 0.68%. There was a high rate of the cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence in the region under study and it was found that the disease do not provide lifelong immunity. To control the disease, it is necessary to find more effective solutions and take appropriate controlling actions.

To eliminate the pests of their crops and gardens, farmers use pesticides, where the unsafe use and lack of knowledge of using them inflict irreparable physical harms to them and those around them. Therefore, this study was done to find out which behaviors are the determinants of the safe use of pesticides among pistachio farmers in Ardakan city based on the Health Belief Model. This cross-sectional study, with a descriptive correlational approach, was conducted in 2014 on 301 farmers selected via proportionate stratified random sampling using a researcher-made questionnaire in Ardakan city. The questionnaire consisted of demographic variables and HBM constructs, such as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action, and safety behaviors. The mean score of knowledge was 25.64 ± 7.45 out of 38, and the subjects received 60% of the score. In addition, the mean score of perceived susceptibility was 32.72 ± 7.79 out of 55, the mean score of perceived severity was 33.53 ± 8.44 out of 55, the mean score of perceived benefits was 25.99 ± 5.59 out of 30, and the mean score of perceived barriers was 17.99 ± 4.5 out of 30. Other results are presented in the section ‘results’ of the article. Given the mean scores obtained, there is a need for developing a training program based on the results to reduce damage caused by pesticides, with safe measures to be adopted.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, patterns, and coping strategies of caterers and identify parts of the body most frequently affected by musculoskeletal disorders. A cross-sectional survey was carried out involving 225 caterers (174 females and 51 males) from the selected local government areas of Lagos state in Nigeria during May and September 2017. The data were collected using a 58-item questionnaire which assessed the participants’ personal characteristics, report of musculoskeletal disorders, and coping strategies used by them. The collected data were analysed using SPSS (version 22) through descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage, and also inferential statistics including the chi-square test. The 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders reported by the caterers was 203 (90%). The low back 154 (68.40%) was the body part most frequently affected followed by knees 117 (52%), shoulders 115 (51.10%), the neck 83 (36.90%), wrists/hands 74 (32.90%), ankles/feet 56 (24.90%), hips/thighs 36 (16.00%), the upper back 30 (13.30%), and elbow 23 (10.20%). The coping strategies used commonly by the respondents were faith and prayer, self-instruction, hoping, and cognitive distraction. The result revealed a significant correlation (p = 0.01) between years of working experience and the 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the participants. This study shows a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among caterers and the low back was the most affected part of the body, followed by knees, shoulders, the neck, and wrists/hands. The coping strategies most frequently used by the participating caterers were praying and self-instruction.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are from among the most prevalent occupational health problems leading to high costs and reduced productivity in nurses. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in nurses and their correlation with demographic factors and awareness of ergonomics at the selected hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2018. This descriptive study was performed on 150 nurses of the selected hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Research data were collected using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and the ergonomic knowledge questionnaire. In addition, descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the Chi-square test, and the Spearman’s test were used to analyze the data. The mean and standard deviation of the age and work experience of the participants were 32.67 ± 8.63 and 7.44 ± 8.84 years, respectively. Approximately 67.3% (101 individuals) had a bachelor’s degree. According to the results, the average level of the nurses’ awareness of ergonomics, working conditions, and occupational injuries were 3.14 ± 0.72 (medium level), 0.68 ± 2.58 (very weak level), and 0.95 ± 2.10 (very weak level), respectively. The awareness of ergonomics and working conditions in all areas had a significant negative correlation with the severity of discomfort (p<0.05). The results showed that the nurses’ awareness of ergonomics and working conditions were medium and poor, respectively. In addition, it was demonstrated that the use of ergonomic interventions to improve working conditions could play a significant role in reducing the nurses’ occupational injuries.

Teacher burnout and role conflict are considered as serious problems in school environments. This study was carried out in order to investigate the mediating role of time management in the correlation between role conflict and job burnout in the teachers of technical training colleges in the Iranian city of Zahedan. In this descriptive correlational study, 200 teachers were selected using the random sampling method and studied in a correlational scheme. In order to measure the research variables, time management behavior, job burnout, and role conflict questionnaires were used. The data were analyzed using the ‘path analysis’ statistical method and AMOS 23 software. The data analysis results showed that ‘role conflict’ (β = 0.34 and P <0.001) had a direct and positive impact on job burnout, and role conflict (β = -0.18 and P <0.001) had a significant negative impact on time management. In addition, time management (β = -0.19 and P <0.001) had a significant negative impact on job burnout. The indirect impact of role conflict (β = 0.032 and P <0.001) on job burnout, with the mediating role of time management, was confirmed as well. We concluded that the variable of time management plays a mediating role in the correlation between the two variables of role conflict and job burnout.

Mindfulness can be effective in improving employees’ psychological wellbeing. The objective of this research was to examine the effects of mindfulness in motion-based (MIM) trainings on resiliency, emotion regulation, and job stress. The research method was experimental with a pretest-posttest design, a control group, and a follow-up phase. Using the stratified random sampling method, 300 employees were selected from the population. Next, based on the mindfulness questionnaire as well as the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 40 employees were selected as the research sample and were assigned randomly to experimental and control groups (20 employees in each group). The instruments included the mindfulness questionnaire, the resiliency questionnaire, the health and safety executive questionnaire, and the emotion regulation scale. The experimental group received the intervention of mindfulness in motion-based trainings in eight 60-minute sessions, but the control group received no intervention. The results indicated that mindfulness in motion-based trainings improved resiliency significantly at the posttest (P <0.001, F = 22.728) and the follow-up phase (P <0.001, F = 25.368). The trainings improved reappraisal results at the posttest (P <0.001, F = 15.578) and the follow-up phase (P <0.001, F = 6.594), and also reduced the suppression level at the posttest (P <0.001, F = 27.244) and the follow-up phase (P <0.001, F = 15.180). The results indicated the positive impact of mindfulness in motion-based trainings. Thus, it is recommended that theses trainings be utilized in the workplace.