Effects of Work-Related Stress on Work Ability Index among Iranian Workers

AbstractBackgroundWork Ability Index (WAI) is a well-known and valid self-report tool that has been widely used in various studies to identify and avoid early retirement and work-related disability. Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out to evaluate work ability in Iran. We aimed to investigate the WAI and the effect of work-related stress on it among Iranian workers.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was carried out among 449 workers from five working sectors in three big cities of Iran. Work ability and work-related stress were measured using the Persian version of WAI and the Persian version of Health and Safety Executive Stress Indicator Tool.ResultsMore than a third of the workers surveyed (34.70%) did not have an appropriate level of work ability (WAI < 37). There was a significant correlation between subscales of work-related stress and the mean score of WAI. Furthermore, the variables of body mass index, sleep quality, exercise activity, job tenure, and three subscales of work-related stress including demands, supervisor support, and role were significant predictors of WAI.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, the interventional programs must be focused on improving supervisors support, eliminating ambiguity and conflicts in the role of workers in their job and organization, reducing job demands, improving sleep quality, and increasing exercise activity

EXCESSIVE DAYTIME SLEEPINESS AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE: COMPARING PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE APPROACHES

Sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness have potential for a negative impact upon employees’ safety performance. This study investigated the relationship of excessive daytime sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnea on safety performance at an oil construction company in Iran. 661 employees consented. Excessive daytime sleepiness was measured using the STOP-BANG questionnaire, which screens for obstructive sleep apnea, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). To determine how sleepiness affects Occupational Incidents (accidents causing injury and near misses) both reactive data and proactive safety performance indices were measured. Demographic and predictor variables were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Employees who met the criteria of excessive daytime sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnea had significantly poorer safety performance indicators. STOP-BANG and ESS were significant predictive factors for safety compliance (β = 0.228 and 0.370, respectively), safety participation (β = 0.210 and 0.144, respectively), and overall safety behavior (β = 0.332 and 0.213) respectively. Further, Occupational Incidents were 2.5 times higher in workers with indicators of excessive daytime sleepiness and 2 times higher in workers with obstructive sleep apnea than those without. These findings confirmed excessive daytime sleepiness as a serious safety hazard, and both reactive and proactive measures are important to understand the relative contribution of predictor variables. To reduce occupational incidents, it is essential that management procedures support good sleep hygiene with the aim of improving safety performance

Persian version of the Work Design Questionnaire: Measurement of its psychometric characteristics

Background: Work design questionnaire (WDQ), as a comprehensive and integrative tool, is one of the most important instruments frequently used to assess work characteristics. The aim of this study was to measure the psychometric characteristics of the Persian version of WDQ. Methods:Translation and cross-cultural adaptation procedures were applied in translating the original WDQ into Persian. A total of 270 participants participated in this study. The validity of the questionnaire were measured using face validity, content validity, convergent validity, and construct validity based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency. Results: Mean content validity index (CVI) was 0.95. The CFA results indicated support for a 21-factor solution. There were significant correlations between dimensions of WDQ and both job satisfaction and perceived stress. Cronbach's alpha of all items was 0.87. Conclusion: Results indicated that the WDQ exhibited very good psychometric properties and can be applied as a useful tool to assess work characteristics among Iranian employees. Accordingly, the authors recommend its administration in future studies. The work characteristics was significantly associated with job satisfaction and job stress. Therefore, improved work design would reduce negative consequences, such as job stress, and increase positive behaviors, such as job satisfaction

Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Tool for Assessing Postgraduate Students' Oral Presentations

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop an oral presentations assessment tool for postgraduate students' oral presentations. Methods: First, a literature review and the ideas of 319 experienced professors were used to identify dimensions and potential items. Then the psychometric properties of the preliminary tool were measured using face and content validity, inter-rater agreement and test-retest reliability. Results: The four dimensions of the developed tool were subject knowledge, delivery, content and organization, and ergonomics. Mean content validity index and content validity ratio scores were 0.93 and 0.76, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for the two evaluation periods was 0.92. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.78. Conclusion: In this study, important cognitive factors in oral presentations in the form of ergonomic dimensions were included for the first time, as part of a comprehensive tool. The developed tool has appropriate psychometric properties and could be used as a valid and applicable instrument to assess post-graduate students' oral presentations

Assessment of masks used by healthcare workers: Development and validation of a Mask Qualitative Assessment Tool (MQAT)

Background. Respiratory masks can provide healthcare workers with protection from biological hazards when they have good performance. There is a direct relationship between the visual specifications of a mask and its efficacy, thus the aim of this study was to develop tools for qualitative assessment of the performance of masks used by healthcare workers. Methods. A mixed-methods design was used to develop a qualitative assessment tool for medical face masks (MFM), and particle filtering half masks (PFHM). The development of domains and items was undertaken using observation and interviews, the opinions of an expert panel, and a review of texts and international standards. The second phase evaluated the psychometric properties of tools. Finally, the validated Mask Qualitative Assessment Tools (MQAT) were used to assess six samples from 10 brands of the two types of mask. Results. MQAT-MFM and MQAT-PHFM shared 42 items across 7 domains: ‘cleanliness’, ‘design’, ‘marking, labeling and packaging’, ‘mask layers’, ‘mask strap’, ‘materials and construction’, and ‘nose clip’. MQAT-MFM included one additional item. MQAT-PHFM included another nine items associated with an eighth ‘Practical Performance’ domain, and the valve version had another additional ‘Exhalation Valve’ domain and six items. The evaluation indicated 80% compliance for MFM and 71% compliance for PFHM. ‘Marking, labeling and packaging’ and ‘Layers’ were associated with least compliance in both types of mask and should be checked carefully for defining mask quality. Conclusion. MQAT can be used for immediate screening and initial assessment of MFM and PHFM through appearance, simple tools and visual inspection

Prediction of Metabolic Syndrome based on Sleep and Work-related Risk Factors using an Artificial Neural Network.

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health concern due to its high prevalence and association with heart disease and diabetes. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are emerging as a reliable means of modelling relationships towards understanding complex illness situations such as MetS. Using ANN, this research sought to clarify predictors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a working age population. Methods 468 employees of an oil refinery in Iran consented to providing anthropometric and biochemical measurements, and survey data pertaining to lifestyle, work-related stressors and sleep variables. National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel ІІI criteria was used for determining MetS status. The Management Standards Indicator Tool and STOP-BANG questionnaire were used to measure work-related stress and obstructive sleep apnoea respectively. With 17 input variables, multilayer perceptron was used to develop ANNs in 16 rounds of learning. ANNs were compared to logistic regression models using the mean squared error criterion for validation. Results Sex, age, exercise habit, smoking, high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, and work-related stressors, particularly Role, all significantly affected the odds of MetS, but shiftworking did not. Prediction accuracy for an ANN using two hidden layers and all available input variables was 89%, compared to 72% for the logistic regression model. Sensitivity was 82.5% for ANN compared to 67.5% for the logistic regression, while specificities were 92.2% and 74% respectively. Conclusions Our analyses indicate that ANN models which include psychosocial stressors and sleep variables as well as biomedical and clinical variables perform well in predicting MetS. The findings can be helpful in designing preventative strategies to reduce the cost of healthcare associated with MetS in the workplace

Predicting Mindfulness levels based on self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism dimensions

The current study aims to predict the mindfulness levels based on three dimensions of perfectionism including self-oriented, other-oriented, and community-oriented. According to the aim of the study, descripted-correlation method was chosen. The Statistical population is comprised of all students of university of Tehran (in the academic year 2016–2017), and by using non-randomized available method, 265 students (230 males and 35 females) were selected. The Data collection tools include Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (TMPS) and Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), whose questionnaires were filled out by the sample population. Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings showed a significant negative correlation between perfectionism and mindfulness. Linear regression model indicated that the triple dimensions of perfectionism could predict 18% of mindfulness changes significantly (p <0.05). Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that the triple dimensions of perfectionism can affect the success of a person in mindful being. Adhering to standards and worrying about the expectations and negative reactions of others in the perfectionist will make them not be present enough here and now

Additional file 1 of Prevalence of medication errors and its related factors in Iranian nurses: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Supplementary Material

Sex-Specific Silica Nanoparticle Protein Corona Compositions Exposed to Male and Female BALB/c Mice Plasmas

As various nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being used in nanomedicine products for more effective and less toxic therapy and diagnosis of diseases, there is a growing need to understand their biological fate in different sexes. Herein, we report a proof-of-concept result of sex-specific protein corona compositions on the surface of silica NPs as a function of their size and porosity upon incubation with plasma proteins of female and male BALB/c mice. Our results demonstrate substantial differences between male and female protein corona profiles on the surface of silica nanoparticles. By comparing protein abundances between male and female protein coronas of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and Stöber silica nanoparticles of ∼100, 50, and 100 nm in diameter, respectively, we detected 17, 4, and 4 distinct proteins, respectively, that were found at significantly different concentrations for these constructs. These initial findings demonstrate that animal sex can influence protein corona formation on silica NPs as a function of the physicochemical properties. A more thorough consideration of the role of plasma sex would enable nanomedicine community to design and develop safer and more efficient diagnostic and therapeutic nanomedicine products for both sexes