A new Task for Pharmacists: Working at a Computer

Cilj je ovog rada bio utvrditi koliko rad s računalom utječe na promjene vidnih funkcija ljekarnika te na pojavu smetnji na vratnom dijelu kralježnice. U presječnom istraživanju ispitane su vidne funkcije i subjektivne smetnje pri radu 50 ljekarnika (srednja dob 41,8±11 godina), te 56 službenika (srednja dob 36,2±8,6 godina), koji 40 sati tjedno rade na računalu. Pri tome, ljekarnici pretežno stoje, a službenici sjede. Od subjektivnih smetnji pri radu, suzenje očiju i bolovi u vratnoj kralježnici bili su značajno češći u skupini ljekarnika (P0,05). Rezultati potkrepljuju odredbu Pravilnika o sigurnosti i zaštiti zdravlja pri radu s računalom (1) prema kojoj poslodavac mora planirati aktivnosti radnika na osobnom računalu tako da se rad periodički izmjenjuje s drugim aktivnostima. To se upravo događa pri obavljanju posla ljekarnika. Njegov rad s računalom se neprekidno izmjenjuje s obraćanjem klijentu, odnosno s izdavanjem lijeka. Za rješavanje poteškoća s kralježnicom treba tijekom svakog sata rada osigurati odmore u trajanju od najmanje 5 minuta te organizirati vježbe rasterećenja radi smanjenja statodinamičnoga napora.The aim of this study was to establish the effect of working at personal computers (PC) on vision and neck-pain in pharmacists. In this cross-sectional study, vision and subjective disturbances at work were examined in 50 pharmacists [mean age (41.8±11) years] and 56 offi ce workers [mean age (36.2±8.6) years] using PCs at work for 40 hours per week. Pharmacists work mostly in the standing position and office workers in the sitting position. Excessive lacrimation and neck-pain during work were more pronounced in pharmacists than in office workers (P0.05). Our results support the recommendations set by the Ordinance on Safety and Health Protection when Working with Personal Computers (1), that employer should make sure that work with screen interchanges regularly with other activities in order to diminish vision load at work. This also refers to the work of pharmacists because their activities involve continuous interchanges between serving customers, looking at PC screen, and issuing medicines. In addition, the pharmacists should take at least 5-minute breaks every hour and take relaxation exercises to diminish the strain for the spine