Ionizing radiation and stress: the analysis of the medical ray technician.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to analyzing the relation between the work-related distress with the exposition to ionizing radiations in the radiology technicians, in the hospital environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our present study has been conducted on a group of 36 sanitary technicians (14 women and 22 man, with an average age of 48±10,1 years) working in the Hospital Radiology Pavilion; 28 of them were less-exposed to radio-active emissions (B Category) and 8 were more exposed to radio-active emissions (A Category). The HSE questionnaire has been administered to all the 36 sanitary technicians. The data analysis and statistical elaboration were conducted using the HSE Tools. After that, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was applied to the comparison of the medians of two independent samples. RESULTS: The HSE tools questionnaire's analysis (made on the whole population) made evident some criticalities in the domains of the managerial support and of the professionals' relationships: in the B Category group (less- exposed to radio-emissions) further criticalities emerged, in the domain of peer-support and in the change domain. The HSE questionnaire analysis, made adopting the Mann-Whitney non-parametric statistical test, significant statistical differences emerged from 2 questions of the 35 sub-administered questions, regarding the mostly radio-exposed workers. CONCLUSIONS: From the research analysis, the authors deducted the small relevance of the emerged criticalities for the two groups of workers; the researchers also believe that, given the (almost complete) homogeneity of the results emerging from the statistical analysis (done with the Mann Whitney test), the perception of the of the work-related distress risk is irrelevant to the dose of ionizing radio-exposition.

Role of Kabat rehabilitation in facial nerve palsy: a randomised study on severe cases of Bell's palsy.

The treatment of Bell's palsy (BP), based on steroids and/or antiviral drugs, may still leave a certain percentage of affected subjects with disfiguring sequelae due to incomplete recovery. The different procedures of physical rehabilitation have not been demonstrated to play a favourable role in this disorder. The aim of the present study was to compare functional outcomes in severe cases of Bell's palsy when treated by steroids alone or by steroids accompanied by Kabat physical rehabilitation. This prospective study included 94 subjects who showed sudden facial nerve (FN) palsy with House-Brackmann grade IV or V and who were divided into two groups on the basis of the therapeutic approach: one group (a) was treated by steroids, and the other (b) received steroids in combination with physical rehabilitation. Medical treatment consisted in administration of steroids at a dosage of 60 mg per day for 15 days; physical rehabilitative treatment consisted in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation according to Kabat, and was administered to one of the two groups of subjects. Recovery rate, degree of recovery and time for recovery were compared between the two groups using the Mann-Whitney and univariate logistic regression statistical tests (Ward test). Kabat patients (group b) had about 20 times the odds of improving by three HB grades or more (OR = 17.73, 95% CI = 5.72 to 54.98, p < 0.001) than patients who did not receive physical treatment (group a). The mean speed of recovery in group b was the half of that recorded for group a (non-Kabat subjects). No difference was observed in the incidence of synkineses between the two groups. Steroid treatment appears to provide better and faster recovery in severe cases (HB IV and V) of BP when complemented with Kabat physical rehabilitation.

Job stress: an in-depth investigation based on the HSE questionnaire and a multistep approach in order to identify the most appropriate corrective actions.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial hazards and work-related stress have reached epidemic proportions in Europe. The Italia law introduced in 2008 the obligation for Italian companies to assess work related stress risk in order to protect their workers' safety and health. The purpose of our study was to propose an accurate measurement tool, using the HSE indicator tool, for more appropriate and significant work-related stress' prevention measures. METHODS: The study was conducted on 204 visual display unit (VDU) operators: 106 male and 98 female. All subjects were administered the HSE questionnaire. The sample was studied through a 4 step process, using HSE analysis tool and a statistical analysis, based on the odds ratio calculation. RESULTS: The assessment model used demonstrated the presence of work related stress in VDU operators and additional "critical" aspects which had failed to emerge by the classical use of HSE analysis tool. DISCUSSION: The approach we propose allows to obtain a complete picture of the perception of work-related stress and can point out the most appropriate corrective actions.