Hadi Daneshmandi; Alireza Choobineh; Zeinab Rasouli Kahaki; Mojgan Zoaktafi; Atefeh Hosseini
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of individuals’ personality traits on the perceived effort.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 30 students via general health questionnaire (GHQ-28), Raven’s IQ test, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), revised NEO personality inventory, ...
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Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of individuals’ personality traits on the perceived effort.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 30 students via general health questionnaire (GHQ-28), Raven’s IQ test, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), revised NEO personality inventory, and Jamar hand dynamometer (JHD).
Results: A significant positive correlation was found between the exerted force to the JHD (EF-JHD), and perceived effort rated on horizontal VAS (PE-H/VAS) and vertical VAS (PE-V/VAS) in the individuals with low levels of ‘neuroticism’. Considering ‘extraversion’ and ‘agreeableness’ factors of the NEO test, the correlation coefficient between EF-JHD, and PE-H/VAS and PE-V/VAS was higher in the individuals with medium levels compared to those with high levels. This relationship was reverse for the ‘openness to experience’ and ‘conscientiousness’ factors. The results demonstrated a significant strong positive correlation between PE-H/VAS and PE-V/VAS (r = 0.97). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between EF-JHD and PE-H/VAS and between EF-JHD and PE-V/VAS.
Conclusion: Individuals’ personality traits are recommended to be considered in assessing the perceived effort by VAS.
Hamid Salmani Nodooshan; Hadi Daneshmandi; Alireza Choobineh; Farzaneh Yazdani; Mohsen Razeghi; Taymaz Shahnazar Nezhad Khales
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremities are common among computer users. This study aimed to assess the effect of mouse pad angle on the forearm muscles activity and upper limb discomfort.Methods: This is an experimental research design. The mouse pad was set at 0, 10, 20, and ...
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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremities are common among computer users. This study aimed to assess the effect of mouse pad angle on the forearm muscles activity and upper limb discomfort.Methods: This is an experimental research design. The mouse pad was set at 0, 10, 20, and 30 degrees of forearm supination. Ten subjects performed an identical text editing task with mouse in each pad position. Electrical activity of the selected forearm muscles was recorded with surface electrodes. 10-point rating scales were used for assessing perceived discomfort.Results: Extensor Carpi Radialis had the lowest mean of Electromyography (EMG) values in the 0° slanted pad (5.94), and the highest values were associated with Pronator Quadratus in 0-degree slanted pad (22.29). The highest and the lowest mean (SD) of the users’ upper limb discomfort were 3.70 (1.63) and 1.90 (1.28) in 30° and 10° slanted pads, respectively.Conclusion: Using slanted mouse pads could be a helpful and practical tool for office workers to keep more neutral wrist/hand positions.
Hadi Daneshmandi; Alireza Choobineh; Haleh Ghaem; Anahita Fakherpour
Abstract
Background: For an organization to be successful, the productivity of its employees is of vital importance.This study aimed to: 1) translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ) among Iranian office workers, and 2) Determine the association between six subscales ...
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Background: For an organization to be successful, the productivity of its employees is of vital importance.This study aimed to: 1) translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ) among Iranian office workers, and 2) Determine the association between six subscales of the Persian version of HWQ (P-HWQ) and Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms (WMSs) among the subjects. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among office workers employed at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In order to standardize the questionnaire, the English version of the HWQ was translated into Persian (the Iranian official language), using the standard “forward-backward” translation, cognitive debriefing, and cultural adaptation procedure. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to determine the WMSs prevalence rate among the subjects. Results: 129 office workers, including 44 (34.1%) males and 85 (65.9%) females with a mean ± SD age of 36.22±7.72 years voluntarily participated in this study. Internal consistency of the P-HWQ was acceptable for all subscales (0.65≤α). Factor analysis of the P-HWQ for each item related to the subscale was acceptable (0.4<). The highest prevalence rates of WMSs in the last week were related to lower back (51.2%), neck (43.4%), and shoulders (41.1%). The concentration/focus subscale of productivity (derived from P-HWQ) was related to WMSs in participants. Conclusion: The P-HWQ has good structural characteristics, is a valid and reliable instrument, and can be used for measuring the productivity of Iranian office workers. Improvement of working conditions is suggested to reduce the musculoskeletal problems, and enhancement of people’s concentration/focus and productivity.
Mehdi Jahangiri; Samira Baneshi; Zahra Saeedi Garagani; Mojtaba Kamalinia; Hadi Daneshmandi
Abstract
Background: The classroom is an important part of the educational environment, which should meet the standard requirements including safety and adequate spaces regarding the number of learners, color, lighting, noise, proper equipment, and air conditioning. This study aimed to investigate the safety ...
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Background: The classroom is an important part of the educational environment, which should meet the standard requirements including safety and adequate spaces regarding the number of learners, color, lighting, noise, proper equipment, and air conditioning. This study aimed to investigate the safety level of classrooms in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) classrooms (n = 63), in the south-west of Iran. Data regarding the safety measures were collected using an audit checklist. Finally, an index called Classroom Safety Requirement Index (CSRI) was introduced in order to calculate percentage of safety measures in the classrooms. Results: The results revealed that the ‘environmental condition’ dimension of the CSRI was in a good level. The ‘building’, ‘equipment’ and ‘electrical’ dimensions were in the medium level, and the ‘fire safety and emergency’ dimension was placed in the poor level. 38.70% of the classes (24 classes) were in the Standard Occupant Load (SOL or degree of overcrowding) and others (61.30% of classrooms) were overcrowded (unacceptable occupant load). Conclusion: The examined classrooms were very poor regarding the ‘fire safety’ and ‘emergency exit’, which requires proper and appropriate measures to improve safety in these areas.
Zahra Zamanian; Shahrzad Riaei; Najmeh Kaveh; Amineh Khosravani; hadi daneshmandi; Mehrab Sayadi; Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard
Volume 4, Issue 1 , January 2016, , Pages 7-13
Abstract
Background: Depression is one of the mental disorders which have become a public health problem throughout of the world. The objective of this study was to investigate depression and to determine its correlated factors among students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).Methods: 358 students ...
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Background: Depression is one of the mental disorders which have become a public health problem throughout of the world. The objective of this study was to investigate depression and to determine its correlated factors among students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).Methods: 358 students of SUMS participated in this crosssectional study in 2012. The participants were selected by Proportion Partition sampling method. A two-part questionnaire was used as the data collecting tool. In the first part, demographic characteristics and in the second part the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were included.Results: Mean score of depression in the studied population was 10.98. More than half of all the participants (54.7%) were symptomless; 41% of them were in the weak to moderate depression categories, and 4.2% in the strong and very strong categories. The data showed a significant relationship between scores of depression and marital status, academic grade, field content of study, use of psychoactive drugs, job outlook, problem with marriage and religious commitments. The depression scores in the married, religious and postgraduate participants and in those participants with course pleasure and excellent career perspective were lower than those in the other groups.Conclusion: Taking measures to reduce the factors leading to mental disorders is recommended. The involvement of students in socio-cultural, recreational and sport activities, reinforcement of consultation and clinical psychological services, and promotion of religious beliefs are instrumental in the enhancement of moral values and amelioration of depression among university students.
alireza besharati; Ali Ghanbari; Alireza Choobineh; Seyed Hamidreza Tabatabaee; Hadi Daneshmandi
Volume 3, Issue 3 , July 2015, , Pages 101-106
Abstract
Background: Proper training on how to correctly handle loads is one key point for prevention of low back disorders. This study was conducted with the objectives of assessing manual material lifting activities and comparing two methods of training intervention in a porcelain company. Methods: In this ...
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Background: Proper training on how to correctly handle loads is one key point for prevention of low back disorders. This study was conducted with the objectives of assessing manual material lifting activities and comparing two methods of training intervention in a porcelain company. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial which was conducted in a porcelain company, all male employees with lifting activities (n=204) participated. The data were collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire and Lift/ Lower Force Risk Assessment software for assessing manual material lifting. Intervention methods included booklet and oral training. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Chisquare tests using SPSS software (Version 17.0). Results: The most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders symptoms were reported in the knee (52.5%), feet (45.1%), and lower back (43.6%). Risk assessment before intervention showed that in 62.7% of the workers studied, the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in Action Level (AL) 1, 31.9% in AL 2 and 5.4% in AL 3. The risk assessment after intervention showed that in 77.5% of the workers studied, the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in Action Level (AL) 1, 20.6% in AL 2 and 2% in AL 3 (P<0.001). Also, statistical analysis revealed that oral training (24.5%) was more effective than the booklet training (11.8%) (P=0.018). Conclusion: This study showed that training intervention could be effective in correction of methods of manual material lifting of workers. It seems oral training for workers of porcelain industry is more effective than the booklet training. Trial registration number: IRCT2015050322071N1.
Naeimeh Asadi; Alireza Choobineh; Sareh Keshavarzi; Hadi Daneshmandi
Volume 3, Issue 1 , January 2015, , Pages 8-12
Abstract
Background: Manual load lifting is the most common and stressful activity that imposes high biomechanical pressures on the body, particularly on the back. Diverse studies have shown that load lifting can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers. This study was conducted to assess manual ...
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Background: Manual load lifting is the most common and stressful activity that imposes high biomechanical pressures on the body, particularly on the back. Diverse studies have shown that load lifting can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers. This study was conducted to assess manual lifting activity using NIOSH equation and WISHA index and compare the results of the two methods in workers with manual lifting activities.Methods: This cross- sectional study was carried out among 120 workers with manual lifting activity in 7 industrial settings of Shiraz city. Nordic Musculoskeletal disorders Questionnaire (NMQ) and demographic questionnaire, as well as NIOSH lifting equation and WISHA index were used to gather the required data. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, 19.Results: The results showed that back problems were the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders among the workers studied (68.3%). The results of lifting evaluation indicated that 79.2% of the individuals in the NIOSH method and 39.2% in WISHA index were at risk of back injuries. The kappa value was equal to 0.29, indicating a fair agreement between the results of assessment by the two methods.Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed a fair correlation between these two assessment methods, so they might be used interchangeably.
Alireza Choobineh; Masoud Neghab; Reza Rostami; Jafar Hassan Zadeh; Esmaeel Soleimani; Hadi Daneshmandi
Volume 1, Issue 1 , July 2013, , Pages 27-32
Abstract
AbstractBackground/Objective: This study was undertaken to addresspsychological health effects of dentists’ exposure to low ambientlevels of mercury.Methods: One hundred and six dentists and 94 generalpractitioners were randomly selected from clinics in Shiraz city,Iran. Subjects were asked to complete ...
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AbstractBackground/Objective: This study was undertaken to addresspsychological health effects of dentists’ exposure to low ambientlevels of mercury.Methods: One hundred and six dentists and 94 generalpractitioners were randomly selected from clinics in Shiraz city,Iran. Subjects were asked to complete the Persian version ofGeneral Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed usingχ2 test, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney’s U test.Results: Both groups were similar as far as all demographicvariables, except age, were concerned. No significant differencewas noted between the dentists’ mean total score of GHQ-28 (17.9)and that of referent subjects (16.34). These scores were significantlylower than the cut-off point of 23 (P<0.01). The mean scores forsomatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and depression weresignificantly higher in dentists than in the referent subjects. Theresults also showed a significant association between GHQ-28total scores and length of exposure to mercury (P=0.034); withincrease in the job tenure, GHQ-28 total score also increased,indicating a decrement in psychological health status.Conclusion: The current findings revealed that, in general,the dentists’ psychological health status was poorer than thereferent subjects. Additionally, in all GHQ subscales, thedentists’ scores were significantly different from those of theircounterparts. Given the fact that exposure to mercury is the mostimportant differentiating variable between both groups, and thatneuropsychological disorders are the most common toxic effectof mercury, the difference between psychological health statusof the two groups is likely to be related to exposure to mercury.Please cite this article as: Choobineh AR, Neghab M, Rostami R, HassanzadehJ, Soleimani E, Daneshmandi H. The Relationship between Mercury Exposureand Psychological Health Status of Dentists. J Health Sci Surveillance Sys.2013;1(1):27-32.Keywords: Dentist; Mental health; Mercury
Alireza Choobineh; Hadi Daneshmandi; Shahed Asadi; Shahram Ahmadi
Volume 1, Issue 1 , July 2013, , Pages 33-40
Abstract
Background/Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries. This study was conducted with the objectives of determination of prevalence rate of MSDs and ergonomics assessment of the risk of MSDs among workers of a petrochemical company. Methods: ...
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Background/Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries. This study was conducted with the objectives of determination of prevalence rate of MSDs and ergonomics assessment of the risk of MSDs among workers of a petrochemical company. Methods: In this study, 261randomly selected workers in a petrochemical company with at least one year of job tenure participated. Office and operational personnel were studied separately. In office jobs, data were collected using Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire (NMQ) and ergonomics checklist for assessment of work conditions. In operational jobs, NMQ and QEC (Quick Exposure Check) methods were applied to gather the required data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The most prevalent MSDs symptoms were reported in the lower back (36.2%), upper back (31%), neck (31%) and knees (30.3%). The results showed that the prevalence of MSDs indifferent body regions of the office staff was higher than those of operational workers. Also, in 40.9% of the observed cases, total ergonomics index was in action category 1 (inappropriate working conditions) and 59.9% of the subjects taken in action category 2 (appropriate working conditions). The results of assessment by QEC technique among operational workers showed that in 82.8% of the workers studied, the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was high or very high. Conclusions: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the office staff was higher than that of operational subjects. To improve the working conditions, taking risk factors of the lower back, upper back, neck and knees into consideration seems to be essential.