Lighting Recommendations in Operating Theatres

“The eyes lead the body.” A good visual environment is important for performance and wellbeing. Unsatisfactory visual conditions often induce a strained posture, more or less unconsciously, in an effort to improve vision. The requirements for the visual environment in an operating theatre are high. Surgeons or assistants who are having visual problems can induce treatment hazards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual environment in operating theatres, and also examine if the surgeon’s visual acuity at near work can be improved with better glasses. Thirty percent of the surgeons had eyestrain, and those with eyestrain had three times as much musculoskeletal strain. The measurements of the illuminance and luminance show a low uniformity level on the operating table; the operating lamps give an average of 100.000 lux, while the surrounding area values are much lower. The most important recommendation for lighting intervention in the operating theatre is a more uniform illuminance on the operating table

Prevalence of nail biting and its association with mental health in a community sample of children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study evaluates onychophagia or nail biting (NB) prevalence and association with mental health of a community sample of children from Shiraz, Iran.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The parents of 743 primary school children, selected by random sampling, reported NB behavior of their children and themselves. Children's mental health problem was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). 22.3% (95% CI: 19.3 to 25.3) of children had NB behavior in the last three months (girls: 20.1% (95% CI: 15.9 to 24.2). The rate in boys was 24.4% (95% CI: 20.1 to 28.7). 36.8% of the children with NB had at least one family member with nail biting. Older age was associated with a higher prevalence of NB while a higher score on the prosocial score was associated with a lower prevalence of NB.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>NB is a very common behavior in both genders in children and their family members. Children with NB have less prosocial ability than those without it.</p

Relationship between disease course in the temporomandibular joints and mandibular growth rotation in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis followed from childhood to adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To investigate the relationship between radiographic JIA disease course in the TMJs and mandibular growth rotation, compared with growth in healthy individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From a larger series of JIA patients followed from childhood to adulthood, 26 were included; 11 without and 15 with bilateral radiographic TMJ involvement. Joint morphology and function were assessed at baseline, 2-, 4-, 6- and 27 years follow-up. Mandibular growth rotation (anterior, posterior or none) was assessed from cephalometric evaluations at childhood and adulthood, with observations from 16 healthy individuals as controls. TMJ disease course and mandibular growth rotation were assessed independently and their relationship analysed. Non-parametric statistical methods were applied to test differences between groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the normal TMJ group of JIA patients the joint morphology was similar at the follow-ups and all patients had good function both in childhood and in adulthood. The mandibular growth rotation was similar to that of healthy controls, i.e. predominantly in anterior direction. In the abnormal TMJ group different JIA TMJ disease courses were observed and associated with changes in the mandibular growth rotation (p = 0.007).</p> <p>Progressing JIA TMJ disease course was related to posterior mandibular growth rotation and improving disease course to anterior mandibular growth rotation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A relationship was found between JIA disease course in the TMJs and mandibular growth rotation, suggesting that a favourable growth could be regained in patients with improvement in TMJ morphology and/or TMJ function. To confirm this, further research on larger patient series is needed.</p

The effect of work pace on workload, motor variability and fatigue during simulated light assembly work

This study investigated the effect of work pace on workload, motor variability and fatigue during light assembly work. Upper extremity kinematics and electromyography (EMG) were obtained on a cycle-to-cycle basis for eight participants during two conditions, corresponding to "normal" and "high" work pace according to a predetermined time system for engineering. Indicators of fatigue, pain sensitivity and performance were recorded before, during and after the task. The level and variability of muscle activity did not differ according to work pace, and manifestations of muscle fatigue or changed pain sensitivity were not observed. In the high work pace, however, participants moved more efficiently, they showed more variability in wrist speed and acceleration, but they also made more errors. These results suggest that an increased work pace, within the range addressed here, will not have any substantial adverse effects on acute motor performance and fatigue in light, cyclic assembly work. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Reaching beyond disciplines through collaboration: Academics\u27 learning in a national multidisciplinary research programme

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse and describe the learning that takes place in the interaction between academics from different disciplines and perspectives in collaboration with practitioners. Design/methodology/approach - The research draws on theories of learning that view it in relation to context, where the most significant features of the learning process concern discerning new aspects of a phenomenon. The study focuses on the workplace learning of researchers in a multidisciplinary programme at the National Institute for Working Life in Sweden (NIWL). Data was collected from semi-structured interviews. In the analysis the learning experienced was discerned by identifying how the participants spoke of developing and changing in their work as researchers. Findings - The investigation identified five categories of learning of the academics in the multidisciplinary research programme, namely: deepened awareness of perspectives and concepts; practical development; new awareness of one\u27s competences and professional learning process; flexible professionalism and practical usefulness; insights into research and development processes. Practical implications - The study contributes to an increased understanding of how knowledge production and academics\u27 workplace learning is constituted in multidisciplinary contexts and research programmes involving practitioners from outside academia. Originality/value - In organising and supporting learning and knowledge exchange in inter- or multidisciplinary research programmes with (or without) practitioners, it is essential to be aware of the importance of relational and contextual implications for academics\u27 learning processes

Reaching beyond disciplines through collaboration: Academics' learning in a national multidisciplinary research programme

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse and describe the learning that takes place in the interaction between academics from different disciplines and perspectives in collaboration with practitioners. Design/methodology/approach - The research draws on theories of learning that view it in relation to context, where the most significant features of the learning process concern discerning new aspects of a phenomenon. The study focuses on the workplace learning of researchers in a multidisciplinary programme at the National Institute for Working Life in Sweden (NIWL). Data was collected from semi-structured interviews. In the analysis the learning experienced was discerned by identifying how the participants spoke of developing and changing in their work as researchers. Findings - The investigation identified five categories of learning of the academics in the multidisciplinary research programme, namely: deepened awareness of perspectives and concepts; practical development; new awareness of one's competences and professional learning process; flexible professionalism and practical usefulness; insights into research and development processes. Practical implications - The study contributes to an increased understanding of how knowledge production and academics' workplace learning is constituted in multidisciplinary contexts and research programmes involving practitioners from outside academia. Originality/value - In organising and supporting learning and knowledge exchange in inter- or multidisciplinary research programmes with (or without) practitioners, it is essential to be aware of the importance of relational and contextual implications for academics' learning processes