Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Investigation of the Relationship among Work Shift, Sleep Quality, and Work Ability Index in Pre-Hospital Emergency Personnel in Urmia City in 2023

Teimour Allahyari

Objectives: Nowadays, due to the increase in the volume of accidents, pre-hospital emergency personnel, as the frontline of treatment by providing relief and assistance to patients and victims of various incidents, have encountered various work-related challenges and problems, including cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, excessive fatigue, and reduced sleep quality. In this regard, the present research aimed to study the relationship among shift work, sleep quality, and work ability index in pre-hospital emergency personnel.
Methods: This research was performed on 102 operational personnel of a pre-hospital emergency department in Urmia, Iran. After the collection of demographic information, the number of work shifts per week, the number of working hours per month, the quality of sleep, and the work ability of the personnel were measured by the Petersburg sleep quality questionnaire and work ability index questionnaire. The relationship between research variables was investigated using correlation coefficient, Fisher's exact test, and one-way analysis of variance tests.
Results: Mean total sleep quality score of the personnel was 6.01 ± 2.38, which indicated poor and unfavorable sleep quality. Moreover, work ability index scores of 34.3%, 52%, and 13.7% of participants were at poor, moderate, good, and excellent levels, respectively. Regarding the comparison between the two variables of shift work and sleep quality, there was a significant difference, and a strong and significant relationship was observed between sleep quality and work ability index.
Conclusion: Through the increase in the number of work shifts and working hours, the sleep quality of the personnel became unfavorable and weak which led to a decrease in the work ability index score and a reduction in the job performance of the personnel. Reduction of working hours, usage of young people with high work ability, management and control of the number of work shifts of the personnel by considering resting and closure time, consideration of morning-evening and night shifts in a balanced and equal manner, and prevention of people from working in monotonous shifts (activity only in the form of night work or only day work), and avoidance of working in consecutive work shifts without rest and vacation in order to improve the quality of sleep and work performance is recommended.

Relationship of Stress and Insomnia with Depression among Health Care Workers in Hamadan, Iran: Application of Path Analysis

Erfan Ayubi

Objectives: Various causal pathways play a role in the occurrence of depression in healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the effect of perceived stress and insomnia on depression in healthcare workers using path analysis in Hamadan, Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, healthcare workers from Shahid Beheshti and Sina hospitals in Hamedan in 2023 were recruited. Perceived stress with two subscales of perceived helplessness and perceived self-efficacy, as well as insomnia and depression, were investigated using validated questionnaires. The path analysis was applied to assess the association.
Results: In total, 235 healthcare workers (35.7% nurses) were included. Gender, age, monthly working hours, and number of night shifts per month had a significant impact on depression (P<0.05). Path analysis demonstrated that except for the effect of perceived self-efficacy on insomnia, all standardized regression weights for relationships were statistically significant (P<0.05). The effect size of perceived helplessness on depression was the strongest compared to other relationships (standardized regression weight = 0.40). The direct effect of perceived helplessness and perceived self-efficacy on depression or insomnia as a mediator had a good fit to the data.
Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, with the implementation of intervention and preventive programs to reduce stress and improve sleep, the occurrence of depression in healthcare workers is expected to decrease significantly.

Identifying and Analyzing the Impact of Digital Components of Social Media on the Commercialization of Health to Improve Ergonomics

Reza Ziyari

Objectives: It was expected the healthcare system would help to provide better services by taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the expansion of information and communication technology. In some cases, the efforts of service providers or users to increase their interests have resulted in the commercialization of health at the cost of effectiveness and personal well-being. The present study aimed to identify and analyze the impact of digital components of social media on the commercialization of health with the aim of improving ergonomics at macro and cognitive levels.
Methods: This applied research was conducted based on a descriptive cross-sectional design. The statistical population included 300 professors of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, out of whom 169 cases were selected by simple random method. The components were determined by the descriptive method. The questions were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis in SPSS software. The ranking of the components was performed using Friedman's method, and the final model was then presented.
Results: The digital components of social media in the commercialization of health include five parts(the health system, medicine, patient, insurance, and healthcare personnel) and 30 sub-components.
Conclusion: The digital components related to the health system have the most marked impact on the commercialization of health, highlighting the need to pay attention to the development of social media regulations in the health sector. Common strategies include controlling data availability, building coalitions among health stakeholders with compliance monitoring, using social responsibility laws for digital companies, and promoting self-regulation among stakeholders.

Examining the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Problems Related to Mobile Phone Usage and Providing Corrective Solutions to Dental Students of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz

Maryam Tayebi

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems related to mobile phone usage and provide corrective solutions for dental students of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz.
Methods: The current study was conducted based on an analytical cross-sectional design. In order to collect relevant data, such as the presence of pain in the upper limbs, back, and neck, questionnaires and instrumental methods were used. Students were examined in two groups: the first group included 150 dental students up to the 4th semester, and the second group encompassed 150 dental students from the 5th semester onwards (3rd, 8th, 5th, and 6th year). Data collection instruments were demographic characteristic form, nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q), neck disability index (NDI), and Cornell hand discomfort questionnaire (CHDQ).
Results: According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of nomophobia among dental students of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz was at an average level. The mean NDI score was 16.20, and the mean pain score among the students was 1.72. Moreover, 46.5% of students had pain in the hand area, and the highest amount of pain was reported in the F area. The mean score of Cornell's musculoskeletal disorders was reported as 2.72.
Conclusion: Examining the relationship between the pain area and the year of entry to the university demonstrated a significant relationship between the year of entry to the university and the pain area. In this regard, the incoming students 2021-22 had the greatest amount of pain. According to the results of the corrective intervention on skeletal disorders in the wrist and neck region, the mean scores of the variables increased significantly after the intervention and corrective measures.

Ergonomic Interventions in Knowledge-based Companies

Mohammad Sadegh Sohrabi

Objectives: In the last decade in Iran, the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort among office workers has been reported in the neck, back, and shoulder areas. The present study aimed to assess the impact of ergonomic interventions in knowledge-based companies on musculoskeletal disorders, work-related stress, and quality of work life.
Methods: In this quasi-randomized controlled trial study, the participants, including 311 office workers, received ergonomic interventions at both individual and managerial levels.
Results: The implementation of individual ergonomic training interventions significantly reduced disorders in the neck, right and left shoulders, right forearm, and right wrist. Social support also demonstrated a significant increase in all three intervention groups. The interventions had a significant impact on the quality of working life. The changes in the mean quality of working life for the second and third groups in the first month of growth were significant and then continued similar to the trend of the control group.
Conclusion: The implementation of individual ergonomic training interventions significantly reduced musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulders, and upper limbs. Nonetheless, management training interventions did not affect the musculoskeletal disorders of employees. Furthermore, concurrent implementation of individual ergonomics and management interventions exerted a more pronounced effect on the reduction of disorders. The implementation of management educational interventions and combined interventions led to a marked increase in the level of control experienced by participants, while both types of social support interventions also increased. The implementation of a multi-component ergonomics intervention program was demonstrated to enhance the impact of interventions on employees' health and productivity.

Evaluation of Muscle Activity when using the Passive Assistive Arm

Abdollah Vahedi

Objectives: Despite the increasing trend of automation and mechanization in the industry, many workers are exposed to high physical workloads, repetitive motions, and unusual body postures. In this regard, assistive technology (AT) is a relatively new and practical solution. This study was conducted to design an assistive arm according to ergonomic principles and investigate its effect on the electrical activity of shoulder muscles.
Methods: This research was fundamental in its approach, using an experimental intervention method. The investigated samples included students studying in the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health in 2021, of which 12 participated in the study, half of whom were female and half were male. A prototype of a passive assistive arm was first designed. The electrical activity of muscles was then evaluated at two work heights and two tasks in a simulated workstation with and without the use of an assist arm. The data were analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS26 software.
Results: The designed assistive arm reduced the electrical activity of the muscles in the tested heights and tasks, and among the six investigated muscles, the activity of the trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles decreased the most.
Conclusion: According to the results, the designed assistive arm reduces the electrical activity of the shoulder muscles and differentially affects different tasks and work heights. The results generally indicate that the use of an assistive arm can be an effective intervention for overhead tasks.

Guidelines for the Initiation and Implementation of Ergonomic Projects in Industrially Developing Countries - The Case of Iran: Policy Brief

Houshang Shahnavaz

Drawing from the author's knowledge, experience, and evidence gathered during years of professional activity in Iran, the article offers twenty-two important "lessons learned" concerning the initiation, design, and implementation of ergonomics intervention programs in industries and companies in developing countries, with a focus on Iran. Briefly, a short report of four ergonomics projects implemented in Iran is provided, and then policy suggestions are expressed in the form of lessons. These lessons are derived from the author's practical projects as an ergonomics manager and offer key points to increase the success of ergonomics projects and to expand and sustain ergonomics in industries and companies.

Investigation of Posture Assessment Methods in Dentists and Dental Students: A Systematic Review

Maedeh Moradi Farahani

Objectives: Awkward posture is a primary cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the dental profession due to the nature of dental activities. This study aimed to examine both observational and device-assisted posture assessment methods used to study dental professionals as well as the reported prevalence of MSDs among them.
Methods: A search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for studies performed from 2000 to 2021 using specified keywords. In total, 31 out of the 541 articles found in the initial search were finally included in this study after the exclusion of ineligible articles, duplicates, conference presentations, systematic reviews, and letters to the editor.
Results: Based on the findings, the neck (58%), back and waist (54.9%), and shoulder and hand (29%) areas had the highest reported pain and disorder. Several posture evaluation methods, namely Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (19.4%), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (19.4%), Electromyography (EMG, 13.8%), and Quick Exposure Check (QEC, 8.3%), were the most frequently used methods among all 17 methods employed in the studies.
Conclusion: Among the observational methods, the QEC method was the most practical one as it considered the experiences of dentists and various dimensions of dental tasks. Moreover, the EMG method was the most suitable device-assisted method for the assessment of posture in dentists. The use of questionnaires in conjunction with evaluation methods appears to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of posture assessment.