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

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

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair

Importance Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.Objective To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.Design, Setting, and Participants The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) study, an international, prospective cohort study, recruited participants between March 1 and October 31, 2021. This study was conducted across 209 centers in 32 countries in a consecutive sample of adult patients undergoing elective IHR.Exposure Open or minimally invasive IHR by any surgical technique, under local, neuraxial regional, or general anesthesia.Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the incidence of POUR following elective IHR. Secondary outcomes were perioperative risk factors, management, clinical consequences, and health service outcomes of POUR. A preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score was measured in male patients.Results In total, 4151 patients (3882 male and 269 female; median [IQR] age, 56 [43-68] years) were studied. Inguinal hernia repair was commenced via an open surgical approach in 82.2% of patients (n = 3414) and minimally invasive surgery in 17.8% (n = 737). The primary form of anesthesia was general in 40.9% of patients (n = 1696), neuraxial regional in 45.8% (n = 1902), and local in 10.7% (n = 446). Postoperative urinary retention occurred in 5.8% of male patients (n = 224), 2.97% of female patients (n = 8), and 9.5% (119 of 1252) of male patients aged 65 years or older. Risk factors for POUR after adjusted analyses included increasing age, anticholinergic medication, history of urinary retention, constipation, out-of-hours surgery, involvement of urinary bladder within the hernia, temporary intraoperative urethral catheterization, and increasing operative duration. Postoperative urinary retention was the primary reason for 27.8% of unplanned day-case surgery admissions (n = 74) and 51.8% of 30-day readmissions (n = 72).Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggest that 1 in 17 male patients, 1 in 11 male patients aged 65 years or older, and 1 in 34 female patients may develop POUR following IHR. These findings could inform preoperative patient counseling. In addition, awareness of modifiable risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk of POUR who may benefit from perioperative risk mitigation strategies