Smoke-free policy and practice in healthcare institutions of Serbia : why it is important to have smoke-free institutions? [Serbian language]

Text in Serbia

Occupational Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer : A Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. There are many occupational factors that have been suggested to cause prostate cancer. Our aim was to evaluate the evidence for causality by a literature review of occupational factors. We searched literature in Medline and SCOPUS from 1966 to June 30, 2015 to identify occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. The following risk factors were selected: farmers/agricultural workers, pesticides - whole group, and separately organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides, carbamates and triazines, cadmium, chromium, cutting fluids, acrylonitrile, rubber manufacturing, whole body vibration, shift work, flight personnel, ionizing radiation, and occupational physical activity. For each factor a literature search was performed and presented as meta-analysis of relative risk and heterogeneity (Q and I-2 index). A total of 168 original studies met the inclusion criteria with 90,688 prostate cancer cases. Significantly increased risks were observed for the following occupational exposures: pesticides (metaRR = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-1.32; I-2 = 84%), and specifically group of organochlorine pesticides (meta relative risk [metaRR] = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.14; I-2 = 0%), chromium (metaRR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.07-1.34; I-2 = 31%), shift work (metaRR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.05-1.49; I-2 = 78%) and pilots (metaRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.02-1.94; I-2 = 63%) and occupational physical activity in cohort studies (metaRR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.81-0.94; I-2 = 0%). The literature review supports a causal association for a few of the previously suggested factors

Musculoskeletal diseases in forestry workers

The most common hazards in the forestry that may induce disorders of the musculoskeletal system are vibrations, unfavorable microclimatic conditions, noise, over-time working hours, work load and long-term repeated movements. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases and its difference among workers engaged in various jobs in the forestry. Two groups of workers were selected: woodcutters operating with chain-saw (N=33) and other loggers (N=32). Selected workers were of the similar age and had similar total length of employment as well as the length of service in the forestry. Both groups of workers employed in the forestry had the high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases (woodcutters 69.7% and other loggers 62.5%, respectively). Degenerative diseases of spinal column were very frequent, in dependently of the type of activity in the forestry. Non-significantly higher risk of carpal tunnel syndrome was found in woodcutters with chain-saw compared to workers having other jobs in the forestry (OR=3.09; 95%CI=0.64-19.72). The lateral epicondylitis was found only in woodcutters operating with chain-saw with the prevalence of 18.2%

Final technical report : assessment of smoke-free policy and practice in healthcare institutions in Serbia

The study assesses existing tobacco control policy and practice in health care facilities in Serbia, in three regions: Vojvodina, Belgrade, and Central Serbia, and makes specific recommendations for implementing a smoking ban as well as enforcement measures. The estimate of the smoking rate for health care workers was 39.9% and their lack of knowledge about tobacco health hazards was surprising; study objectives thus changed to include a publication directed at providing information for those employed in health care institutions. The target group for training in smoking cessation is nurses, who are the front line of contact between the public and the health system

Single and multiple tobacco/nicotine product use among Serbian youth

Introduction Concurrent use of tobacco products is associated with increased risk of nicotine dependence and smoking-related complications. Increase in dual and poly tobacco product use worldwide represents a significant public health problem and call for better understanding of patterns of multiple product use. The aim of our study was to explore the pattern of use of cigarettes, waterpipes and e-cigarettes in youth in Serbia. Methods Method This is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data obtained through the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Serbia in 2017. A two-stage cluster sample design was used to produce a representative sample of students 13-15 years old. In total 3362 students in this age group completed the questionnaire. Descriptive statistic was used for presenting the frequency of different categories of students according to their tobacco products use status. Results Among 13-15 years old students, current prevalence (at least once in the last month) of cigarette smoking was 11%, of waterpipe smoking 9% and of e-cigarette use 6.2%. The most common pattern of current tobacco/nicotine use was waterpipe and/or e-cigarette use with no cigarette smoking (7.5%), followed by exclusive cigarette use (5.8%). Among student in the seventh grade of primary school, e-cigarette and/or waterpipe tobacco smoking was threefold higher (7.5%) than exclusive cigarette use (2.5%). Regarding current cigarette smokers, more than half are exclusive cigarette smokers (52.8%). Among all e-cigarette users, 39.3% are exclusive e-cigarette users, while 45.7% of current waterpipe tobacco smokers use this product exclusively. Conclusion The current prevalence of waterpipe and/or e-cigarette use is more common than exclusive cigarette smoking. This can be, among others, explained by lack of knowledge on these products and consequences of use as well as with curiosity. Finding calls for awareness raising campaigns and inclusion of waterpipe and e-cigarette related topics in the curriculums of evidence based interventions

Mortality among Coast Guard Shipyard workers: A retrospective cohort study of specific exposures

<p>In a previous analysis of a cohort of shipyard workers, we found excess mortality from all causes, lung cancer, and mesothelioma for longer work durations and in specific occupations. Here, we expand the previous analyses by evaluating mortality associated with 5 chemical exposures: asbestos, solvents, lead, oils/greases, and wood dust. Data were gathered retrospectively for 4,702 workers employed at the Coast Guard Shipyard, Baltimore, MD (1950–1964). The cohort was traced through 2001 for vital status. Associations between mortality and these 5 exposures were calculated via standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). We found all 5 substances to be independently associated with mortality from mesothelioma, cancer of the respiratory system, and lung cancer. Findings from efforts to evaluate solvents, lead, oils/greases, and wood dust in isolation of asbestos suggested that the excesses from these other exposures may be due to residual confounding from asbestos exposure.</p