Sliding Sheet Use in Nursing Practice: An Intervention Study.

Background: Previous studies have discovered that the utilization of sliding sheets in patient care is a valuable technique for repositioning bedridden patients compared with traditional cotton sheets or carriers. Our aim was to examine the effects of sliding sheet usage on work-related musculoskeletal disorders and disability, perceived workload, burnout, and job satisfaction, among nurses and nursing assistants. Method: This repeated measurement study included 41 female nurses and nursing assistants from three internal medicine departments who provided direct patient care. Participants completed an eight-part questionnaire (demographics, Neck Disability Index, Quick Disability of the Arms, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire, Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, BackAche Disability Index workload, burnout, and job satisfaction) 4 times during the study period: 3 months prior to the intervention, on the first day of the intervention, and 3 and 6 months after commencement of the intervention. Findings: After 3 and 6 months of sliding sheet usage, pain and disability decreased in the neck (p < .001); arms, shoulders, hands (p = .041); and lower back (p < .001), with an increase in job satisfaction (p < .001). Discussion/Application to Practice: The findings of our study indicate a clear influence of reducing work-related musculoskeletal pain and disability while increasing job satisfaction when sliding sheets are introduced into nursing practice. Occupational health nurses in health care should consider this type of low-cost intervention as a method for reducing musculoskeletal injury among direct patient care providers.

Repositioning a passive patient in bed: Choosing an ergonomically advantageous assistive device.

Repositioning of passive patients in bed creates health risks to the nursing personnel. Therefore, appropriate assistive devices should be used. Our aim was to find the optimal assistive device for reducing musculoskeletal load while moving a passive patient in bed. Torso kinematic inputs evaluated by the Lumbar Motion Monitor (LMM) and perceived load (Borg scale) were measured in female nurses performing 27 patient transfers [represented by a mannequin weighing 55 (12 nurses), 65 (24 nurses) and 75 kg (12 nurses) in bed] using a regular sheet, a sliding sheet and a carrier. The lowest rates of perceived exertion were found when the sliding sheet and/or carrier were used, for all tasks (p ≤ 0.009). According to the predicted risk for Low Back Disorder (LBD) based on the LMM inputs, negligible differences between assistive devices were found. In a 75 kg mannequin, the participants were able to perform all tasks only by using a sliding sheet. Utilizing sliding sheets is an advantageous technique in comparison to traditional cotton sheets and even carriers.

Prevention of Nurses' Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Resulting From Repositioning Patients in Bed: Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Repositioning patients in bed to promote comfort and prevent impairments caused by continuously lying in a prone position is a task frequently performed by nurses and nursing assistants. Repositioning is a high-risk activity, frequently causing occupational injuries. These occupational injuries are attributed to excessive physical demands on nurses due to patients' weight and awkward nurse postures. During repositioning, risk of injury can be lowered by reducing friction between the patient and the bed. Hence, certain friction-reducing devices have been developed to reduce the manual force required to move patients. Nevertheless, further research is needed to evaluate the potential effectiveness of these devices. Therefore, the aim of this review was to present current research about the risk factors, prevention strategies, and assistive devices that could reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders caused by repositioning patients in bed.

Population health and status of epidemiology: WHO European Region I.

BACKGROUND: This article of the International Epidemiological Association commissioned paper series stocktakes the population health and status of epidemiology in 21 of the 53 countries of the WHO European Region. By United Nations geographical classification, these countries belong to Eastern Europe, Western Asia and South-Central Asia. METHODS: Published data were used to describe population health indicators and risk factors. Epidemiological training and research was assessed based on author knowledge, information searches and E-mail survey of experts. Bibliometric analyses determined epidemiological publication outputs. RESULTS: Between-country differences in life expectancy, amount and profile of disease burden and prevalence of risk factors are marked. Epidemiological training is affected by ongoing structural reforms of educational systems. Training is advanced in Israel and several Eastern European countries. Epidemiological research is mainly university-based in most countries, but predominantly conducted by governmental research institutes in several countries of the former Soviet Union. Funding is generally external and limited, partially due to competition from and prioritization of biomedical research. Multiple relevant professional societies exist, especially in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Few of the region's 39 epidemiological academic journals have international currency. The number of epidemiological publications per population is highest for Israel and lowest for South-Central Asian countries. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological capacity will continue to be heterogeneous across the region and depend more on countries' individual historical, social, political and economic conditions and contexts than their epidemiologists' successive efforts. National and international research funding, and within- and between-country collaborations should be enhanced, especially for South-Central Asian countries.

Effects of job-related stress and burnout on asthenopia among high-tech workers.

Eye- and vision-related symptoms are the most frequent health problems among computer users. The findings of eye strain, tired eyes, eye irritation, burning sensation, redness, blurred vision and double vision, when appearing together, have recently been termed 'computer vision syndrome', or asthenopia. To examine the frequency and intensity of asthenopia among individuals employed in research and development departments of high-tech firms and the effects of job stress and burnout on ocular complaints, this study included 106 subjects, 42 high-tech workers (study group) and 64 bank employees (control group). All participants completed self-report questionnaires covering demographics, asthenopia, satisfaction with work environmental conditions, job-related stress and burnout. There was a significant between-group difference in the intensity of asthenopia, but not in its frequency. Burnout appeared to be a significant contributing factor to the intensity and frequency of asthenopia. This study shows that burnout is a significant factor in asthenopic complaints in high-tech workers. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: This manuscript analyses the effects of psychological environmental factors, such as job stress and burnout, on ocular complaints at the workplace of computer users. The findings may have an ergonomic impact on how to improve health, safety and comfort of the working environment among computer users, for better perception of the job environment, efficacy and production.

Remote online ergonomic assessment in the office environment as compared to face-to-face ergonomic assessment.

GOAL: remote online ergonomic assessment in the office environment as compared to face-to-face ergonomic assessment and examination of the applicability of remote online ergonomic assessment to office workers. 40 employees from a large Israeli hi-tech company were ergonomically assessed per the University of California computer usage checklist, according to the two assessment types (face-to-face and remote). An additional Ergonomist "assessor 2" examined the credibility of the process. RESULTS: Research hypothesis 1 was verified: 21 out of 22 questions (95.45%) from the checklist indicated compatibility between "assessor 1" to the "Gold Standard" at an 80% level. Research hypothesis 2: examining the credibility between the assessors with regard to remote assessment. This hypothesis was partially verified, the correlation between the assessors was measured at 0.54. Research hypothesis 3: examining the extent of deviation of natural posture between distal body parts assessment (distant from the center of the body) and proximal body parts (close to the center of the body). This hypothesis was clearly verified. It has been proven that there is statistical significance between the results. CONCLUSIONS: The current research has proved that there is an additional method to assess musculoskeletal disorders risk factors remotely online at office environment.

Prevalence, risk factors and preventive strategies in work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Israeli physical therapists.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although physical therapists (PTs) have extensive knowledge of body mechanisms and injury prevention, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) are quite common in this population. The purposes of this study were: to determine the prevalence and impact of WRMD among Israeli PTs; to investigate WRMD risk factors and to identify preventive strategies used by PTs; and to compare the risk of injuries in two professional settings: rehabilitation centres (RCs) and outpatient clinics (OPCs). METHOD: A validated, modified Cromie questionnaire, translated into Hebrew, was distributed to the PTs at their workplaces. The relationship between WRMD symptoms and professional settings was analysed by Pearson chi-square. The risk models were developed by logistic regression. One hundred and twelve PTs working in OPCs and RCs who defined themselves as healthy individuals were the subjects of this study. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of WRMD was 83%. The highest prevalence of WRMD was in the lower back area (80%). Rehabilitation treatment was associated with an increased risk of lower back (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05) and shoulder symptoms (OR = 1.04); manual treatment was associated with an increased risk of wrist/thumb symptoms (OR = 1.11). DISCUSSION: Work in RCs was associated with an increased prevalence of lower back/shoulder symptoms, whereas work in OPCs was associated with an increased prevalence of thumb/wrist symptoms. PT's used different strategies to reduce risk of WRMD, including altering practice technique. The respondents recommended administrative and ergonomic changes in the workplace. CONCLUSION: Workplace-specific interventions to reduce WRMD in PTs should be developed and tested in future studies.

Human health effects associated with the commercial use of grunerite asbestos (amosite): Paterson, NJ; Tyler, TX; Uxbridge, UK.

Grunerite asbestos (amosite) has been shown in epidemiological and experimental animal studies to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis commonly referred to as asbestosis. An overview of the human and experimental animal studies describing the health hazards of grunerite asbestos (amosite) is presented. Of the many human studies describing the health hazards of asbestos, only three factories using mainly, if not exclusively, grunerite asbestos (amosite) have been studied. The first is a series of reports on a cohort of 820 workers from a plant located in Paterson, NJ. Among this cohort, 18.7% died of lung cancer and 17 mesotheliomas occurred. The Paterson factory closed in 1954 and moved to Tyler, Texas where it operated until 1972. Among the 1130 former workers in the Tyler plant 6 mesotheliomas were reported with 15.8% lung cancer mortality. The third grunerite asbestos (amosite) exposed cohort was an insulation board manufacturing facility in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. Here 17.1% of the workers died of lung cancer and 5 mesotheliomas occurred. The lung content from 48 Uxbridge workers was analyzed by analytical transmission electron microscopy for mineral fibers. The relationship between grunerite asbestos (amosite) concentrations in the lung correlated with grades of fibrosis and asbestos bodies and was lower than the concentration found in the cases with malignant tumors. The lung cancer cases contained more grunerite asbestos (amosite) than mesothelioma cases, and in the cases of non-malignant disease the concentrations were still lower. In both types of malignancies the concentration of grunerite asbestos (amosite) was very high-over a billion fibers per gram of dried lung tissue. Occupational exposure to airborne concentrations of between 14 and 100 fibers of grunerite asbestos (amosite) per milliliter after 20 year latency causes marked increases in lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis).

[Symptom evaluation as an efficient diagnostic tool for upper abdominal diseases].

INTRODUCTION: GERD and dyspepsia are common conditions, affecting approximately 25-40% of the general population. In the absence of alarm symptoms, the current recommended policy in young dyspeptic patients is a "test and treat" strategy for H. pylori. On the other hand, in GERD patients, a therapeutic trial with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) is the treatment of choice. AIM: This study aimed to create short and simple clinical algorithms, for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints. METHODS: Data mining models and algorithms (neural networks, decision trees and logistic regression) were used to create a diagnostic symptom questionnaire to classify the patients into one of two diagnostic groups: GERD vs. non-GERD. The questionnaire was validated against endoscopic and clinical diagnoses of 132 patients in a cross-sectional study, and was designed to yield a "GERD score". The clinical and economical benefits of the new algorithm were evaluated in primary care clinics in Israel. RESULTS: The symptoms chosen for the diagnostic questionnaire were heartburn, acid regurgitation, sour oral taste, aggravation of symptoms after heavy meals, relief of symptoms by antacids, and nocturnal reflux. The use of the algorithm by primary care physicians improved clinical outcomes and reduced health resources consumption. CONCLUSIONS: This new short algorithm was found to be useful and easy to apply in clinical practice. The questionnaire can be also implemented in computerized medical systems.

The impact of bachelor degree completion programs on career development of nurses in Israel.

The study compares aspects of the career development of working nurses, graduates of a BA degree program, which runs on two tracks--university (UG) and college (CG). Two hundred nurses participated in the study, 86 of them (43%) UG and 114 (57%) CG. Participants were asked about their academic backgrounds, career advancement and satisfaction with their studies. Results indicated no major differences in professional advancement between the graduates of the two tracks. College-graduates were significantly older with lower previous academic achievements. Both BA programs promoted nurses and enabled career advancement, especially so for the college-graduates who would not, otherwise, have been able to make this progress.

Estimating exposures in the asphalt industry for an international epidemiological cohort study of cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: An exposure matrix (EM) for known and suspected carcinogens was required for a multicenter international cohort study of cancer risk and bitumen among asphalt workers. METHODS: Production characteristics in companies enrolled in the study were ascertained through use of a company questionnaire (CQ). Exposures to coal tar, bitumen fume, organic vapor, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, diesel fume, silica, and asbestos were assessed semi-quantitatively using information from CQs, expert judgment, and statistical models. Exposures of road paving workers to bitumen fume, organic vapor, and benzo(a)pyrene were estimated quantitatively by applying regression models, based on monitoring data, to exposure scenarios identified by the CQs. RESULTS: Exposures estimates were derived for 217 companies enrolled in the cohort, plus the Swedish asphalt paving industry in general. Most companies were engaged in road paving and asphalt mixing, but some also participated in general construction and roofing. Coal tar use was most common in Denmark and The Netherlands, but the practice is now obsolete. Quantitative estimates of exposure to bitumen fume, organic vapor, and benzo(a)pyrene for pavers, and semi-quantitative estimates of exposure to these agents among all subjects were strongly correlated. Semi-quantitative estimates of exposure to bitumen fume and coal tar exposures were only moderately correlated. EM assessed non-monotonic historical decrease in exposures to all agents assessed except silica and diesel exhaust. CONCLUSIONS: We produced a data-driven EM using methodology that can be adapted for other multicenter studies.