Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: the quality of life of nurses and nurse aides is under the influence of various factors including the occupational ones, which affect the quality of their services. The purpose of this research was to investigate the occupational and demographic factors effective on the quality of life of nurses and nurse aides working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: the present research was a cross-sectional one conducted in 2014 on 620 nurses and nurse aides. Simple random sampling method was utilized. The data were collected via the World Health Organization Quality of Life short form (questionnaire). Shift working, having a second job, marital status, length of marriage and having a shift working spouse were the independent variables of this study. Data were analyzed in SPSS 18 software using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent t and linear regression statistical tests.

Results: the average age, length of marriage and work experience in hospital were 32.81 ± 7.84, 10.61 ± 7.30 and 10.29 ± 7.68, respectively. The number of children, having a second job, satisfaction from the hours spent with family, and belief in the effect of night work on family life were factors effective on quality of life (P > 0.05). The highest relationship of quality of life was with environmental health (r = 0.87, P = 0.001) and the lowest was with social health (r = 0.75, P = 0.002).

Conclusions: Avoiding to have a second job, scientific planning of shift work schedules and trainings relevant to life skills in shift workers would help improve the quality of life of nurses and nurse aides.

Background and Objectives: These days, due to increasing of old people’s population, elderly is a world widely issue. According to World Health Organization (WHO) people older than 60 years old are called elderly. Becoming old leads to decline in physical ability and increase in physical limitations and therefore there is a need for matching the environment with elderly users. The aim of this study is to develop and valid of check lists for screening the environment risk factor and assessing of elderly functional ability for environment and tools designing.  
Methods: Present study is an analytical and descriptive study, which was performed in 20 houses for old people in Lar city. Data collection was done on existing articles and checklists, and also interview and observation with elderly. Existing checklist was evaluated in validity and reliability with high acceptable level.  
Results: Based on findings of this study, height of mirror of wash-stand, height of wash-stand, dimension of yard and doorway was considered in ergonomics risk factors checklist. Items like opening door personally was involved in Functional Ability checklist. Validity score was lower than 0.78. 
Conclusion: According to findings, it’s necessary to consider elderly limitations and ability in designing environment and tools in order to resolve their problems and increase their quality of life.

Background and Aim: Agricultural combine harvesters play a crucial role in cereal productions. A combine operator performs almost all harvesting activities in seated posture. As an interface of the biomechanical system of operator’s body and combines’ mechanical system, seat has major effect on operator’s safety, health, and comfort. A successful design of seat is not achievable without considering the anthropometric characteristics of user population in geometric design. In current study, the accommodation of common harvesting combines’ seat with Iranian operators’ body dimensions has been investigated.
Methods: This study was conducted in Bijar, the widest county of Kurdistan province in the west of Iran. Eight anthropometric dimensions including weight, stature, shoulder height, elbow rest height, popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length, shoulder breadth, and hip breadth were measured on a sample of operators. The accommodation of seat pan width, upper backrest width, lower backrest width, seat height, armrest height, seat depth, and backrest height were investigated based on logical equations.
Results: There was a considerable mismatch between evaluated combine seats and the anthropometric dimensions of operators. Selecting 440, 370, 440, 410, 260, 430, and 415 mm for respectively seat pan width, upper backrest width, lower backrest width, seat height, armrest height, seat depth, and backrest height can increase the match percentage to a range of 62.2% to 100%.
Conclusion: The dimensions of available combine harvester seats are not suitable for Iranian population. However, considering the anthropometric dimensions of operators can improve the seats ergonomically. It should be noted that a design based on corresponding national and international standards cannot guarantee the geometrical accommodation of seats.