Work - Volume 72, issue 1

Authors: Anzar, Wajiha | Qureshi, Ambrina | Afaq, Ashar | Alkahtany, Mazen F. | Almadi, Khalid H. | Ben Gassem, Afnan A. | AlRefeai, Mohammad H. | Naseem, Mustafa | Vohra, Fahim | Abduljabbar, Tariq

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dental practitioners can be prone to stress because of the long working hours, high patient expectations, and work environment. OBJECTIVE: To investigate dimensions of occupational stress among dental practitioners leading to burnout and to model its causality with job satisfaction. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted for five months. A sample of 302 practicing dental practitioners was selected using the consecutive sample technique. This sample included dental practitioners working in clinical and non-clinical departments of public and private sector universities as well as those doing private general practice. A self-administered structured questionnaire based on …the Work Stress Questionnaire was sent using Survey Monkey. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Spearman correlation was applied between stress scores and job satisfaction. A Chi-square test was applied to look into the association between stress levels and different categories. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. RESULT: The prevalence of overall occupational stress was high among dental practitioners (83.4%). Occupational stress was greatest in females (55.8%), dental practitioners in the private sector (55.7%), and general dental practitioners (GDPs) (47%). The overall prevalence of job satisfaction among dental professionals was 30%. Occupational stress was significantly associated with burnout and job dissatisfaction in dentistry. Stress levels and working hours were statistically and positively associated, whereas the association between stress levels and job satisfaction was inversely and significantly associated. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of occupational stress among dental practitioners was high and the level of job satisfaction was moderate. The model between these variables was well-fitted. Show more

Keywords: Employee workload, dentists, professional burnout, job satisfaction

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210555

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 323-331, 2022

Authors: Özdinç, Sevgi | Pekçetin, Serkan | Can, Hilal | Ata, Hilal | Süslü, Buket | Birtane, Murat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) is one of the most recognized and widely used instruments for identifying the risk of pain chronicity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to provide the reliability and validity of the Turkish ÖMPSQ-Short Form (ÖMPSQ-SF). METHODS: Fifty-seven acute and subacute low back pain patients were included in the study. ÖMPSQ short form and long form, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaires were applied simultaneously for validation. The ÖMPSQ-SF was re-applied after 7–10 days to determine test-retest reliability. The data were analyzed by …the paired-samples t test, correlation analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 39.05±15.68 years. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.723, and the ICC was 0.84. There were moderate to strong correlation among the ÖMPSQ-SF and the ODI, CSI, ÖMPSQ-long form, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire work subscale (r  = 0.72, r  = 0.353, r  = 0.648, r  = 0.457 respectively). CONCLUSION: The results show that the Turkish version of the ÖMPSQ–SF is a valid and reliable questionnaire and could be used in clinical and scientific studies. Show more

Keywords: Pain, musculoskeletal disorders, psychosocial factors, yellow flags, chronicity

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213632

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 333-341, 2022

Authors: Nivon, Charlotte | Fontana, Luc | Trombert-Paviot, Béatrice | Bally, Jean Noel | Pelissier, Carole

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mental distress at work is a complex multifactorial phenomenon liable to impact health and personal life. OBJECTIVE: To assess the proportion of general practice consultations for mental distress at work and determine how general practitioners (GPs) manage these patients and the factors leading to consultation. METHODS: The frequency of consultations for mental distress at work was assessed on a self-administered questionnaire sent to the general practitioners (GPs) of the Loire administrative Département (France). Information on factors leading to consultation on management was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire in a sample of GPs and patients. …RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included by 16 GPs. 27% of patients were referred to an occupational physician. The frequency of consultations for mental distress at work was about 2%. Patients may wait several weeks or months before consulting, although a majority reported an impact on family life and health. A triggering event was often present, but no work accident procedure was undertaken. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of better identifying adverse experience of working conditions and impaired mental health and reporting this to an occupational physician who can undertake preventive measures. Communication between occupational physician, employee and GP needs to be improved. Show more

Keywords: Medical consultations, psychosocial risk factors, work-related common mental disorders

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213633

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 343-350, 2022

Authors: Lee, Yushin | Kim, Yong Min | Pyo, Sujin | Yun, Myung Hwan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Today, sedentary lifestyles are very common for children. Therefore, maintaining a good posture while sitting is very important to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. To maintain a good posture, the formation of good postural habit must be encouraged through posture correction. However, long-term observation is required for effective posture correction. Additionally, posture correction is more effective when it is performed in real time. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to classify nine representative sitting postures of children by applying a machine learning technique using pressure distribution data according to the sitting postures. METHODS: In this study, …a customized film-type pressure sensor was developed and pressure distribution data from nine sitting postures was collected from seven to twelve year-old children. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was applied to classify the sitting postures and three experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the model in three applicable usage scenarios: usage by familiar identifiable users, usage by familiar, but unidentifiable users, and usage by unfamiliar users. RESULTS: The results of our experiments revealed model accuracies of 99.66%, 99.40%, and 77.35%, respectively. When comparing the recall values for each posture, leaning left and leaning right postures had high recall values, but good posture, leaning forward, and crossed-legs postures had low recall values. CONCLUSION: The results of experiments indicated that CNN is an excellent classification method to classify the posture when the pressure distribution data is used as input data. This study is expected to contribute a development of system to aid in observing the natural sitting behavior of children and correcting poor posture in real time. Show more

Keywords: Classification, pressure distribution, machine learning, sensing cushion

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213634

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 351-366, 2022

Authors: Chakradeo, Anant | Mishra, Wricha | Rai, Sunil

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Rowing requires synchronized, forceful and repetitive muscular movement to propel the boat towards the finish point. This makes rowers prone to musculoskeletal discomfort. The etiology of such musculoskeletal discomfort is multifactorial in nature. Therefore, risk assessment is essential for encouraging enhanced performances. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to decipher the prevalent areas of discomfort, identify risk factors contributing to discomforts among young Indian rowers and propose a model for the causative factors of discomfort to monitor their performances. METHODS: A self-constructed questionnaire was framed and administered at state level competition. To identify the likely …commonalities, the response matrix was subjected to Factor Analysis (FA). Subsequently, Principal Component Regression (PCR) was carried out to identify the influence of ergonomic risk factors with rowing performance parameters. RESULTS: The study identified three major factors: Imprecision Related Factors’ (ImRF), ‘Occupation Related Factors’ (ORF) and ‘Individual Related Factors’ (IRF). The study suggests changes to the training strategies for reducing discomforts from ergonomics risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study quantifies major risk factors with the highest loading and proposes an interpretive model. This will be beneficial for formulating the training frameworks and to prepare guidelines for rowers to refrain from discomforts consequently, enhancing performance. Show more

Keywords: Occupational discomfort, training, musculoskeletal disorders

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213635

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 367-372, 2022

Authors: Dimou, Vasiliki | Basilios, Molis | Kitikidou, Kyriaki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) associated with forestry operations is an alarming issue. OBJECTIVE: In the present paper, an attempt was made to assess the location and the prevalence of the MSDs in timber harvesting tasks. METHODS: The analysis of logging-related risk factors was carried out by observing working postures with the use of the assessment tool RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) during harvesting jobs. In addition, the standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used in order to record self-reported MSDs symptoms. RESULTS: Results revealed that, in all work stages, risk levels …were extremely high. According to the results of the RULA analysis, 77.5% of the working postures adopted by the left side of the body and 61.25% of postures involving the right side belong to the very high-risk level. According to the results of the questionnaire, a high percentage of loggers (34%) reported that they were facing problems in their backs and knees. CONCLUSIONS: Training and informing operators about the correct positions and the manual movement techniques, as well as increasing the mechanisation level of harvesting operations could reduce physiological work hardship. Show more

Keywords: RULA, NMQ, musculoskeletal disorders, postures’ assessment, logger

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213640

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 373-393, 2022