A comprehensive health effects assessment of the use of sanitizers and disinfectants during COVID-19 pandemic: a global survey.

COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91,056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study. Information on the use of sanitizers and disinfectants and health was collected using an electronic questionnaire, which was translated into 26 languages via web-based platforms. The findings of this study suggest that detergents, alcohol-based substances, and chlorinated compounds emerged as the most prevalent chemical agents compared to other sanitizers and disinfectants examined. Most frequently reported health issues include skin effects and respiratory effects. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between chlorinated compounds (sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine) with all possible health effects under investigation (p-value <0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that alcohols and alcohols-based materials were associated with skin effects (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye effects (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The use of sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine also had a high chance of having respiratory effects. The findings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics especially when they are used or overused.

Developing learning objectives in postgraduate medical education for family medicine (Tunisia).

Introduction-Aim: The third cycle of medical studies (TCMS) lasts 3 years for the specialty of family medicine (FM) in Tunisia. The members of the FM committee of the Faculty of Medicine of Monastir (FMM) aimed to detail the learning objectives (LO) of residents in FM. METHOD: We used the Delphi method in 2 rounds including a group of experts called FM Learning Objectives Writing Group (FMLOWG) at the FMM. The FMLOWG included 74 university hospital physicians and FM internship supervisors. These members actively participated in the 10 meetings held during the month of March 2022. Three points were discussed: the identification of LOs; the development of training titles and the proposal of the teaching methods to be adopted. The writing was subdivided into 5 domains of LO: transversal, public health, typical population and by system. RESULTS: We identified 1359 LOs for FM residency, for which 552 were LOs per system (40.5%). The learning included 618 training session titles. Residents will have an academic training day every 3 weeks during 9 months for each TCMS year. CONCLUSION: A detailed, MF-specific consensus has been developed by majority of medical specialties. It will be a learning base for learners, a reference for supervisors and TCMS teachers.

Strain-based work-to-family conflict as a predictor of lumbar and cervical pain in Tunisian nursing staff.

Objective. This study aimed to examine the association of the different dimensions and forms of work-family conflict with the occurrence of neck and lower back pain (LBP) in Tunisian nurses. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study on nurses assigned to a district hospital in Tunisia. The work-family interface was assessed with the work-family conflict scale of Carlson et al. Psychosocial and organizational constraints at work were assessed through the nursing work index - extended organization in its specific version designed for nurses. Assessment of neck and lumbar pain was carried out with the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Results. Seventy-two nurses participated in the present study (participation rate = 100%) with a mean age of 42.38 ± 10.85 years. Binary logistic regression analyses retained strain-based work-to-family conflict as a significant determinant of both LBP (p < 10-3; odds ratio [OR] = 5.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.1, 11.7]) and neck pain (p = 0.001; OR = 6.8; 95% CI [2.13, 22]). Conclusions. Strain-based work-to-family conflict was found to predict lumbar and cervical pain more than the other types of conflict in nursing staff. Thus, reducing strain in health-care settings should be a central component of the preventive approach of musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff.

Influence of socioprofessional determinants on teachers' mental well-being.

SUMMARY: Aims. To assess the influence of socio-professional factors on mental health of teachers at primary and secondary schools. Materials and Methods. It's a cross-sectional study, lasted 3 months of the year 2014. This study involved a representative sample of teachers working in public schools. Data collection was based on a survey sheet prepared beforehand and describing socio-demographic and occupational characteristics of the participants. Mental health was assessed by the GHQ 30 score in its validated version in Arabic. Results. Study population was composed of 255 teachers with a participation rate of 78.43%. This population was characterized by a slight female predominance (57.5%) with a sex ratio of 0.73. The mean age was 43.54 ± 8.9 years. Of the responding teachers, 17% felt that their profession was poorly perceived by the society. More than half of participants were satisfied with their profession (68.8%). Relational constraints with parents were reported by 50.5% of teachers. Seventy-one teachers reported having problem of indiscipline in class. The mean GHQ score was 7.21 ± 6.24. Teachers' psychological health deterioration was significantly correlated with smoking (p = 0.03, OR = 0.2, IC = [0.05-0.9]) , pathological antecedents (p = 0.02, OR = 3.6, IC = [1.1-10]), feeling guilty toward pupils passivity (p = 0.01, OR = 3.8, IC = [1.3-10]), to professional seniority (p = 0.008, OR = 0.2, IC = [0.06-0.6], to the image referred back by the society (p = 0.005, OR = 4.9, IC = [1.6-15]), to emotional exhaustion and personal satisfaction (p = 0.00, OR = 12.7, IC = [3.4-47] ). Conclusion. Acting on these factors through a collective preventive approach headed by the Ministry of Education is necessary to reduce the rate of psychological distress among teachers and therefore improve the quality of teaching.