Zahra Merrikhpour, Mohammad Sadegh Sohrabi,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (11-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Playgrounds play a very important role in the development of children's communities and their physical skills. If these spaces are designed according to safety standards, they can contribute to the better social and physical growth of children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety status of children's playground equipment in Hamadan Luna Park according to the standards of the U.S. Consumer product safety commission (CPSC).
Methods: The present study was a descriptive and analytical one. The statistical population included a total of 600 persons, working in one of the regions in the Tehran Municipality. Of the 600 staff, a total of 255 were selected as the available sample group. The instruments consisted of the questionnaires, including the individual and occupational information, the Nordic questionnaire, the Walton Quality of work life, and the checklist of the ergonomic indices of the working environment for the administrative staff. In order to analyze the data, Student’s t-test and multiple regression analysis were used.
Results: The results showed that among the main playground equipments, the spiral slide has the highest ratio of 76.1% and the seesaws with 25% minimum compliance with the CPSC standard. Among the most commonly problems in this field the non-standard design of play equipment, incorrect assembly, installation and placement in use zones can be pointed.
Conclusion: According to this paper’s report, given the undeniable role of the safety of playground equipment in preventing possible harm to children, they must be secured and adapted to global standards.
Zahra Jahani, Mahshid Namdari, Nastaran Keshavarz, Mahnaz Saremi,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders, including back pain, are increasingly prevalent among school-aged children. Poor postural habits and improper backpack carriage are significant contributing factors. However, there is currently no comprehensive and standardized tool available to assess children’s knowledge of ergonomics related to spinal health.
Methods: This methodological study involved the development of a questionnaire through a seven-step process. Following the creation of the preliminary version and assessment of face validity, content validity was evaluated using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) by ten experts. The reliability of the instrument was assessed via test-retest procedure with 15 students and internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient with a sample of 180 students.
Results: The final version of the questionnaire entitled Kids Spine Ergonomics Awareness (KidSEA) comprised 13 items across three domains: "Spinal Anatomy," "Correct Posture," and "Ergonomics of Carrying School Supplies." The CVI and CVR for each item exceeded 0.79 and 0.62, respectively, indicating all items were validated. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient for individual items was above 0.41, and the overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.74, demonstrating acceptable levels of reliability and internal consistency.
Conclusion: The KidSEA questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing knowledge of ergonomic principles related to spinal health in children. It can be utilized to evaluate health literacy concerning spinal care, to design targeted interventions, and to inform educational programs for the studied age group. Further studies are recommended to establish the validity of the instrument across different age groups.
