Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Assessment of Mental Workload and Job Burnout of Medical Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Ebrahim Darvishi

Background & Objectives: The pandemic and the crisis caused by the COVID-19 have challenged health care organizations around the world, causing human casualties and health concerns around the world and in Iran. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mental workload and job burnout of medical employees during the Covid-19 pandemic in Iran.
Method: The present descriptive-analytic research has been conducted on 510 medical and diagnostic staff in the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, and Sanandaj. The mental workload and the job burnout of staff have been evaluated using NASA-TLX software and the job burnout Maslach, respectively. Statistical tests including t-test, ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data using a STATA-14 software package.
Results: The mean mental workload of employees associated with patients suffering COVID-19 and those not associated was estimated at 83.7±8.1 and 79.9±9.6 respectively. The mean of job burnout was estimated at 79.6±16.2 and 79.7±16.9, respectively, which were not statistically significant. The results of linear regression showed that being married (coefficient = -6.57, P value=0.003), employment as a Tarh (coefficient = -12.71, P value=0.002), inverse relationship and Work in Isfahan hospitals (coefficient = 21.21, P value<0.001) was directly related to burnout. Women (coefficient = 3.61, P value<0.001), having a relationship with COVID-19 patients (coefficient = 5.9, P value<0.001) had a direct relationship with the amount of mental work.
Conclusion: The mental workload and job burnout in medical employees during the COVID-19 pandemic are high, and warning and the mental workload in employees associated with patients suffering COVID-19 are higher than other employees.

Do the Ergonomic Characteristics of Armpit and Aviation Park Sports Equipment Fits with the Anthropometric Parameters of Male Users?

Saeed Ilbeigi

Background & Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the ergonomics of armpits and aviators outdoor (park) based on anthropometry parameters of male users.
Methods: Among male users of these outdoor park equipment, 120 people from Tehran and in the age range over 20 years (48.38±16.27) were selected as a sample. The research variables were the dimensions of the devices and the anthropometry of the male users. The plumb line, engineering meter, ruler, goniometer and static anthropometer kit (caliper) were used to measure the dimensions of the devices and the anthropometry of the users (according to Pheasant instructions). Then, according to the standards of ergonomics and bodybuilding, the science of motor biomechanics and the way of installation on the devices, the fit of the devices was evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data and single-group t-test (parametric statistics) and binomial statistics (non-parametric statistics) were used to test the hypotheses.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between most of the desired dimensions of the devices with the relevant and optimal dimensions of users (P value<0.05). Therefore, from the anthropometric point of view, these devices are not ergonomic for male users, and it is necessary to adopt a method for the standardization of these devices.
Conclusion: Most dimensions of underarms and outdoor aviators are not ergonomic from the anthropometric point of view of male users. This mismatch can lead to complications and physical injuries to users. Therefore, users should be careful when using these devices and avoid working with devices that do not fit their physical dimensions.

Investigating the Role of Organizational Values, Communication Satisfaction and Charismatic Leadership on Job Performance with Emphasis on the Mediating Role of Psychological Components Related to Nurses' Work

Azizeh Pashaei Yousef Kandi

Background & Objectives: Nurses, as the largest source of manpower, have a special place in medical affairs and their performance is defined as an effective activity with direct patient care, so it is necessary to study the factors affecting their performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of work-related psychological components in relation to organizational factors affecting nurses' job performance.
Methods: This research is a descriptive-correlational study of structural equations according to the data collection method. The statistical population of the present study includes all nurses of Seyed Al-Shohada (AS) Hospital in Urmia, Iran (n=265). Using Krejcie and Morgan table, 155 people were selected as a statistical sample using the Relative stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect information and after calculating the validity and reliability of the instruments, descriptive and inferential analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 22 and PLS 3 software.
Results: The results of data analysis showed that organizational values, communication satisfaction and charismatic leadership with t-values greater than 1.96 (P value<0.05) mediated by psychological factors have a positive and significant effect on nurses' job performance.
Conclusion: Values, goals, leadership, and communication are factors that go beyond a specific situation and create a sense of satisfaction and performance improvement. Managers increase the ability and capability of nurses by clearly explaining the goals and creating a suitable atmosphere for expressing views, by participating in the affairs of the sense of commitment and ownership, and by holding training courses, and provide the possibility for improving their performance.

Identification and Analysis of the Historical Origins of Ergonomics by Referenced Publication Year's Spectroscopy

Mohammad Reza Amiri

Background & Objectives: Every scientific activity needs to know the previous related scientific activities so that its various aspects can be better investigated in order to obtain a richer intellectual heritage. So this article aims to identify and analyze the historical origins of ergonomics using two scientometric techniques named RPYS and RPYS-Co.
Methods: This applied research was conducted in a scientometrics method. The research data consists of 31239 articles in the field of Ergonomics which were indexed over the 20-year period (2000-2019) in Web of Science database. After extracting all the references of these articles, the results were analyzed using the CRExplorer software.
Results: Results showed that in the field of ergonomics, from 1700 to 2000, a total of 19 mutations occurred in the two periods of 1900-1700 and 2000-1900. The article "the information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement" by Fitts (1954) was recognized as an outstanding and index work. According to RPYS-CO results, the most co-citations with index work are related to the works of 1997 and 2004, which are on Fitts Law.
Conclusion: In the period of 1700 to1900 influential works were related to psychology, biology and economics, and during 1900-2000 influential works were related to psychological theories, work environment and research methodology.

The Effect of Coronavirus Stress on Job Burnout in Nurses with the Moderating Role of Psychological Capital

Fariborz Fathi Chegeni

Background & Objectives: The nursing profession is basically stressful in nature. In the meantime, the spread of the coronavirus and its rapid spread throughout the country has caused the over-normal influx of patients infected with this virus to hospitals and increased nurses' work stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Coronavirus Stress on Job burnout in nurses with the moderating role of psychological capital in Khorramabad Shohadaye Ashayer Hospital, Iran.

Methods: The present study is a descriptive research in the field of studies in terms of applied purpose; data collection was performed using surveys. The statistical population of the study was 230 nurses working in Khorramabad Shohadaye Ashayer Hospital, Iran. Based on Krejcie and Morgan table, a sample size of 140 people were selected by stratified random sampling method. To measure the variables of the research, a questionnaire was used which included three sections of Coronavirus Stress, Job burnout and psychological capital. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha method and its validity was confirmed using convergent validity. For data analysis, structural equation modeling and SPSS and PLS software were used.
Results: The results showed that at the 95% confidence level, Coronavirus Stress has a positive and significant effect on nurses' Job burnout and psychological capital has a moderating role in relation to Coronavirus Stress and Job burnout.
Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be said that Coronavirus Stress has a significant role in increasing nurses' Job burnout, and in the meantime, nurses with stronger psychological capital suffer less burnout than nurses with weaker psychological capital. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the stress of Coronavirus disease by strengthening the psychological capital of nurses, which is a teachable component, and also equipping nurses with the best equipment.

Correlation Brain Signals and Tractor Sound Signals Based on Fractal Analysis

Majid Lashgari

Background & Objectives: Due to the sound caused by various machines and tools in different agriculture sectors, occupational safety and health should be continuously evaluated. Indeed, the harmful effects of sound can be better reduced when the effects of sound on people's health and performance are fully known.
Methods: In this study, a garden tractor was used. Sixteen volunteers were exposed to the sound of the tractor, and their EEG was recorded at four different engine speeds. Then, Higuchi and Katz methods were used to calculate the fractal dimension of sound signals as well as brain signals.
Results: The results showed that by increasing engine speed, the values of the fractal dimension in both Higuchi and Katz methods increased. The results also showed an increase in the fractal dimension of brain signals due to an increase in engine speed. The regression results also showed a high correlation between the two brain signals and the sound. The coefficient of explanation was 0.896 and 0.859 in Higuchi and Katz methods, respectively.
Conclusion: This study showed that people's reactions, when exposed to sound, can be predicted using the fractal dimension. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the characteristics of brain signals without recording them, which are often costly and time-consuming.

Structural Modeling of Relationship Among Ethical Climate, Emotional Exhaustion with Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention

Zahra Lotfi

Background & Objectives: Ethical atmosphere and burnout of employees is an important issue for the management of the organization and management should play a key role in improving the performance of employees and the organization. The present study aimed to model the structural relationship between ethical atmosphere and emotional exhaustion with job satisfaction and turnover intention.
Methods: The present study is an applied research in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of the data collection method. The statistical population includes 125 employees of the West Azerbaijan Gas Company who were surveyed by census method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha method were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of measuring instruments. Structural equation modeling using Smart PLS software was done to analyze the data.
Results: The results of the determined coefficients showed that the ethical atmosphere was able to explain more than 22% of the changes in emotional exhaustion. Also, emotional exhaustion can explain more than 44% of the changes in job satisfaction and 18% of the changes in the desire to leave the job. The coefficient of morale's impact on job satisfaction with emotional exhaustion was also 0.07. And the impact coefficient of the ethical atmosphere on the desire to leave the job with an emotional exhaustion was also -0.09.
Conclusion: Improving the ethical atmosphere of the organization and reducing the emotional burnout of employees leads to job satisfaction and commitment of employees, and as a result, the performance of employees and the organization improves.

Investigation of Subjective Thermal Sensation and Its Relationship with Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Cognitive Function of Students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Behnam Moradi

Background & Objectives: Thermal sensation is not a direct sense of air temperature but is related to people's feelings, sensory experience and psychological phenomenon, which can affect their performance, productivity, attitude and sense of satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the subjective thermal sensation and its relationship with stress, anxiety, depression and students' cognitive function.
Methods: This study was descriptive-analytical and was performed on 167 male students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Students' subjective thermal sensation was measured on a seven-point scale and ambient temperature and humidity were measured in each student's room. The DASS-42 questionnaire was used to measure stress and anxiety and the "Reaction Timer" device was used to measure the cognitive function. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 20.
Results: Students' stress, anxiety and depression were 40%, 47.3% and 41.3%, respectively. The mean temperature of the dormitory was 20.326 ° C, the mean relative humidity was 56.78% and the subjective thermal sensation of 29.9% of the students were neutral from the ambient temperature. There was a significant relationship between students' subjective thermal sensation and stress, anxiety and mean diagnostic reaction time, color selection, sound selection, number of errors in the diagnostic section and sound selection.
Conclusion: Students' subjective sensation of ambient temperature was obtained as a very important and influential factor because in addition to affecting stress and anxiety, it also had a significant effect on their time of diagnostic reaction and selective.