Medicina Del Lavoro最新文献

Background: Due to the nature of shift work, nurses experience very high mental and physical pressure, which can ultimately affect their work ability (WA). One factor that affects work ability is the level of physical activity (PAL). Since nurses are responsible for providing healthcare for the public, it is necessary to evaluate their WA and PAL. Therefore, the present study used subjective and objective evaluation to test the relationship between PAL and WA among nurses in different hospital departments affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted over 6 months. A questionnaire was used to measure the work ability index (WAI). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used for subjective evaluation, and the Xiaomi smart wristband Mi Band Five was used for objective assessment. These tools extracted the components of behaviors related to physical activity for 7 days. One hundred nurses were selected for subjective evaluation, and then 40 of them were randomly selected for objective assessment. The SPSS software version 23 was used for data analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the effect of physical activity on the work ability index by controlling other demographic variables.

Results: 7% of participants had poor WAI, and 45% had moderate work ability. Also, the ability to do good and excellent work was 32% and 16%, respectively. In this study, 31% of participants had low PAL, 42% moderate PAL, and 27% high PAL. In the objective evaluation, 12.5% of participants had a PAL of 100, 35% less than 100(poor), and 52.5% had a PAL above 100(High). In the subjective evaluation, the highest PAL belonged to the emergency department. The results of the subjective and objective methods to check the correlation between WAI and PAL showed a positive and significant correlation.

Conclusion: In the present study, subjective and objective evaluations showed a significant relationship between work ability and PAL. The present findings can be used to develop future interventions to improve nurses' health and work performance.

Background: Osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint (rhizarthrosis) is one of the most frequent causes of hand dysfunction. Its significant impact on daily activities and work tasks is evident. This clinical condition is more commonly associated with older age, predominantly affects females, and is often linked to repetitive movements and heavy manual labor. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the prevention and early intervention of this pathology to minimize its impact not only on worker's health but also on their professional performance. This article aims to critically examine the association between rhizarthrosis, namely the pain with these conditions and its influence on work capacity.

Methods: An epidemiological survey was conducted on active workers diagnosed with symptomatic rhizarthrosis who underwent surgical treatment. Data collected included gender, age, dominant hand, labor intensity scale, radiological classification of rhizarthrosis, patient-reported pain classification, and work capacity before and after surgical intervention.

Results: In this study, there was a higher prevalence among females and older individuals. More advanced radiological classifications of rhizarthrosis did not correlate with more advanced pain classifications; however, statistically significant differences were found in higher work disability. Jobs requiring higher labor intensity and greater hand use were significantly associated with higher pain levels, increased work disability, and elevated radiological classifications of rhizarthrosis according to the Eaton and Littler scale.

Conclusions: Patients with rhizarthrosis surgically treated showed a statistically significant reduction in reported pain on the analog scale, as well as greater work capacity after surgical intervention, thus contributing to better professional performance.

Background: Measuring the effectiveness of training in properly fitting hearing protection devices (HPDs) is crucial, as it directly influences their attenuation. We assessed an earplug's personal attenuation ratings (PAR) following various intervention modalities.

Methods: The sample consisted of 52 adults without experience using hearing protection devices (HPD). The Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) was evaluated through real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) and microphone-in real-ear (MIRE) measurements after participants fitted the HPD as they saw fit. Participants were then randomly assigned to groups and given instructions on HPD fitting as follows: (G1) individual in-person demonstration; (G2) package reading; (G3) video; (G4) no intervention. PAR was subsequently reassessed. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA and the Fisher Exact test.

Results: Pre-intervention assessments showed no significant differences between the groups using either method. After training, G1, G2, and G3 significantly increased the PAR compared to G4, through both processes. The comparison of PAR post and pre-intervention revealed significant differences for G1, G2, and G3 (REAT) as well as for G1 and G3 (MIRE), in contrast to G4. Regarding "pass" and "fail" outcomes through MIRE, G1, G2, and G3 had more "pass" results after the intervention, compared to G4.

Conclusions: Intervention, regardless of modality, effectively improved correct earplug HPD fitting, evidenced by increased PAR and higher rates of individuals achieving sufficient attenuation. Individual in-person demonstrations and video instructions proved to be the most effective training modalities.

Background: Although hand and arm injuries can be prevented with protective gloves, their use may reduce hand dexterity and muscle strength. This study examined the ergonomic criteria and usability of four cut-resistant protective gloves (CRPGs) types to identify the optimal glove choice.

Methods: In this experimental study, 22 male participants were tested under five conditions: barehanded, wearing nitrile-coated gloves, gel-coated gloves, material-coated gloves, and foam nitrile-coated gloves. Dexterity was assessed using the Bennett and O'Connor tests; grip and pinch force were measured with a dynamometer, and a goniometer assessed the range of motion. The gloves' usability was evaluated through the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire. At the same time, localized discomfort in different areas of the hand was assessed using the Local Perceived Discomfort (LPD) questionnaire. Finally, glove comparisons were made using appropriate statistical tests analyzed with SPSS version 24 software.

Results: All examined CRPGs significantly lowered finger dexterity scores (p < 0.001). However, the effects of different gloves on hand dexterity varied. Wearing all four gloves reduced grip force, but statistically significant differences in grip force were noted only between the barehanded condition and Glove B (p = 0.004). Using all four gloves increased pinch force, though this increase was statistically significant only between the barehanded condition and Glove D (p = 0.005). Wearing all gloves caused a statistically significant reduction in wrist, palm, and finger range of motion compared to the barehanded condition (p < 0.005). Lastly, there was a significant statistical difference between the gloves regarding usability (p = 0.001) and LPD (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: CRPGs can greatly influence hand skills. Glove D, featuring a foam nitrile coating, exhibited the highest finger dexterity compared to the other gloves studied. Considering aspects like sweat resistance and anatomical design, this foam nitrile-coated glove is appropriate for cutting-resistant tasks within various industries.

Background: Risk perception is crucial in occupational health and safety, particularly in high-risk sectors like agriculture and construction. This study investigates the influence of personality traits, emotional states, and socio-demographic variables on perceived risks, explicitly focusing on carcinogenic exposure. The aim is to identify key factors shaping risk perception to inform safety interventions.

Methods: Using a correlational research design, 91 Italian workers (49 from construction and 42 from agriculture) completed a comprehensive questionnaire assessing personality (Big Five model), emotional state, self-perceived safety knowledge, and risk perception across 14 dimensions. Statistical analyses included correlations, ANOVA, and regression models to explore relationships between variables.

Results: Open-mindedness, emotional stability and extraversion were inversely related to perceived risk levels, while conscientiousness and friendliness correlated positively. Workers in agriculture reported higher awareness of carcinogenic risks than construction workers, though no significant differences emerged in perceived risk levels. Negative emotional states predicted higher risk perception, while self-perceived safety knowledge had only minor correlations with specific risk dimensions. Gender, age, and service length did not significantly influence risk perception.

Conclusion: Personality traits, particularly openness and emotional stability, strongly influence risk perception, highlighting the importance of considering individual psychological profiles in occupational safety interventions. Although emotional state plays a notable role, self-perceived safety knowledge showed limited impact, suggesting a need for targeted education.

Background: This study investigated the vibrotactile perception threshold (VPT) changes in the fingers and toes of twenty-eight healthy subjects (15 males and 13 females aged 20 to 62 years) exposed to hand- and foot-transmitted vibration.

Methods: The VPT was measured before and after the exposure of the hands and feet to 5 minutes of triaxial white noise pseudorandom vibration. The post-vibration VPT was measured immediately after and 15 minutes after the end of the exposure to assess the temporary threshold shift (TTS) of vibration perception. The effects of the anatomical district (index finger and big toe), measurement time (before and after vibration exposure), test frequency (8, 31.5, and 125 Hz), age group (Under30s and Over 40s), and gender (male and female) on the changes in VPT were investigated.

Results: The findings revealed that the index finger and the big toe exhibited comparable profiles in the vibrotactile sensitivity at the low-middle vibration frequencies and in the recovery of the perception threshold after vibration exposure. The big toe showed a higher perception threshold than the index finger, and the difference increased with the test frequency. In addition to vibration frequency, age and skin temperature influenced the results of VPT and TTS measurements.

Conclusions: The findings of this study can contribute to outlining alternative frequency weighting functions for the neurosensory response of the hand and foot to vibration exposure, and to update the current guidelines for evaluating human vibration exposure.

Background: This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary study at the Universidad de la República (Uruguay), in which hearing loss is assessed in a group of academic musicians, including lyric singers, choristers, and orchestral musicians.

Methods: Audiometric records from 137 academic musicians were analyzed. The Average Hearing Loss (PAM) methodology, based on Lafon and Duclos combined with the ISO 1999:2013 Standard, was used to convert all the registers to the hearing loss at the age of 35, which were then organized into a permanence curve and compared with reference curves from the ISO 1999:2013 Standard.

Results and conclusion: The results presented here are estimated to represent more than 27 % of the total population of adult academic musicians nationwide. The findings suggest that academic musicians in Uruguay are at a higher risk of noise-induced hearing loss than the general population in the ISO 1999:2013 Standard.

Background: Work addiction is a contemporary addiction affecting 8.3% to 22% of individuals in Europe, leading to detrimental effects on relationships, work-family balance, and overall well-being. Given its prevalence and impact, standardized assessment tools are crucial for distinguishing between work addiction and healthy work engagement.

Methods: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART). A convenience sample of 700 workers from Northeastern and Southern Italy completed the Italian version of the WART  along with other well-being at work and personality measures.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure of the WART, partially overlapping with the original version. Despite some weaknesses in the factor structure, the WART demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, including internal consistency and associations with organizational and personality correlates of work addiction.

Conclusions: The Italian version of the WART is a reliable tool for assessing work addiction risk among Italian workers. This tool can aid in identifying individuals at risk and facilitating early intervention and support. Future research should focus on further validating the factor structure and exploring the utility of the WART indifferent cultural and occupational contexts.

Background: The study provides a comprehensive ergonomics assessment of the postures encountered by rubber tappers using the OWAS, REBA, RULA, and PERA methods and compares the risk levels across various ergonomic assessment methodologies.

Methods: The research examines the postures of fifty-one selected rubber tappers from the state of Kerala, India, during rubber tapping, analyzing 1111 different working postures. The postural assessment was conducted by analyzing video recordings of the work tasks and evaluating the postures using OWAS, REBA, RULA, and PERA. Each method's focus and application were considered to comprehensively evaluate the postural risks.

Results: The demographic characteristics indicate that the workforce mostly consists of middle-aged males involved in physically strenuous activities. The result shows that the RULA method, emphasizing upper limb postures, is particularly suited for assessing postural loads in rubber tapping, highlighting the need to match ergonomic tools to the specific demands of work activities. While OWAS provides a general overview, RULA focuses on upper limbs, REBA assesses whole-body postures, and PERA incorporates cyclic work factors, enabling targeted ergonomic interventions. Additionally, it is crucial to consider that each method OWAS, RULA, REBA, and PERA has distinct strengths and applications.

Conclusions: The research highlights the need for tailored ergonomic interventions for tasks such as 'Incision on the Channel'. Ultimately, the study validates implementing a context-specific approach for assessing ergonomic parameters and intervention measures aimed at enhancing the overall occupational health of rubber tappers.

Background: In Italy, lung cancer is the second most frequent neoplasm in men and the third in women. Exposure to carcinogens in workplaces plays a significant role. Still, cases attributable to occupational exposure are currently under-reported as occupational diseases: the current National Prevention Plan also encourages active research projects for the detection of cancers attributable to occupational exposure.

Methods: The Unit of Prevention and Safety in the Workplace of Bologna Local Health Authority (Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-AUSL-)created a network for active surveillance of occupational lung cancer cases with the dedicated Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathways(PDTA). Possible occupational exposure cases were selected within all incident PDTA cases using a self-completed patient filter form. Only patients selected through the form were interviewed; occupational physicians collected personal, occupational, and clinical history. Definition of a cooperation system with the local office of the National Institute for Insurance(INAIL)for monitoring the process during the medico-legal assessments conducted by the insurance institute up to resolution.

Results: 453 cases completed the filter form, 177 had a potential occupational exposure. Of these, 140 accepted the direct interview with occupational physicians. One hundred eleven cases interviewed were assessed with sure or suspect occupational origin: for 82, a claim for recognition was sent to the INAIL, while for the other 29 was sent to INAIL a report for epidemiological purposes. Out of 82 compensation claims, 18 individuals (4 females and 14 males) received compensation, while 4 cases remain under investigation. A total of 53 claims were rejected: 54.7% for lack of exposure to risk factors, 24.5% for insufficient exposure, 9.4% due to inadequate administrative documentation, 7.5% because of insufficient clinical documentation, and 3.8% for the absence of causal association.

Conclusions: Several occupational lung cancers were found that otherwise would have been unrecognized. Asbestos was the most frequent agent occurring in the most widespread work sectors-construction and manufacture of metalworking products-and in the period of exposure from 1970 to 1980. Other relevant agents were welding fumes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Active surveillance, direct patient interviews, and claims for recognition integrated by a complementary report are essential to increase the INAIL compensation rate.