Public Eye toward COVID-19: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: The general public has an important role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases by pursuing prophylactic measures. AIM: The aim of the present systematic review was to describe public perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward COVID-19. METHODS: In this review, articles were extracted from the Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed search engines. The main keywords for the search were coronavirus, COVID-19, public perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. RESULTS: The knowledge level toward novel coronavirus in different countries was generally high, and it had an increasing pattern during the pandemic phase. Furthermore, the insight self-efficacy, perceived severity of the COVID-19, and intention to meet the needs of preventive measures have increased notably. Furthermore, there are several misconceptions and unconfirmed beliefs in the general public in the case of preventive measures recommended, in particular. CONCLUSIONS: Health authorities and other disease control centers should monitor public misconceptions and perceptions continuously and manage a trusting platform to be presented to the public, especially in the case of a novel disease outbreak

Do occupational stress and cigarette smoking abet each other: survey of a steel industry in Iran

Background ― Occupational stress antagonizes human health directly as well as by instigating behavioral adversities like smoking; though it’s relation with latter is yet unveiled. This study aimed at ascertaining the relation between occupational stresses and smoking status among workers of a steel industry in Iran. Material and Methods ― This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 105 workers of steel industry in Iran. Standardized Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool (HSE-MS IT) along with subjects’ demographic features were used to assess occupational stress; while smoking status was measured by standardized methods of Otten et al (1999). Results ― Response rate was 86.7% as 91 completed questionnaires were received back. Mean age of smoking and non-smoking workers 39.5±10.2 & 38.4±5.5 respectively (data presented as mean with standard deviation – M±SD), work experience of smokers and non-smokers 13±6.1 & 12.9±5.9 years respectively, while 90.4% were married. Total occupational stress scored 2.96±0.35; 13.5% staff were at high stress risk. Outcome scores were significantly different between smokers and non-smokers in stress dimensions including role, relationships, managers’ support and peer support. Conclusion ― Although smoking workers revealed better situation in role dimension, yet smoking employees depicted higher stress in relationships, managers’ support and peer support dimensions. Inferences qualify for imperative measures to implicate smoking cessation programs, as well as regime to attenuate occupational stress at workplaces

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to dust among aluminium foundry workers

Aim ― The purpose of the study was to evaluate the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to aluminium (AL) dust in foundry workers in south of Tehran. Material and Methods ― This cross-sectional study was carried out on 63 workers in A and B foundries and 50 unexposed individuals as the control group. AL dust were sampled using Higgins-Dewell cyclone (HD) and cellulose ester membrane filter (MEC) with a flow of 2.2 l/min in the breathing zone of workers for 4 hours. Urinary samples were taken at the end of work shifts per week and were analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.21 and statistical methods including t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression. Results ― Airborne concentration of AL aerosols differed statistically significant in occupational groups (P0.05). However, there was a significant difference between urinary concentrations of the exposed group and the control group (P0.05). Conclusion ― Determination of AL concentration in urine is not enough to serve as a biomarker. Estimation of AL nanoparticles in the air and biomarkers that determine the actual absorption rate seems to be an adequate method for occupational exposure monitoring of AL

Accomplices of job burnout among employees of a medical university

Aim — Burnout is one of the major occupational hazards that precludes the efficiency and wastes human resources. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of job burnout and its related factors among the staff of a Medical University in Iran. Material and Methods — In this simple descriptive, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice educational cross-sectional study, 250 employees were enrolled randomly via non-purposive sampling technique in 2016. Standardized Maslach Job burnout Inventory (MBI) and organizational climate questionnaire were used as instruments. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-2 tests. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results — Mild, moderate and severe levels of job burnout were revealed by 66.4%, 25.6% and 7.6% respectively; while 28 (11.2%), 56 (22.4%) and 166 (66.4%) endorsed weak, moderate and strong organizational climate scores. There was significant negative relation between job burnout and organizational climate level (p<0.001). There was no significant impact of gender (p=0.782), employment type (p=0.672), work experience (p=0.48), and work unit (p=0.222) on outcome variable. None of the demographic variables had significant impact on organizational climate scores. Conclusion — A positive and employee-friendly organizational climate is mandatory to diminish the prevalence and arrest the incidence of job burnout in every set-up. Affected employees must be identified and adequately managed

Lung function and respiratory symptoms among mine workers in the Eastern part of Iran

Background ― Workers in the mineral industries are exposed to airborne dust and its occupational exposure can cause respiratory disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the lung function and respiratory symptoms of workers exposed to mineral dust in the Eastern part of Iran. Material and Methods ― This cross-sectional study was conducted on 156 workers in kaolin mine, gold mine, quarry, and stone cutting workshops as a dust exposed group and 48 administrative personnel in these sections as an unexposed group. After the general medical examination and completion of the demographic questionnaire, workers’ pulmonary function test was performed for each person using a spirometer according to the American Thoracic Society standards. Finally, data analysis was performed using Tukey's post hoc and chi-squared tests. Results ― The mean age in the exposed group to dust and control group were 33.8±7.9 and 36.7±8.0 years (data are presented as mean with standard deviation), weight – 75.1±13.0 and 75.0±11.2 kg, height – 173.2±6.8 and 173.1±6.3 cm, and work experience – 9.1±4.6 and 8.4±5.3 years, respectively. There was no significant difference between the working groups in the kaolin, gold, quarry, and stone cutting sections and the control group on the demographic variables. The mean value of the lung function parameters was lower in different working groups than in the control group. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second parameters (P0.05). Conclusion ― The results showed the exposed groups have significantly lower pulmonary function than the control group. Two out of four main pulmonary function variables showed reduce amounts in exposed groups