Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common consequences of poor working conditions associated with computer use. Regarding the lack of information about MSDs and the extensive use of computer among the university students in our country, this study aimed to explore the awareness level of ergonomic considerations in computer use and the prevalence of MSDs among university students.

 Results: The mean (SD) age of students was 21.7 (2.5) years, 64% were females and 67% were undergraduate students. Ninety percent of the students had personal computer and 48% had spent 1 hour or more on their computer daily. It has been reported that approximately 55% of students had suffered from MSDs and less than 10% of them had been familiar with ergonomic considerations in computer use. Chi-square test indicated a significant difference in the incidence of MSDs in terms of the duration of working with computer (p<0.05).

Introduction: Shift work, in addition to its effects on physical, psychological and social status, may impact on oral health. The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between shift work and oral health in nurses.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 nurses working in a hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2014-2015. Oral health status and DMFT index (Decayed, Missing and Filling Teeth) was assessed by a dentist through clinical examination. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, chi-squared test, independent samples t-test and multiple logistic regressions test.

Results: The results showed that the means of DMFT index in shift work nurses and non-shift work nurses were 8.10 ± 4.10 and 9.41 ± 2.8, respectively. There was no significant difference between decayed, missing and filled teeth and periodontal DMFT index in both groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age was a significant predictor of DMFT indictor (P<0.001). No significant relationship was found in DMFT index with gravid, parity, family income, anxiety and work experience.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that shift work was not an independent factor affecting oral health. However, regarding the DMFT index mean differences and nurses’ job responsibilities, it seems necessary to pay more attention to this occupational group.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are inevitable consequences of ergonomic principles neglect. The increasing use of computer by students may result in these disorders. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MSDs and evaluate the effectiveness of ergonomics training intervention among university students.

Methods: This interventional and cross-sectional study was performed on a group of medical and paramedical students. Samples were chosen by simple sampling method. In the first stage, data were gathered by means of a self-made measurement and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Furthermore, an educational booklet regarding the principles of ergonomics in computer use (educational intervention) was offered to the subjects. In the second stage of the study, the effectiveness of intervention was evaluated using a written exam and a quasi-objective structured clinical examination (quasi-OSCE) test. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15, as well as descriptive and analytical statistical indexes.

Results: From 205 students participated in the first round of the study, the results showed that 62.44% of them (128 persons) reported at least one complain or limitation in their musculoskeletal systems during the past year. Less than 10% of the participants were aware about the considerations of ergonomics principals during computer use. After submission of the educational materials, their awareness about the ergonomics considerations in computer use significantly improved(P<0.001) and more than 95% of them had good or medium performance after the intervention.

Conclusions: The training program was effective on the awareness of ergonomics principles in computer use. However, prevention of musculoskeletal disorders requires complementary measures such as elimination of risk factors and administrative controls.

Introduction: The working population spends an increasing amount of waking times at work that is full of social relationship and meaningful resource of social capital. With regard to relationship between workplace social capital and employee health, this systematic review was performed with aim to evaluate the effects of workplace social capital in health workforce.

Materials & Methods: This is a systematic review study. The articles were in full text and  in English language that were cited in Pubmed, Scopus, and Google scholar database with key words such as "workplace social capital" ,"health", "hypertension", "diabetes", "depression" without time limit were selected, at least 14 articles were eligible.

Results: Workplace social capital was related with cardio-vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and depression among the employees.

Conclusions: Workplace social capital should be considered as one of the most important issue in health promotion.

Introduction: Content analysis is amongst common methods of scientific research of journals. According to the paucity of such studies in the ergonomics scope and the need for information on the direction and characteristics of conducted research and in order to gain more detailed plans, this study aimed to perform a content analysis of scientific outputs regarding occupational Health with an emphasis on ergonomics.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on articles published by Persian and interior Latin journals with a minimum track record of 3 years for a period of 10 years, from 2005 to 2015. Data were collected via a researcher-made checklist, using census and based on the content analysis method.

Results: The extracted data, from 927 articles during the period of 10 years, from 5 specialized journals, showed that the largest share of researches was related to the ergonomics scope (24.27%). The main research tools used in ergonomics articles were questionnaires (69.77%). Based on the types of studies, only 15.55% of ergonomic researches were based on interventional studies.

Conclusions: Articles with the subject of ergonomics have increased over the past decade. Most research has been conducted with an emphasis on physical health; however, psychological and social aspects of health have been somewhat neglected. Most research in ergonomics scope was descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional. In this regard, more attention should be paid to interventional studies.