Effectiveness of training program in manual material handling: A health promotion approach.

BACKGROUND: Even in an era of automation and digitalization, Manual Material Handling (MMH) can be called the most common industrial task. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) induced by manual handling tasks on the workers of a printing factory in Tehran in 2017 and then to evaluate the effectiveness of a training intervention based on health promotion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had quasi experimental design and was conducted on 40 men. First, demographic data were collected and the Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of MSDs in workers. Then, MMH tasks were assessed using Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC). A short training course was designed to promote health. Finally, the same MMH tasks were re-evaluated 3 months after the training intervention. RESULTS: Among the various tasks, the highest prevalence of work-related MSDs (WMSDs) was observed in the lower back (77.5%) and shoulder (62.5%). Based on the final scores of the MAC method, the jobs that received the highest scores were cutting (individual lifting), with 22 scores and action level "immediately necessary," cutting (individual load carrying), with 15 scores with action level "urgently needed." Arranging the forms (individual lifting) received a similar score. After the training intervention, the estimated risk level reduced by 12, 9, and 6 points, respectively, reaching a safe action level, i.e., "necessary in the future." CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that educational interventions might be equally effective in low-technology work environments. More in general, the MAC method can be used to make informed planning of educational interventions against WMSDs risk in MSDs. This health promotion approach is critical for care of human recourse.

Worldwide disaster loss and damage databases: A systematic review.

Nowadays, disaster databases have become a valuable tool for disaster risk management and health promotion and serve various purposes. The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic review of disaster databases in the world and to identify the objectives, information sources, criteria, and variables of disaster data registration in the world's reputable databases. To conduct review, all English-language articles published without a time limit until the end of September 2020 were extracted from the databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Embase. Necessary information in the papers including study time, type of disasters, related databases, dimensions and indicators of global and regional databases were extracted by using a researcher-made questionnaire. A total of 22 studies have been reviewed to identify the dimensions and indicators of disaster databases worldwide. The main focus was on global and regional databases, mostly used at the level of scientific societies and disaster experts. After explanation, researchers highlighted each of the disaster databases, along with the main differences available among the existing databases. Some databases have well-defined data collection methods. Their knowledge is high quality and they can be used to create and improve a disaster database at other levels. Disaster database limitations include risk bias, time bias, accounting bias, threshold bias, and geographical bias. To support the right decisions to reduce disaster risk, it is necessary to complement existing global, regional, and national databases. Countries need to take action to set up national databases.

Criteria and components of the emergency and disaster database in Iran: A content analysis study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, emergencies and disasters are considered one of the biggest problems in human life. To reduce the risk of emergencies and disasters, governments must develop strategies and policies using evidence-based methods. Disaster databases are the main source and tool for storing and managing a wide range of data in this field. This study was conducted with the aim of exploring the necessary criteria and components of the emergency and disasters database in Iran. MARTIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study was performed using content analysis in which 18 managers and experts with experience in registering, documenting, or responding to emergencies and disasters were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was done using semi-structured interviews that continued until saturation. Data were analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis recommended by Landman and Graneheim. RESULTS: In total, three main concepts concerning the necessary criteria and components of the database of natural and artificial emergencies and disasters in Iran were explored. The main concepts include information resources, information evaluation, and information management. Subconcepts include data collection, information transfer, access to information, information validation, disaster leveling, information registering, information storage and retrieval, information analysis, and information dissemination. CONCLUSION: The experience of the participants showed that there are many challenges in the field of monitoring and gathering information about injuries and damages caused by emergencies and disasters in the country. The knowledge obtained from this study can be used to create and develop a database of emergencies and disasters in Iran. It will also provide insights for healthcare policymakers and managers in future planning areas to more effectively address identified challenges in preventing and responding to disasters at both regional and national levels.

Epidemiology and factors associated with COVID-19 outbreak-related deaths in patients admitted to medical centers of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.

BACKGROUND: The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Iran on February 19, 2020, in Qom. Since Mazandaran is one of the high-risk provinces with many patients and deaths, this study was conducted to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths in Mazandaran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, demographic information and clinical findings in patients who died following COVID-19 in the medical centers of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences from February 8, 2020, to October 10, 2020, were extracted. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 21. Logistic regression was used to compare the data. P < 0.05 was considered as the significance level. RESULTS: Out of a total of 34,039 patients admitted during the 8 months, 2907 patients died. Of these, 1529 (52%) were male, and the rest were female. In terms of age, 10 cases in the age group of fewer than 15 years, 229 cases in the age group of 15-44 years, 864 patients in the age group of 45-64 years, and 1793 people in the age group of 65 years and over died. 2206 people (more than 75%) by personal visit referred to medical centers. The mortality rate was more than 8 cases per 100 hospitalized patients. Men were 16% more likely to die from COVID-19 than women. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Older adults over 65 have the highest incidence and death rate due to this disease. The incidence rate was higher in women, and the death rate was higher in men, which differs from the national pattern.

Migration health crisis associated with climate change: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The empirical assessment of the health outcomes associated with migration caused by climate change is still unclear. However, health outcomes in the early stages are expected to be similar to the health outcomes associated with refugees. The objective of the present study was a systematic review of the health effects of migration caused by climate change. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were used to identify papers published that evaluated the health effects of migration caused by climate change. The search, article selection, and data extraction were carried out by two researchers independently. All English-language articles on the health effects of migration caused by climate change were included in this study. RESULTS: An analysis of the complex ways in which climate change influences populations can be facilitated using a three-class classification: compulsory displacement, resettlement planning, and migration. Subsequent to climate changes, other changes, and environmental deficiencies, compulsory displacement may occur in case of inadequacy of compatibility responses. A part of migration-related health outcomes caused by climate change is from displacement from rural to urban areas, especially in developing countries. There is significant documentation on health and livelihood inequalities between migrant groups and host populations in developed countries. CONCLUSION: If climate change continues in its current direction, it is likely that the number of refugees and crises will increase in the coming decades. Although the domain and the extent of health hazards caused by the displacement of the population associated with climate change cannot be clearly predicted, by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, along with social and environmental adaptation strategies, migration caused by climate change, health risks and its relevant crises can be greatly reduced.