Investigating the relationship between job stress, workload and oxidative stress in nurses.

Objectives. Occupational stress and workload are common risk factors among nurses that increase absenteeism, reduce the quality and quantity of patient care, increase care costs and increase the patient safety risk. The relation between these risk factors and oxidative stress levels has not been clearly defined. Methods. This study was conducted with 258 participants (126 nurses as the case group and 132 healthy adults as the control group). Information was collected using a demographic questionnaire, the nurses' occupational stress scale and the NASA task load index workload questionnaire. Blood samples were taken from the participants and then the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in the serum samples. Independent t tests and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. Results. SOD and TAC were significantly higher and MDA was significantly lower among the case group compared to the control group. TAC levels significantly decreased with increased stress. MDA levels showed negative associations with stress and workload. Nurses experience high levels of occupational stress and workload. Conclusion. Biomarkers such as SOD, TAC and MDA are the most important predictors of work stress and overwork in this study.

Influences of Occupational Burnout and Personality on Lipid Peroxidation Among Nurses in Shahroud City, Iran.

Considering the relationship between occupational burnout and oxidative stress, identifying the factors that affect occupational burnout, such as recognizing individual characteristics, would be beneficial for implementing strategies to reduce oxidative stress levels. This study was conducted on 92 nurses from a hospital in Shahroud, a city in northeastern Iran, who were chosen at random. The data was collected through the Demographic Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory and Personality Factors Inventory. Each participant's serum markers of oxidative stress were also measured. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and neuroticism were found to have a negative relationship in this study. Furthermore, marital status, the ward where nurses work, the type of contract, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization were all found to be significant predictors of malondialdehyde (MDA). Neuroticism, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization were the most important predictors of oxidative stress levels.The results of this study suggest that some approaches to reducing oxidative stress can be implemented by identifying the factors influencing occupational burnout and also by recognizing individuals' personality traits.

The role of circadian rhythm stability and amplitude in musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and work-family conflict.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of circadian rhythm stability and amplitude on musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and work-family conflict among nurses. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 386 nurses working in three hospitals, in Shahroud, Iran. METHOD: The data were collected using the Circadian Rhythm Inventory, Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Carlson Work-Family Conflict questionnaires. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was reported in the lower back (68.4%), upper back (65.5%) and shoulders (53.6%), respectively. No significant relation was found between circadian rhythm stability and amplitude, and musculoskeletal disorders prevalence. The nurses who could not overcome drowsiness reported more Work Interference with Family (WIF), Family Interference with Work (FIW) (time-based) and FIW (strain-based) compared to the nurses who overcame drowsiness. In addition, the appropriate nurses for shift work experienced less WIF, FIW (behavioural-based) and WIF (strain-based) compared to the nurses who could not work overtime or at night.

ESTIMATION OF THERMAL POWER PLANT WORKERS EXPOSURE TO MAGNETIC FIELDS AND SIMULATION OF HAZARD ZONES.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) have raised some concerns due to their possible effects on workers' health. In this study ELF-MFs were measured in different units of the thermal power plant based on gridding the indoor space. The exposure level was measured by spot measurement based on the IEEE Std C95.3.1 and then simulated in units with the highest magnetic field intensity by using ArcGIS software. The operators and balance of plant (BOP) technicians (12.64 ± 9.74 µT) and office workers (2.41 ± 1.22 µT) had the highest and lowest levels of both measured and estimated ELF-MFs exposure. The highest measured ELF-MFs were in the vicinity of the power transmission lines in the transformers' building (48.2 µT). Our simulation showed the high and low exposure areas and ranked exposure well; but, the actual measurements of ELF-MFs exposure were in all cases higher than the estimated values, which means we still need to improve our estimations.

Investigating the effects of vitamins E and C on oxidative stress and hematological parameters among power plant workers: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of taking antioxidant vitamins including vitamins E and C in reducing oxidative stress levels and improving blood parameters. This double-blind randomized controlled trial study was conducted among the employees working in different parts of a power plant in Semnan, Iran, in 2017. A total of 91 employees were randomly allocated to four groups including vitamin E (400 units per day), vitamin C (1000 mg per day), vitamin E + C for 90 days, and control. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma, and hematological parameters were measured in the participants before and after the intervention. A significant increase was seen in the mean level of SOD, Cat, and TAC in the vitamin-treated groups as well as a significant decrease in mean MOD in vitamin C and vitamin E groups after the intervention. In the intervention groups, the number of red blood cells, hematocrit, and the level of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCH concentration significantly increased. After the intervention, the mean levels of MDA, SOD, and Cat in vitamin E group were significantly lower than the control group. The mean level of TAC decreased only in the vitamin C group compared to the control group. Taking vitamins E and C as nonenzymatic scavengers of free radicals appears to decrease lipid peroxidation and increase the level of antioxidant enzymes, which can be imbalanced by exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in power plant employees. Furthermore, some hematological parameters can be improved by consuming these vitamins.

The effects of industrial noise exposure on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes among workers.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure individual exposure to noise and its effect on the levels of lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant defense. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 94 male workers working in a food factory in Shahroud, Iran, were selected as the case group and 112 people were also included as the control group. The level of exposure to noise was measured using a dosimeter and the equivalent level was calculated. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were measured in the serum samples of all participants. Independent t test, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The levels of MDA, Cat, and TAC were significantly higher in staff exposed to noise than in the controls. The starch and warehouse units' staff were exposed to the highest (99.3 ± 3.23 dB) and lowest (77.1 ± 9.68 dB) mean levels of sound pressure. Based on the linear regression model, noise exposure level was the most important predictor variable for levels of MDA (ß = 0.48, CI 95% = 0.04-0.93), Cat (ß = 0.43, CI 95% = 0.05-0.83), and TAC (ß = 0.11, CI 95% = 0.06-0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Noise exposure increases the production of free radicals. As exposure rate increases, the levels of MDA, Cat, and TAC enzymes increase as well.

The effects of amplitude and stability of circadian rhythm and occupational stress on burnout syndrome and job dissatisfaction among irregular shift working nurses.

AIM: To investigate the relation between the circadian rhythm amplitude and stability, and occupational stress with burnout syndrome and job dissatisfaction among shift working nurses. BACKGROUND: Irregular shift working nurses are prone to burnout syndrome (BS) and job dissatisfaction (JD). circadian rhythm difference and occupational stress might be effective in causing burnout syndrome and dissatisfaction. DESIGN: In total, 684 nurses who worked in four teaching hospitals were selected by stratified random sampling in a cross-sectional design based on STROBE guidelines. METHODS: The data were collected by the Circadian Type Inventory, Job Content Questionnaire, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Multiple linear regression, one-way ANOVA and independent t test were used for statistical analysis by SPSS v24. RESULTS: About 15% of the nurses suffered from high levels of burnout syndrome. Psychological demand (ß = 0.022, CI 95% = 0.003-0.047 and ß = 0.016, CI 95% = 0.001-0.032) and workplace support (ß = -0.043, CI 95% = -0.097-0.003 and ß = -0.025, CI 95% = -0.046-0.006) were significant predictors of BS and JD. Male nurses reported lower BS and higher JD compared to female nurses. Irregular shift working schedule was also related to a significantly higher odd of BS (p = 0.009) and JD (p = 0.011). Nurses classified as languid experienced significantly more BS and JD than vigorous nurses. CONCLUSION: This study shows that BS and JD were strongly associated with psychological demand and workplace support; and vigorous nurses were less prone to BS and JD, and were more suitable for irregular shift work. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In order to reduce burnout syndrome and job dissatisfaction among irregular shift working nurses, we need to identify the effect of risk factors such as individual differences on the circadian rhythm and job demand which can affect nurses who work in irregular schedules.