A study of job strain and depression in laboratory technicians in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia(HUSM) and Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia(KKM) Hospitals, Kelantan

Job strain is the harmful physical and emotional responses that can happen when there is a conflict between job demands on the employee and the amount of control an employee has over meeting these demands.Job-related depression may often be initiated by high levels of long-term job stress,failure associated with stress-related under-performance, or by life crises.Job-related depression is a clinical illness and the workers should take this seriously.This study is aimed at identifying the psychosocial characteristics of job strain and the relationship between psychosocial job factors and depression in laboratory technicians in HUSM and KKM Hospitals.A cross-sectional study of 84 laboratory technicians in HUSM (response rate 82.4%) and 71 in KKM Hospitals (response rate 89.9%) was conducted from June 2001 till February 2002.Seven KKM Hospitals in Kelantan- Hospital Kota Bharu,Hospital Pasir Mas,Hospital Pasir Puteh,Hospital Tumpat,Hospital Tanah Merah,Hospital Machang,and Hospital Kuala Krai were chosen. Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (Malay Version) was used as research instrument this study.There were five scales in the questionnaire; two scales were used to define job strain- decision latitude and psychological demands.Results showed that the majority of laboratory technicians in HUSM and KKM Hospitals were classified as passive.However,the proportion of high strain group was the second highest after passive group in both HUSM and KKM Hospitals.The percentage of laboratory technicians in HUSM which was classified as having a high job strain was higher compared to those in KKM Hospitals (33.3% and 26.8%, respectively).The results showed that job insecurity,physical exertion,and total psychological stressor are the significant risk factors of job strain in laboratory technicians in HUSM.However,the significant risk factors of job strain for laboratory technicians in KKM Hospitals are physical exertion and total psychological stressor.Laboratory technicians in HUSM had significantly higher depression as compared to those in KKM Hospitals (59.5% and 39.4%, respectively).We also found significant associations between the risk factors of depression and low social support,and high psychological demands (OR 3 .0, 95o/o CI 1.0-8.8) laboratory technicians in HUSM.However,for laboratory technicians in KKM Hospitals,the significant association was between depression and low social support and low decision authority (OR 9.7, 95o/o CI 1.0-91.1 ).The results of multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that low social support was highly associated with depression in laboratory technicians in HUSM and KKM Hospitals.We therefore conclude that physical exertion and total psychological stressor in the workplace posed significant risk of job strain in laboratory technicians in HUSM and KKM Hospitals.Job insecurity also significantly affected job strain in laboratory technicians in HUSM.A higher proportion of laboratory technicians in HUSM experienced depression compared to those in KKM Hospitals.Low social support positively predicted depression in laboratory technicians in HUSM and KKM Hospitals.In addition, high psychological demand also significantly predicted depression in laboratory technicians in HUSM; however,in laboratory technicians in KKM Hospitals, low decision authority was the significant predictor of depression

Neurobebavioural effects of long-term exposure to organophosphates in tobacco-growing farmers in Kelantan

In order to investigate the neurobehavioural effects in workers chronically exposed to organophosphate pesticides in Malaysia using the WHO neurobehavioural core test battery (NCTB), a cross-sectional study of 45 organophosphate-exposed tobacco-growing farmers and 45 controls was conducted. Seven tests of the NCTB profile of mood states,simple reaction time,digit symbol,digit span, Santa Ana manual dexterity,Benton visual retention, and pursuit aiming tests were administered to the subjects.The mean serum cholinesterase activity in organophosphate-exposed farmers (8924.7 IU/1) was significantly different from controls (116421.4 IU/1) but within normal range (5300 to 12900 IU/1).The results of analysis of covariance,in which age, length of education, and duration of employment, (covariates) were controlled in 45 exposed farmers and 45 controls, showed that the mean scores on the Profile of mood states-vigour (POMSvigour),digit symbol correct,digit span forward and digit span backward, Santa Ana non-preferred hand,Benton visual retention test and pursuit aiming tests were significantly lower in the exposed farmers than controls. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that none of the neurobehavioural tests score for 45 organophosphates-exposed farmers were significantly related to serum cholinesterase (Pearson's product-moment correlation [p>0.05]).However,scores on the digit symbol correct, digit span backward and pursuit aiming tests were significantly related to length of education.We therefore conclude that chronic effects on the nervous system have occurred in this group of farmers and that these effects are likely to be associated with long-term repeated exposure to organophosphate pesticides

Occupational xylene exposure and respiratory impairment of paint manufacturing workers

A cross-sectional study was conducted among paint workers to determine the association between xylene exposures with respiratory health. Sixty-four exposed workers working with xylene and 47 unexposed administrative workers were selected. Air xylene (AX) were analyzed using the Gas Chromatography while urinary methyl hippuric acid (MHA) were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Lung functions were measured using Chestgraph HI-701 spirometer. The AX for the exposed was significantly higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). The urinary MHA of the exposed was higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). Among the exposed, more respiratory symptoms, higher lung functions abnormality and significantly lower FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted were found. Findings showed significant correlations between AX and urinary MHA. AX significantly influenced the lung functions. Smoking years and education influenced the respiratory symptoms. Those exposed have early signs of lung impairment and respiratory symptoms. Smokers faced the risk of developing chronic irreversible respiratory diseases

Effects of very low blood lead levels on neurobehavioral performances of male policemen in kota Bharu, Kelantan

Many published studies that examined the effect of lead exposur~ on neurobehavioral performances were conducted in confined manufacturing environment with low to moderate blood lead levels as a marker of exposure. This study was conducted in a general environmental setting with very low exposure intensity and blood lead levels. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of very low blood lead levels (below 10 J.Lg/dl) on the neurobehavioral performances of policemen in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The study was cross-sectional in design and comprised of 89 policemen working in Kota Bharu district. The lead concentration of venous blood was determined . using graphite furnace absorption spectrometer. "-We assessed neurobehavioral performances using fh:e WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB). The mean blood lead concentr~tion was 2.5 ± 1.0 J.Lg/dl. Among the seven tests performed, the positive effect o~ blood lead on Benton visual retention was not significant after controlling for th~ confounding effect of smoke-dose. This study suggested that very low blood lead levels have no significant effects on the neurobehavioral performances. Therefore, more studies with blood lead levels below the recommended environmental limit of 10 J.Lg/dl, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), be conducted in order to justify that limit

A study of the determinants of smoking behaviour and the association of smoking with lung function of male secondary school students in Kota Bahru.

Tabiat merokok dikalangan pelajar sekolah terus menjadi masalatr disiplin di sekolah. Seramai 34.6% daripada 541 responden adalah perokok semasa manakala 2.3Yo adalah bekas perokok. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan tabiat merokok mempunyai hubungkait dengan ; mempunyai kawan yang merokok, persepsi tentang bahaya merokok,perhubungan pelajar dengan ibu bapa dan pendap at agamatentang tabiat merokok. Smoking in Malaysia has mostly been a male activity and it is among men that there has been a high prevalence of smoking prevalence. This is true for adult as well as for adolescents, based on the National Health and Morbidity Surveys (NHMS) and several studies conducted in Malaysia (Country Report: Malaysia, 2001). The high overall smoking prevalence in Malaysia has been actually contributed by the prevalence among male population

Toxic effect of naphta exposure on respiratory system among workers in the tyre industry

A cross-sectional study was carried out on workers in a tyre manufacturing industry in Malaysia to determine the effects of naphtha exposure on lung functions and respiratory symptoms. Sixty male workers exposed to naphtha and 42 unexposed workers were selected for this study. Personal air monitoring carried out using solid sorbent tubes and low flow pumps (Model: PAS-500 Personal Air Sampler). Personal air monitoring showed that the mean air naphtha concentration was 28.50 mg/m3, the median was 28.47 mg/m3 and the inter quartile range of 1.27 mg/m3. The range was from 0.19 to 200.51 mg/m3 (PEL is 400 mg/m3). The lung function tests showed in 2 groups for all the 3 parameters (FVC%, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC) were in exposed group 96.16, 85.23 and 0.791 respectively and in Unexposed group was 113.23, 116.28 and 0.903 respectively.The lung function tests showed that there were significant difference in the 2 groups for FVC% (p < 0.001), FEV1% (p < 0.001) and FEV1/FVC% (p = 0.002). Multiple linear regression test showed that monthly household income significantly influence the FVC% predicted (b = 0.003, p < 0.001) and FEV1% predicted (b = 0.006, p < 0.001). In conclusion there was an inverse relationship between air naphtha concentrations and lung functions ability. Early impairment of the respiratory system is detected on the workers who are exposed to naphtha which made up of several chemicals

(3E)-3-(4-(Dimenthylamino)Phenyl)-1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-En-1-One

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C17H17NO2, contains two crystallographically independent mol­ecules. Both mol­ecules adopt a trans configuration about the C=C bond, with the C—C=C—C fragments in the two mol­ecules twisted in opposite directions [torsion angles of 174.2 (2) and −175.8 (2)°]. The two benzene rings in each of the mol­ecules make dihedral angles of 20.21 (6) and 48.64 (4)°. In the crystal, adjacent mol­ecules are linked by O—H[cdots, three dots, centered]O hydrogen bonds into infinite polymeric chains

Study of contact dermatitis among Hospital cleaners in Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Dermatological disorders are among ten major work-related illnesses. The maintenance and support staff of healthcare industries are particularly vulnerable to occupational exposures and cleaners have been identified as being at high risk for contact dermatitis. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence, knowledge (K), attitude (A) and practice (P), and risk factors of contact dermatitis in hospital cleaners. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in August 2001 to June 2002. A pilot study was undertaken to validate the KAP questionnaire. Two hundred and ninety seven hospital cleaners were recruited from Hospital USM (HUSM) and Hospital Kota Bharu (HKB). Data was collected using a (1) structured questionnaire comprising of 3 socio-demographic, 5 occupational, 25 K, 14 A and 14 P (KAP) regarding contact dennatitis; (2) medical history and clinical examination by a dermatologist; and (3) patch test. Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis was diagnosed based on a history of chemical exposure, clinical examination and patch testing: a positive patch test differentiated allergic from irritant contact dermatitis. Results indicated that the prevalence of contact dermatitis was 7.4% (95% CI 4.7% - 11.0%). Allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis constituted 41.2% and 58.8%, respectively of contact dermatitis. Majority of contact dennatitis involved thigh, leg and feet (50.0%). Putative chemical agents responsible for occupational allergic contact dermatitis were nickel sulphate (5 patch positives), rubber chemicals (1 mercapto mix patch positive), preservatives in soaps (1 paraben mix patch positive) and contaminants in soaps and detergents ( 1 potassium dichromate patch positive). Factor analysis of the KAP questions extracted the following common factors: K: causes, clinical features, treatment, and prevention; Aand P: health-seeking behavior, safe work practice, safety policy, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Reliability analysis indicated that the questions were internally consistent with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.46 to 0.97. There was no significant difference in the mean scores of KAP between 22 hospital cleaners with contact dermatitis and 275 hospital cleaners without. Simple logistic regression analysis showed that history of earlier hand eczema (Crude OR 8.24, 95% CI 3.31, 20.53), wearing protective glove for more than 2 hours per day (Crude OR 2.97 95% CI 1.17,7.55) and wet work for more than 2 hours (Crude OR 5.04, 95% CI 1.85,13.74) were significantly associated with contact dermatitis in hospital cleaners. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that there was a positive association between the duration of use of protective glove for more than 2 hours and contact dennatitis (adjusted OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.03, 10.73). The odds ofhaving contact dermatitis was 8.79 times in hospital cleaners with a history of earlier hand eczema (adjusted OR 8. 79, 95% CI 3.15, 24.56). We conclude that prolonged use of protective glove and previous history of hand eczema were associated with contact dermatitis in hospital cleaners