Musculoskeletal symptoms and job satisfaction among office-workers: A Cross- sectional study from Iran

Objective. Office-work poses a high-risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), with consequences for workers, employers and society. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in a sample of Iranian office workers, to investigate the association between pain severity and job satisfaction and to investigate the association between MSDs and job satisfaction. Materials and methods. Iranian office workers from a university setting (n=91) were randomly selected and included in this cross-sectional study. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire plus visual analogue scale of pain, and the Brayfield-Rothe Job Satisfaction Index were used to study the prevalence of MSDs, pain intensity and job satisfaction, respectively. Descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment. Results. Eighty-nine percent of participants reported musculoskeletal symptoms during the past 12 months, most commonly in the neck (69.2 %), low back (58.2%), knees (41.8%), shoulders (35.2%), and upper back (34.1%). There was a significant negative correlation between pain intensity and job satisfaction. Pain intensity, low-back pain in the last week, wrist pain in the past 12 months and shoulder pain were significantly associated with job satisfaction (p<0.05). Conclusion. This study provides evidence that musculoskeletal symptoms are common in Iranian office workers, associated with low job satisfaction. These findings indicate the need for more attention to MSDs among office workers and designing effective preventive interventions

Vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Several factors such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes and hypertension have a determining role in cardiovascular disease. In recent years, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular disease has been emphasized. This study compares vitamin D deficiency in coronary heart disease patients with the control group. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol level was compared in 119 individuals including 57 people with confirmed coronary heart disease and 62 healthy people. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was assessed using standard protocol. The level of 25(OH)D under 20 ng/dl was determined as cutoff point. RESULTS: The calculated odds ratio was 3.9 (95% confidence interval 2.6-5.5). Vitamin D deficiency significantly different between patients and the control group (p = 0.01). Of 37 (31%) individuals having vitamin D deficiency, 36 (97.3%) had coronary artery disease and from 57 patients with coronary artery disease 36 (63.2%) had vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is a relatively common disorder. Risk of cardiovascular disease in people with vitamin D deficiency is almost four times of those with normal levels of vitamin D. To confirm the casual relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease, clinical trial studies are suggested

Needs Assessment on Management and Health Economics from the Perspective of the Health Network Administrators and Experts: A Comprehensive Needs Assessment Study

Background: Needs assessment is an essential prerequisite for any planning and management. This plan is designed to determine the priorities of research management and health economics. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study has been used in collecting and describing data using qualitative and quantitative methods (comprehensive needs assessment model) which was done in 2017. The study population was consisted of senior managers and headmasters of the health department (14 people) and senior managers and headmasters of Isfahan health care networks (23 people). Sampling was done by census method.&nbsp; An essay typed questionnaire was used as the data instrument and its validity was verified by data collection method through multiple sources and for reliability or accuracy, the technique of 2 parallel researcher and specialized need committee were used. It was completed using a model of the needing comprehensive plan and a combination of scientific harmonization techniques (Delphi technique, Fischer Bowl, Tele Starr). Analyzing and prioritizing needs were done in the Excel and SPSS 16 software. Results: Research priorities were respectively: the developmental plan in the health system (3.40 &plusmn; 0.934), accidents and disasters (3.14 &plusmn; 0.907), health economics (3.06 &plusmn; 1.00), management and efficiency in the health system (3.00 &plusmn; 0.824), educational needs (2.60 &plusmn; 1.12), environment and sustainable development (2.56 &plusmn; 1.16). Conclusion: This research, by extracting the research priorities of health economics management, provides guidance to policy makers and health managers to guide and fund health system research. &nbsp

Training Needs Assessment of Health Care Providers (Behvarzan) Working in Health Networks in Isfahan Province

Introduction: Community needs are constantly changing and identifying training needs required for a successful education system is often the first step in planning training courses which indeed ensures effectiveness of training programs. In Iran's health system , Behvarzan are at the forefront of health care provision therefore, a need for setting priorities for planning and implementing necessary training courses for this group was felt. Methods: This is a descriptive study on a population of 1621 health care providers(behvars), managers, instructors, and experts working in Isfahan health networks. Sampling method wash census. Data collection was done using consensus model. A questionnaire with open-ended questions was used for collecting data. The reliability was confirmed by experts and the validity was confirmed through Cronbach's alpha (76%). Results: The highest priority training needs were identified in these fields: health and life skills, non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases, nutrition and medicine, environmental health, occupational health, oral health care. Conclusion: There was not much consensus among experts, instructors and health care providers(behvars)about training needs of health care workers. This could be due to low intra-organizational interactions. Also the network structure is so that the views of training recipients (workers), observers (network experts) health care providers, and teachers (instructors)are not taken into account for the planning of training courses. Vastness of the health network could also be another explanation