Case study #4 : Strait of Sicily - Malta : Western Mediterreanean

The definition of spatial limits for the Strait of Sicily - Malta Case Study have been elaborated considering needs and priorities emerged from the Initial Assessment, as well as existing knowledge on: (i) maritime uses and economic domains; (ii) ecological features; (iii) legal jurisdictions and borders and (iv) transboundary issues. The definition of the case study area’s spatial limits constitute boundaries for the purpose to foster a proper analysis on human uses, ecological processes, synergies and conflicts, governance continuity, and define recommendations to establish appropriated strategies and plans. The boundaries have been drawn according to the scope of the project (e.g. to support the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in EU Member States with a concrete cross-border initiative) and the activities to be developed therefore on one hand they are representative of local conditions and policies and, on the other, they take in account potential transboundary and cross-border issues of MSP. The SIMWESTMED case study for Malta is focused on the Malta-Sicily marine waters, bordering the south of Sicily and the north of the Maltese Islands and including part of the continental shelves of Italy and Malta.Grant Agreement: EASME/EMFF/2015/1.2.1.3/02/SI2.742101peer-reviewe

Psychosocial stress and minor psychiatric disorders among Agentes Socioeducadores

OBJECTIVE: to ascertain the association between psychosocial stress and the occurrence of Minor Psychiatric Disorders in agentes socioeducadores. METHOD: a cross-sectional study with 381 agentes socioeducadores from the Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in 2011. Brazilian versions of the social demand-control-support at work scale were used, and of the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20. RESULTS: the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 50.1%. The chances of being classified with such a disorder were higher in the high strain work quadrant (OR=2.05; CI95%=1.03-4.09) and active work quadrant (OR=1.99; CI95%=1.09-3.63) when compared to that of low strain, after adjustment for potentially confusing factors. CONCLUSION: there is a positive association between psychosocial stress (high strain and active work) and minor psychiatric disorders among agentes socioeducadores. In order to prevent mental illness among these workers, the planning of health promotion actions is necessary.OBJETIVO: verificar la asociación entre estrés psicosocial y la ocurrencia de Disturbios Psíquicos Menores en agente socio-educadores. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal con 381 agentes socio-educadores de los Centros de Servicio Socio-educativo de Rio Grande do Sul, en 2011. Se utilizaron las versiones brasileñas de la escala de Demanda-control-apoyo social en el trabajo y del Self Reporting Questionnaire-20. RESULTADOS: la superioridad de disturbio psíquico menor fue del 50,1%. Las chances de ser clasificado con tal disturbio fueron mayores en el cuadrante de trabajo en alta exigencia (OR=2,05; IC95%=1,03-4,09) y trabajo activo (OR=1,99; IC95%=1,09-3,63) cuando se comparó a lo de baja exigencia, después del ajuste por potenciales factores de confusión. CONCLUSIÓN: hay asociación positiva entre estrés psicosocial (alta exigencia y trabajo activo) y disturbios psíquicos menores en agentes socio-educadores. Se hace necesaria la planificación de acciones de promoción a la salud, a fin de precaver la enfermedad mental de eses trabajadores.OBJETIVO: verificar a associação entre estresse psicossocial e a ocorrência de Distúrbios Psíquicos Menores em agentes socioeducadores. MÉTODO: estudo transversal com 381 agentes socioeducadores dos Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul, em 2011. Utilizaram-se as versões brasileiras da escala de demanda-controle-apoio social no trabalho e do Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20). RESULTADOS: a prevalência de distúrbio psíquico menor foi de 50,1%. As chances de ser classificado com tal distúrbio foram maiores no quadrante trabalho em alta exigência (OR=2,05; IC95%=1,03-4,09) e trabalho ativo (OR=1,99; IC95%=1,09-3,63), quando comparados ao de baixa exigência, após ajuste por potenciais fatores de confusão. CONCLUSÃO: há associação positiva entre estresse psicossocial (alta exigência e trabalho ativo) e distúrbios psíquicos menores em agentes socioeducadores. Faz-se necessário o planejamento de ações de promoção à saúde, a fim de prevenir o adoecimento mental desses trabalhadores

Minor psychiatric disorders among nurses university faculties

This cross-sectional study addresses 130 nursing faculty members in federal universities from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It investigated the psychological demands and decision latitude (the Demand-Control Model by Karasek) and their association with Minor Psychological Disorders (MPDs). The Brazilian versions of the Self-Report-Questionnaire-20 and the Job Stress Scale were used. MPDs were prevalent in 20% of the studied individuals. After adjusting for potential confounders, the chances of participants presenting mental disorders were higher in the quadrant 'active strain jobs' (OR=14.23, 95% CI 1.55 to 130.73), followed by the 'high strain jobs' quadrant (OR=10.05, 95% CI 1.23 to 82.44), compared to nursing professors classified in the 'low strain jobs' quadrant. We conclude that high psychological demands and low control over work can cause disorders in nursing professors, among them, MPDs.Estudio epidemiológico seccional entre 130 enfermeros docentes de las universidades federales del estado de Rio Grande do Sul, en Brasil, que tuvo como objetivo investigar la demanda psicológica y el control del trabajo (Modelo Demanda-Control de Karasek) y sus asociaciones con Disturbios Psíquicos Menores. Se utilizaron las versiones brasileñas del Self-Report-Questionnaire-20 y del Job Stress Scale. La prevalencia de Disturbios Psíquicos Menores fue del 20,1%. Después de ajustar los posibles factores de confusión, las posibilidades de trastornos psíquicos fueron mayores en el cuadrante Trabajo Activo (OR=14,13; IC95%=1,55-130,73), seguido del cuadrante Alta exigencia (OR=10,05; IC95%=1,23-82,44), en comparación con los enfermeros docentes del cuadrante Baja Exigencia. Se concluyó que la alta demanda psicológica y el bajo control del trabajo pueden provocar daños a la salud, entre ellos los Disturbios Psíquicos Menores en enfermeros docentes.Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico seccional, incluindo 130 enfermeiros docentes das Universidades Federais do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, que teve por objetivo investigar a demanda psicológica e o controle sobre o trabalho (Modelo Demanda-Controle de Karasek) e sua associação com os distúrbios psíquicos menores. Foram utilizadas as versões brasileiras do Self-Report-Questionnaire-20 e da Job Stress Scale. A prevalência de distúrbios psíquicos menores foi de 20,1%. Após ajustes, a fim de se evitar potenciais confundidores, a chance de distúrbios psíquicos foi maior no quadrante trabalho ativo (OR=14,23; IC95%=1,55-130,73), seguido do quadrante alta exigência (OR=10,05; IC95%=1,23-82,44), quando comparado aos enfermeiros docentes do quadrante baixa exigência. Conclui-se que a alta demanda psicológica e o baixo controle sobre o trabalho podem desencadear acometimentos, dentre eles os distúrbios psíquicos menores em enfermeiros docentes