Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine最新文献

Purpose: To evaluate the visual status, ocular profiles, and associated quality of life (QoL) among workers in the weaving community of Salem District, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Method: This study was conducted in rural weaving and textile factories within Salem District, South India, focusing on weaving-related work. From an estimated population of 8,010 employees, 1,230 participants were selected for the study. Three suitable factories were chosen after obtaining appropriate permissions. The inclusion criteria were workers aged 18-60 years actively involved in production roles, while administrative staff were excluded. Visual acuity, was assessed, and refractive errors, including myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism, were measured. Visual impairment was defined as a visual acuity of less than 6/12 in either eye. For participants under 40 years of age, additional evaluations included near point of accommodation and near point of convergence. Comprehensive data collection involved recording demographic information, conducting detained eye examination, and assessing quality of life using the low vision quality of life questionnaire (LVQOL).

Results: The study included 1,230 participants, with a mean age of 39.46 ± 10.84 years, of whom 74.4% were male. Visual impairment (VI) was observed in 35.04% of participants, with the majority (83.75%) of Vi cases had uncorrected refractive errors (URE) and 7.19% had cataracts. Visual impairment was more prevalent in the 51-60 age group, affecting 48.1% of individuals in this category. Females demonstrated higher odds of spectacle usage compared to males (OR 0.729, 95% CI 0.548-0.969), especially among workers in sewing and presser roles. A low mean near point of convergence (NPC) of 8.84 ± 3.29 cm was noted, with 36% of participants exhibiting reduced amplitudes of accommodation. Color vision defects were identified in 6.0% of females and 4.6% of males. A significant associations was found between occupation, gender, and spectacle usage (X2, N = 122, P = 0.029). Quality of life, as measured by the LVQOL, ranged from 1.8 to 5.0, with a mean score of 4.386 ± 0.6445. A statistically significant correlation was identified between presenting visual acuity and LVQOL scores, indicating that participants with visual impairment had lower overall LVQOL scores (Spearman correlation, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Uncorrected refractive error (URE) emerged out as the primary cause of visual impairment among workers in the weaving industry. Additionally, presenting visual acuity significantly influenced the quality of life (QoL) of participants. These findings underscore the urgent need for timely interventions to enhance both worker performance and overall QoL within the weaving industry.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a global health concern affecting various professions, particularly manual laborers, such as brick kiln workers (BkWs) predominantly in South Asia. However, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of MSDs and associated risk factors among BkW. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MSDs among BkW and identify associated risk factors. We used a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) to synthesize the existing literature on the MSDs of BkW. The Boolean search technique was used to extract sources from electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science). Only peer-reviewed research articles on work-related MSDs (WMSDs) of BkW in the English language have been considered. We calculated the standard error and prevalence rate of MSDs in each body part for the MA. Our initial search yielded 40 articles, of which 13 were eligible for SR and 11 for MA. The majority of studies stemmed from India, and few from Nepal and Pakistan. The highest WMSDs were found to be lower back (76.27%; 95% CI 66.15-86.40), shoulders (61.91%; 95% CI 46.62-77.19), wrist/hand (59.94%; 95% CI 45.30-74.58), and knees (55.55%; 95% CI 36.93-74.18) among BkW. The significant risk factors for WMSDs included low body mass index (BMI), age, sex, posture, repetition, working duration, and experience. BKWs had high prevalence outcomes on WMSDs in the lower back, shoulders, knees, and wrists but the evidence for risk factors related to MSDs was low in these studies. Further research and preventive measures are crucial for safeguarding the health and well-being of these workers.

Introduction: Occupational injuries pose a critical challenge amid India's rapid industrialization. National Programme on Occupational Diseases Quadrant I reports alarming global statistics, with India contributing significantly to the burden. Injuries impose a significant financial burden on individual households, leading to substantial out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) causing severe financial distress for the families of the victims. This study explores the profile and economic ramifications of such injuries, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.

Methods: This cross-sectional mixed methods study, conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, Karnataka, analyses data from 148 occupational injury cases over 6 months. Ethical approval was obtained, and data were collected from hospital records and direct patient inquiries. Demographics, injury characteristics, root causes, and outcomes were analyzed. The economic burden, catastrophic health expenditure, awareness, and utilization of social security schemes (SSS) were assessed.

Results: A predominant demographic vulnerability exists among workers under 25 years old, especially in high-risk sectors. Traumatic injuries, primarily due to employee negligence, are prevalent, with extremity injuries and ocular injuries being common. While 68.9% of participants claimed access to personal protective equipment (PPE) at their work sites, only 51.4% reported actual usage of PPE. A significant financial strain was observed, with 64 out of 148 participants experiencing catastrophic health expenditure. Insurance coverage and SSS utilization are limited, indicating gaps in awareness and procedural complexities.

Discussion: The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, particularly in high-risk sectors and during vulnerable periods, such as postlunch hours. Bridging the gap between PPE availability and utilization is crucial. The study emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts between regulatory bodies, employers, and workers to enhance safety measures. Furthermore, it highlights the challenges and successes in SSS utilization, suggesting the need for streamlined processes and increased awareness campaigns. Recommendations include targeted interventions, safety training, and streamlined SSS processes to address the complexities surrounding workplace incidents and improve overall occupational well-being. Continued research is crucial to refining preventive strategies and mitigating the impact of occupational injuries.

Conclusion: This study reveals the urgent need for improved safety measures and streamlined social security schemes to mitigate the significant economic burden of occupational injuries in India.

Background: Working night shifts disrupts circadian rhythms and is linked to a myriad of health problems, including elevated stress levels. Heart rate variability (HRV), which reflects the autonomic nervous system's (ANS's) response to stress, is a plausible stress indicator. However, there is limited research on the use of HRV as a stress indicator specifically in security guards working night shifts.

Methods: This observational study included 50 security guards willing to participate in the study. The demographic and anthropometric details of the participants were collected. Their first HRV recording before the night shift schedule was recorded, and then, the post-HRV recording was conducted following 1 week of night shift duty. The data thus obtained were analyzed by applying paired t-tests using Jamovi software.

Results: A considerable rise in mean heart rate and a significant decrease in mean RR interval following night shift duty were observed. There was a substantial rise in the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, a significant decrease in HF values, and a significant increase in very-low-frequency (VLF) values as determined by a qualitative analysis of HRV parameters.

Conclusion: The security guards showed a shift in autonomic balance toward sympathetic predominance as well as sympathovagal imbalance following night shift duty indicating that they were under stress. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and manage stress to mitigate these risks and prioritize workers' well-being.

Objective: The study aims to investigate the difference between stress, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility based on demographic factors and the mediating role of cognitive flexibility on the association of stress and decision-making among civil aviation pilots.

Methods: Data was collected from 372 commercial pilots from India through an online survey. The survey comprises standardized tools, including perceived stress, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility.

Results: No significant gender difference was found in stress, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility. Age and work experience influenced stress levels, with mid-career pilots reporting the highest stress. Stress has a negative impact on pilots' decision-making ability. Cognitive flexibility partially mediates this relationship.

Conclusion: Integrating cognitive flexibility training and stress management interventions into pilot training programs could significantly improve decision-making under pressure for safer aviation practices.

Introduction: Professional quality of life and psychological flexibility are important indicators of occupational wellbeing.

Aim: The study aimed to understand the relationship between psychological flexibility and the components of professional quality of life, namely compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout in medical practitioners.

Method: This cross-sectional study consisted of 185 medical practitioners, 70 females and 115 males, who were currently working in a tertiary care hospital, with a minimum of one-year experience in the field. The data were collected by convenience sampling and administered the Professional Quality of Life scale and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - II. The data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and t-test.

Results: There was no significant correlation between psychological inflexibility and compassion satisfaction. The correlation between secondary traumatic stress and burnout were significant and highly correlated with psychological inflexibility. Compassion satisfaction and psychological inflexibility were seen higher in females; burnout was seen higher in males whereas secondary traumatic stress showed no significant gender difference.

Conclusion: The study may help in understanding interplay of psychological flexibility, burnout and compassion fatigue and interventions along these lines may be fruitful in improving professional quality of life in medical practitioners.

Background: Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are critical to rural healthcare in India, serving in subcentres and providing primary healthcare services. Given their extensive responsibilities and workload, addressing psychological stress among ANMs is crucial to prevent stress-related illnesses and improve their well-being.

Objective: This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of psychological stress among ANMs in rural Lucknow.

Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to May 2024 across six rural blocks of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and 300 ANMs were selected through multistage sampling. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic profiles, work-related factors, and the Workplace Stress Scale by the American Institute of Stress was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to assess the predictors of psychological stress.

Results: The study found that, out of total 54% ANMs experiencing workplace stress, 45.7% and 8.3% have reported moderate and severe stress, respectively. Diabetes as co-morbidity, work fatigue, and working at CHC were the key predictors for stress in ANMs. It was also found that ANMs working at PHCs had significantly lower stress levels than those working at subcentres and CHCs.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of psychological stress among ANMs in rural Lucknow necessitates targeted interventions. Addressing the identified stress predictors through policy changes, better resource allocation, and support systems can help mitigate stress and promote the well-being of these essential healthcare workers.

Occupational liver disease is certain rare group of liver diseases that are often underdiagnosed. We report a case of liver injury caused due to occupational exposure in a patient presenting with jaundice. In the absence of any competing causes and liver biopsy findings, injury secondary to nitrocompounds have been suspected. The patient improved gradually on changing his job position. This case emphasizes the need for knowledge regarding liver diseases occurring secondary to toxin exposure during work.