Showing 28 results for Questionnaire
Tahereh Gholami, Ahmad Heidari Pahlavian, Mehdi Akbarzadeh, Majid Motamedzade, Rashid Heidari Moghadam,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Introduction: As workplaces, hospitals are filled with stressors, including environmental and physical stressors (such as noise pollution and poor lighting), human stressors (such as conflicts with colleagues) and organizational stressors (such as heavy workloads and unsuitable work shifts). The inability to cope with these stressors entails physical, psychological and behavioral outcomes for the employees. The present study was conducted to evaluate job stress in nursing personnel and to design a model for assessing the severity of musculoskeletal disorders caused by job stress among nurses.
Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 500 nurses working in various teaching hospitals of Hamadan. Data were collected through four questionnaires, including the Job Content Questionnaire, Maslach’s Burnout Inventory, the Visual Analogue Scale and a Demographic Questionnaire. Data were then analyzed in SPSS-16 and LISREL-8.3 using descriptive statistics.
Results: The results of the structural equation modeling showed that job burnout has a mediating effect between the severity of musculoskeletal disorders and job stress. In other words, if factors contributing to job burnout are present, the psychosocial risk factors yielded by the Job Content Questionnaire then contribute to the severity of musculoskeletal disorders.
Conclusion: Given the negative effects of job stress among nurses, health decision-makers are recommended to take measures to reduce stressors such as the physical and psychological demands of the workplace, the lack of support and the lack of job security.
Shirazeh Arghami, Maryam Moradi, Fatemeh Habibi,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Background: Driver’s fatigue is a major factor contributing to the prevalence of road accidents. A vast number of city dwellers in most countries use public transport bus services to move around the city. Driver’s fatigue causes job burnout and affects the risk of a traffic accident injuring the public. Several methods have been used to date for evaluating mental fatigue however, using questionnaires tends to be a less time-consuming and more accessible technique. The present study was therefore conducted to develop a mental fatigue questionnaire for public transport bus drivers.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted based on the criteria used for qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were held with public transport bus drivers using probing questions and data were collected until their saturation so as to enable access to a direct description of mental fatigue by the bus drivers. Data saturation occurred with 30 interviews and sampling was then discontinued. The analysis of the interviews led to the extraction of the themes and an initial list of questionnaire items was then developed. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were then evaluated through examining the content validity and internal consistency of the items. The content validity of the items was calculated using Lawshe’s table. A minimum CVR of 0.99 and a minimum CVI of 0.75 denoted an acceptable content validity for the items. To determine the internal consistency of the items, 200 bus drivers completed the final version of the questionnaire. The data obtained were then analyzed in SPSS-16 using Cronbach's alpha to measure the reliability of the questionnaire and considering an acceptance level of 0.7.
Results: The interviews conducted at the beginning of the study with 30 drivers led to the emergence of an initial list with 26 items. A total of 9 items with a CVR less than 0.99 were omitted from the list and 17 items with adequate simplicity, clarity and correlation between them and which had a minimum CVI of 0.75 were kept. The questionnaire had a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.87 and was therefore considered a reliable tool.
Conclusion: The questionnaire developed in this study has a good validity and reliability and can therefore be used to assess mental fatigue in public transport bus drivers.
Hamidreza Mokhtarinia, Asrin Shafiee, Marzieh Pashmdarfard,
Volume 3, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the top 10 injuries accounting for absence from work. The Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E) is one of the many tools used to examine these disorders. The present study was conducted to translate and localize the NMQ-E and to evaluate the face validity and test-retest reliability of its Persian version.
Materials and Methods: The present non-empirical methodological study used the International Quality Of Life Assessment (IQOLA) approach to translate the NMQ-E into Persian. The face validity of the Persian version was examined in a sample of 15 patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and its absolute and relative test-retest reliability were examined in a sample of 48 patients using the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The Kappa coefficient was also used to measure the inter-rater agreement for nominal variables.
Results: The translation and localization of the NMQ-E was deemed easy and acceptable. All the items of the questionnaire had an acceptable face validity. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient and the Standard Error of Measurement of the Persian version of the NMQ-E were deemed acceptable (SEM=0.56-1.76 and ICC>0.7) and the Kappa coefficient was calculated as 0.78-1.00.
Conclusion: The Persian version of the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire showed an acceptable validity and test-retest reliability for assessing musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian patients.
Vafa Feyzi, Akram Jafari Roodbandi, Salman Farahbakhsh, Hoshyar Rezaei,
Volume 4, Issue 3 (12-2016)
Abstract
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.
Majid Motamedzade, Asghar Payoon, Rashid Heydari Moghaddam3, Javad Fradmal, Mohammad Babamiri, Payam Heydari,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (6-2017)
Abstract
Introduction: Muscle-skeletal disorders are one of the most common job-related disorders in industrial workplaces due to different reasons. The current study performed an ergonomic assessment using the key indicator index (KIM) in order to reduce injuries in the bottle-making salon of one of the detergent-producing industries of Qazvin province.
Methods: This study was an interventional study and consisted of 25 workers and was done in a bottle-making salon of one of the detergent-producing industries, during year 2016. For data collection, the Cornell questionnaire and key indicator index assessment method were used before and after the ergonomic interventions. Data was analyzed by descriptive analytical tests using the SPSS 16 software.
Results: According to the results, in the bottle production task (risk score: 4), the risk score decreased significantly by redesign (risk score: 2). Also, regarding the bottle's material, supply task that workers used to do it by manual material handling (risk score: 3), by redesign, risk score decreased significantly (risk score: 1).
Conclusions: In this study, musculoskeletal disorders decreased meaningfully by workstation ergonomic redesign after 5 months from the intervention.
Esmaeel Khanmohammadi, Farhad Tabatabai Ghomsheh, Reza Osqueizadeh,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Introduction: Different studies around the world have shown that Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are the causes of lost time, absenteeism, and disability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and to evaluate their ergonomic risk factors and determine the effect of ergonomic intervention on awkward postures among workers of Saipa Diesel Truck manufacturing plants.
Methods: This interventional study (Before-after) was conducted on 130 workers of 2 largest truck-manufacturing plants in Iran. The prevalence rate of MSDs and ergonomic risk factors was assessed by valid and reliable translated Body Map Questionnaire (BM) and Quick Exposure Check (QEC) method, respectively.
Results: According to Body Map results, 87.5% of participants had MSDs at least in one of their eleven body regions during the previous year, before study. The highest prevalence rate of MSDs was observed in lower back (51.5%) and foot area (18.5%). Chi square test revealed that the prevalence rate of MSDs was higher among those with higher QEC risk level (P < 0.001). Results also indicated the significant effect of ergonomic interventions on reducing the prevalence rate of MSDs and QEC risk level (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: This study showed that the prevalence rate of MSDs and QEC risk levels among workers was significantly high. Therefore, it can be mentioned that the need for early ergonomic interventions is felt in all industrial units of these truck-manufacturing plants.
Elham Ahmadi Kivanani, Mostafa Pouyakian, Abbass Alipour,
Volume 6, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Accurate measurement of the employees’ satisfaction with their office chairs can provide valid feedback on the chair design quality for the manufacturers and researchers. This study aims to design a valid and psychometrically evaluated questionnaire for measuring satisfaction with office chairs.
Methods: Through studying the two main documents about chair ergonomics including Iranian office chair standard No. 11388-1 and a valid Persian questionnaire on satisfaction with educational chairs (Mirmohammadi et al.), the initial 39-item office chair satisfaction questionnaire has been developed. Then face and content validity of the questionnaire have been checked out using qualitative and quantitative approach. Quantitative face validity was analyzed using impact score method. Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) have been used for quantitative content validity analysis. In order to analyze the questionnaire’s reliability, two methods including the internal consistency and constancy have been applied. To measure the internal consistency, α-Cronbach (alpha coefficient) and to evaluate constancy (test-retest) have been employed. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized for specifying its sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off point. The data was analyzed by SPSS 21 and Stata V.14
Results: Mean (CVR) and (CVI) of final questionnaire have been calculated as 0.93 and 0.95, respectively. Questionnaire’s α-Cronbach coefficient has been gained 0.8. Kappa coefficient (for inter-rater agreement) has showed high score (0.91) in the test-retest results, indicating high correlation and good constancy of the questionnaire. In the ROC, the cut-off point was reported as 75.5 with the sensitivity and specificity of 86.2 and 100, respectively, and area under the ROC curve at this cut-off point was 0.96.
Conclusion: The final 34-item questionnaire has exhibited acceptable reliability and validity for measuring satisfaction level of office chairs.
Mahnaz Ahmadlu, Mostafa Pouyakian, Mohammad Ranjbarian, Soheila Khodakarim,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (9-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: There are various models of socket wrench in the market varying in the length and diameter of handle and weight. Each of these features alone can modify the force applied by the hand and affect how comfortable the user is. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dimensional properties and weight of several models of socket wrench with their usability index score.
Methods: 58 male technicians from maintenance units of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences performed the task of opening 12 bolts with 8 N/m of torque using 6 models of socket wrench with different physical properties. The sample size was selected based on proposed figures for usability studies. The System Usability Index (SUS) validated questionnaire was used to determine the usability score of each model after the experiment. The study was conducted in 2017. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant relationship between usability index score and dimensional properties and weight of wrenches (P<0.001). Wrench models with longer handle and diameter size close to optimum range of diameter of hand tools for male users had a higher usability score, and participants reported a better test experience with these models.
Conclusion: Using the System Usability Index (SUS Questionnaire) to measure the quality of human-centered design of hand tools is a good way to evaluate and select the hand tools that are widely used by technical staff. The results of this study are valid for short-term applications of wrenches. However, for long time activities, epidemiological and physiological evidences such as EMG should also be used.
Mohammadreza Jannati, Hamed Aghaei, Taleb Askaripoor, Mehdi Khazaei, Ehsan Bayat Khalaji, Elahe Kazemi,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Despite the main role of cranes in advancing construction operations, however, accidents and occupational injuries resulting from their activities have become a critical issue. Recent evidence suggests that the cause of these problems may be associated with the absence of design of the interior space of the crane cabin, and the tasks of the operators, based on ergonomic principles. This study was conducted to assess the ergonomic risk of the tower crane operator’s activities and redesigning the dimensions and interior space of these cranes, based on the anthropometric dimensions of Iranian operators.
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 30 male tower crane operators working on three major construction projects in Tehran were investigated. Initially, a multi-step approach was applied to define the problem, including: observing the working statuses, interviewing operators, Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire, and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method. Then, using anthropometric data, the dimensions and interior space of the crane chamber were redesigned.
Results: The results of the rapid upper limb assessment method showed that the activities of tower crane operators were at high and very high-risk levels. Also, 85% and 38.5% of these people reported pain and discomfort in one of the nine areas of their body in the last 12 months and 7 days, respectively. In this study, the dimensions of the interior space of the redesigned tower crane cabin were obtained 160.8×144.1×199.7.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the current interior design of the tower crane cabin does not fulfill the needs of the operators. Hence, redesigning it appears essential to enhance human-machine compatibility, improve safety and productivity, and prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
Neda Mahdavi, Javad Faradmal, Iman Dianat, Hassan Khotanlou, Rashid Haidari Moghadam,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2020)
Abstract
Backgrond and Aim: Fatigue is a common and highly prevalent problem among workers. Muscle fatigue is the result of general fatigue that is caused by different risk factors. This research was conducted to assess grip fatigue between workers with manual tasks and its relationship to psychosocial risk factors.
Methods: In this study, Jamar hydraulic dynamometer was used to investigate the decrease in the production of grip force or grip fatigue. The grip force of 157 subjects in three job levels that met inclusion criteria recorded, three times in an 8 hours shift. The psychosocial risk factors were also assessed using the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire and their relationship with grip force and grip fatigue was analyzed.
Results: sixty-one percent, 62%, and 69% of employees in light, medium, and heavy tasks, respectively, experienced grip fatigue in the second phase of the study. It seems that as the power/speed increased and the tasks became more difficult, employees experienced more grip fatigue in the right hand. The declining trend of grip force and the increase in grip fatigue was more evident in heavy task jobs. No moderate or strong correlation was observed between the psychosocial risk factors and grip fatigue.
Conclusion: Because the nature of worker tasks in heavy manual tasks required more force exertion, they experienced more grip fatigue in their right hand than other workers. It is not possible to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of psychosocial risk factors on grip fatigue. Investigating the impact of cognitive loads and anthropometric dimensions on grip fatigue can be an interesting topic for future studies.
Hassan Sadeghi Naeini, Mohammad Zolfaghari,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Annually, a percentage of the profits from the sale of goods and services by producers are spent on costs of musculoskeletal disorders due to non-compliance with ergonomic conditions. These costs are not favorable for organizations and employees and in most cases, ergonomic risk factors affect the quality of life of employees.
Methods: The present field study was conducted as a census on 193 workers with medical records in one of the domestic automotive industries on December 2018. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders belonged to 16 workers, so their workstations were analyzed. Questionnaire with the help of Nordic questionnaire and through interviews with workers has been one of the methods of collecting data. Each of the selected workstations was analyzed with OWAS method after job photography and video recording.
Results: The results showed that three work stations from the viewpoint of Action Categories are at the level of three, three work stations at the level of two and one station at the level of one, and then the costs of incidence and treatment and related actions due to establishing ergonomic conditions were calculated.
Conclusion: Cost of workstations analysis, Preventive actions and also designing a process to reduce the musculoskeletal abnormalities of the staff, which results in ergonomic conditions, compared with the cost of incidence and treatment of musculoskeletal complications is cost-effective for this automotive industry.
Abbasali Jafari-Nodoushan, Golnaz Bagheri, Fatemesadat Mosavi Nodoushan,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Faculty Members of the university have a fundamental role in education and its quality. Working conditions of the faculty members have made them face severe musculoskeletal disorders. The spread of the COVID-19 virus, the closure of universities and the virtual education have made working conditions of the faculty members more difficult than before. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the virus on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders of the faculty members of the university and the extraction of variables affecting the disorders.
Methods: This descriptive-survey study was conducted in 2020 on 220 faculty members of Yazd University who were selected by the simple random sampling method. Data were collected using the standardized Nordic questionnaire in two stages before and after the spread of the virus and were analyzed in SPSS 25 by paired sample t-test, independent t-test, and analysis of variance.
Results: Musculoskeletal disorders after the spread of the virus in most organs have increased significantly, so that frequency percentage in the neck for the three campuses has increased from 36%, 40%, and 31% to 55%, 52%, and 44 %. There is a significant relationship between gender, work experience, and teaching method with the prevalence of disorders. Most disorders were in the back, neck, and knees.
Conclusion: A small percentage of faculty members perform sports activities and daily exercises that by planning on them can reduce the disorders. The university can also prevent the centralization of education at a specific time by dividing the virtual education during the day and week and reduce the disorders.
Davood Afshari, Payam Amini, Behnoush Jafari, Ghasem Akbari,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (4-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Psychosocial factors are among the factors affecting employee productivity. Since few studies have been done in this field, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors regarding productivity.
Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020 among 105 employees of a food distribution company in Ahvaz. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire, Copenhagen Psychosocial Factors Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and Goldsmith Hershey Productivity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to investigate the relationship between variables.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between any of the demographic variables with the score of psychosocial factors and productivity (P> 0.05). Psychosocial factor 2 has a negative and significant relationship with the average score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility. And psychosocial factor 4 has a negative and significant relationship with motivation. The mean score of psychosocial factors, factor 1 and 3 showed a positive and significant relationship with the mean score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility.
Conclusion: Considering the role of psychosocial factors on employee' productivity, it is necessary to consider organizational interventions in order to control effective psychosocial factors. More attention to psychosocial factors in the workplace can play an effective role in the efficiency and productivity of employees and the organization.
Mostafa Rahmiani Iranshahi, Masoud Shafiee Motlagh, Elahe Dortaj, Maryam Farhadian,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Visual comfort is an important and influential factor on safety, mental health, sleep quality, and musculoskeletal disorders of employees in the workplace. This study aimed to design and develop a questionnaire to assess the visual comfort of employees in the workplace.
Methods: The study was performed on 101 participants (88 men and13 women) in the food industry. First, the available lighting questionnaires in the field of lighting were reviewed, and a question bank was set up. Twenty questions were considered in two sections of natural and artificial lighting (10 questions in each section) based on the opinion of 10 experts in this field. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed using the content validity index (CVI) based on the comments of experts. To validate the questionnaire in the workplace, The lighting of employees' workstations was evaluated according to the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) standards and compared with the results of the questionnaire.
Results: The Cronbach's alpha of natural and artificial lighting visual comfort questionnaire was 0.858 and 0.922, respectively. The total CVI of the questionnaire was 1. There was a significant positive relationship between the score of the visual comfort questionnaire and the workstations' illumination (P = 0.001). More than 97% of employees who had workstations with the desired lighting reported excellent levels of visual comfort.
Conclusion: The visual comfort questionnaire had good and acceptable reliability and validity. This tool is recommended for the use of visual comfort asessments of employees in work environments given the fewer number of and simplicity of sentences.
Azam Maleki-Ghahfarokhi, Iman Dianat, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Mohamad Parnianpour, Mahmood-Reza Azghani, Maryam Khosravifar, Sina Samadi,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: The comfort questionnaire for hand tools (CQH) is a subjective measure for exploring the starting points for improving hand tool design. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the CQH.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, which was conducted among 163 university students, the 17-question CQH was translated into Farsi with a translation back-translation procedure. Content validity was assessed by a panel of 10 experts. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied for determining construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were used for assessing internal consistency and test-retest reliability, respectively. Ceiling and floor effects were also estimated for evaluating the feasibility of the measure.
Results: The CQH showed good content validity. Content validity index (CVI) ranged from 0.80 to 1.00 and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) ranged 0.62-1.00. EFA led to extraction of two factors from the data. The first one was mostly related to functionality and physical interaction and the second one, was generally about adverse body effects. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.74 and test-retest reliability was 0.74 (95% CI = 0.58 to 0.86) which both were satisfactory. There were no (0%) ceiling and floor effects.
Conclusion: The Farsi version of CQH is an acceptable and useful instrument for evaluating hand tools comfort.
Davood Afshari, Maryam Nourollahi-Darabad, Noorollah Karimi, Maryam Seyed Tabib,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Nurses are at the front line of treatment and coping with COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study investigates the pandemic’s impact on nurses ’mental workload and determines its predictive factors.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 234 nurses in two groups working at COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards in 2020. The criteria for entering the study were the absence of psychological problems. Data was gathered using the General Health Questionnaire, NASA-TLX, and Demographic Questionnaire.
Results: The mean of the overall mental workload score in the group of nurses working at the Covid-19 wards (70.09 ± 2.51) was higher than the group of nurses working in the non-COVID-19 wards (66.55 ± 2.02). This difference was significant (P = 0.01). There was a significant difference between the mean score of the mental demand, the physical demand, the temporal demand, and the frustration level of the two groups. With the exception of performance, the group of nurses working in the corona ward had a higher mean score in all aspects. In the proposed linear model, 16% of the overall changes in mental workload depended on two variables, which were age and work experience. The work experience was the most influential factor in predicting nurses' mental workload.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed the importance of paying attention to the mental workload of nurses as well as personal and occupational factors affecting mental workload in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, control and management of effective factors can help reduce mental workload, especially during pandemic conditions.
Omid Kalatpour, Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Iraj Mohammadfam, Maryam Farhadian, Mohammad Reza Tavakkol,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Risk-taking is a personality trait which plays a part in the occurrence of work-related accidents. For this reason, people who are highly risk-taking whose decision might cause accident should not be employed in critical situations. The purpose of this survey was to design and verify the validity of the risk tolerance questionnaire, suitable for control room operators, through examining the event related potential (ERP).
Methods: At first, the questions were selected from reliable scientific resources based on the conceptual model. The questions of the initial questionnaire were selected based on face validity, and then the questionnaire was filled out by 178 control room operators. At the next step, the best questions of the questionnaire were extracted using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In terms of reliability, 42 individuals of the study group refilled in the questionnaire again after three months as a test-retest. The ERPs were assessed using electroencephalography along with Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). The correlation coefficient calculated between the ERPs, and risky behaviors, and questionnaire scores.
Results: One factor and 13 questions were identified as the best questions regarding EFA. Cronbach's alpha was 0.91. The Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated between the questionnaire score and risk-taking behavior as well as between the questionnaire score and P300, which was 0.38 (P = 0.01, η2 = 0.70) and 0.63 (P = 0.01, η2 = 0.99), respectively.
Conclusion: The Operator control Room Risk-Taking (ORTQ) questionnaire consists of 13 questions which can be used as an appropriate tool to assess the risk-taking trait in control room operators and also for research purposes. This questionnaire has got three personality dimensions including risk-taking nature, impulsivity and venturesomeness.
Ali Reza Soltanian,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: There is currently no consensus on transformation of the starting point of scoring on the Likert’s scale in questionnaires. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the transforming the starting point of scoring on the indices of central tendency, dispersion and the independent t-test.
Methods: The study employed inferential analysis to investigate the effects of transforming the origin of scoring, comparing the results through illustration. A 4-point Likert’s scale, starting with scoring zero and one, was utilized. The Independent t-test was used to compare the mean scores in two groups.
Results: The results of the study showed that transforming of the starting point of scoring from 1 to zero on Likert’s scale only leads to a difference in the value of the tendency to the center. However, dispersion indices and statistical statistics did not showed any difference in both scoring methods.
Conclusion: Changing the origin of scoring in the questionnaires, when total scores exhibit a normal distribution, has no impact on the independent t-test and standard deviation. The only significant affect includes difference on tendency to the center in two scoring systems.
Moein Darestani, Leili Tapak, Mostafa Mirzaie Aliabadi, Neda Mahdavi,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Today we are witnessing tremendous growth in construction and the use of heavy machinery. As a significant portion of human errors is attributed to cognitive failures, there is a need for robust tools to assess these cognitive failures. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to investigate the psychometrics of the current Occupational Cognitive Failures Questionnaire for Heavy Machinery Operators in Road and Urban Construction.
Methods: A total of 84 drivers of road and urban construction machinery were selected by simple random sampling method. Initially, job-related items for these people were selected for inclusion in the questionnaire, irrelevant items were removed, and proposed items were added. To assess structural validity, the tool was administered to 10 experts. Then, content validity ratios (CVR) and content validity indices (CVI) were determined for each of the items and evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis conducted in AMOS software (version 23). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to measure reliability. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20).
Results: The final questionnaire comprised 16 items, with CVR and CVI leading to their inclusion in the final structure. The CVR of the questionnaire was 0.90. Additionally, the indices of the fitted model included CMIN/DF, TLI, CFI, IFI, GFI, AGFI, and RMSE, which were obtained at 1.16, 0.851, 0.88, 0.898, 0.86, 0.802, and 0.044, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated at 0.633.
Conclusion: The psychometrics of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire demonstrated suitable validity and reliability for heavy machinery operators in road and urban construction. It can be effectively used for ergonomic evaluations.
Zohreh Goudarzi, Sara Izadi, Abbas Seifollah Zade, Roghayyeh Hassanzadeh, Neda Mahdavi,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (1-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the health challenges for faculty members, affecting their performance and work-related quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between these disorders and the ergonomic features of their workstations.
Methods: This research was conducted among 22 faculty members after obtaining informed consent and using a census method. The prevalence of disorders was assessed using the Cornell questionnaire, and the evaluation of the workstation was performed using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method. Then, 14 anthropometric dimensions (differentiated by gender) were measured, and 13 workstation characteristics were assessed. Finally, 11 criteria were used for anthropometric fitness evaluation. Moreover, data analysis was carried out using SPSS software (version 26).
Results: Approximately 46% of the participants had experienced pain and discomfort in one of the musculoskeletal areas, with the wrist, neck, shoulder, and lower back being the most affected areas, respectively. The ROSA results indicated that 22.73% of the participants' workstations required ergonomic improvements. The most significant mismatches were found in the criteria of 1) trunk length-chair backrest length, 2) thigh thickness in a seated position-distance between thighs and desk, and 3) shoulder width-chair seat width.
Conclusion: The signs of a connection between the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the lack of anthropometric compatibility/inadequate knowledge among faculty members in the field of ergonomics were observed. This issue underscores the importance of considering ergonomic/anthropometric characteristics of office desks and chairs during the procurement of office supplies and emphasizes the need to enhance ergonomics knowledge.
