Comparison of physical activity, fatigue, and dynamic balance levels of health workers according to their working positions.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have evaluated physical activity and fatigue. However, a causal relationship between physical activity, fatigue and balance in healthcare workers has not been established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the activity levels, fatigue, and dynamic balance of health workers who work actively or in a desk job in many different units in the hospital. METHODS: 72 Health workers from two different groups participated in the study, 37 were active workers (AW), and 35 were desk workers (DW) at the Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital. Participants were given a Sociodemographic Information Form, an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a 30-s Chair Stand Test (30-s CST) with a Modified Borg Scale (MBS) before starting work in the morning and at the end of work. RESULTS: 69.4% of the study participants were female, and 54.2% were between 20 and 30 years old. It was found that the values of moderate physical activity, walking, and total physical activity were significantly higher in active workers than desk workers (p = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the means of work start and after work fatigue of both groups (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found when the starting and finishing work values of the dynamic balance tests of the groups were compared (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: It was found that the level of physical activity and dynamic balance of individuals working at desk jobs was significantly lower than that of the active group.

The effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on anxiety, depression, and musculoskeletal system complaints in healthcare workers.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 increased psychological and physical complaints, including anxiety, depression, and pain. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine anxiety, depression, and musculoskeletal complaints that may occur in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data were cross-sectional, collected by the online questionnaire method consisted of demographic questions, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Nordic Musculoskeletal System Query (NMQ), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Among the groups, the number of doctors in the frontline group, the fear of being infected, the number of tests performed, and personal protective equipment were higher than the second-line group (p < 0.05). It was found that 73.4% of the participants had anxiety, 83.5% had depression, and 94.9% had musculoskeletal pain. It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference between the applied scale scores between the groups (p > 0.05). About musculoskeletal system complaints of the participants, neck pain presence was determined as 73.4% in the last 12 months, and upper back pain was the highest with 61.4% in the last week. Neck (p < 0.005) and upper back pain (p = 0.04) parameters in the last seven days of the NMQ scale applied to the participants were found to be statistically significantly higher in the contact group. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety, depression, and musculoskeletal pain of healthcare workers were found to be high. While neck and back pain was the most common in musculoskeletal complaints, it was found that these pains were higher in the frontline group. In this regard, healthcare professionals can be given psychological support and exercise training.

Relationship between fear avoidance beliefs and burnout syndrome in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

OBJECTIVES: Lumbar disc herniation leads to disability by restricting of patients' lives and reducing their quality of life. This situation causes a decrease in motivation of patients by triggering depressive mood. Therefore, the aim of the study was investigation of correlation between fear avoidance beliefs and burnout syndrome in patients with lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Totally forty-seven patients (24 male and 23 female patients) diagnosed lumbar disc herniation was included in this study. Maslach II Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) for determining of levels of burnout and fear avoidance level were used, respectively. RESULTS: It was observed that MBI and FABQ scores of the patients were 50.78 ± 10.07 and 36.61 ± 13.91, respectively. Moderate level correlation was found between FABQ and MBI total scores (r= 0.49, p= 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Fear avoidance beliefs of patients with chronic back pain can affect level of burnout syndrome. Therefore, symptoms of burnout syndrome and fear avoidance beliefs of patients should be considered in evaluation and treatment process.