Pandemija izazvana širenjem koronavirusa teškog akutnog respiratornog sindroma 2 dovela je do značajnih promjena u globalnoj ergonomiji rada. Naime, tisuće zaposlenika iznenada su uobičajene radne ...prostore zamijenile kućnim prostorom ne bi li se smanjilo širenje virusa i obuzdala pandemija. Kako bi se opisale mišićno-koštane tegobe u uvjetima rada od kuće te analizirali novonastali uvjeti rada od kuće, ovo presječno pilot-istraživanje obuhvatilo je 232 zaposlenika telekomunikacijske tvrtke: 121 muškarca (52,2 %) u dobi od 23 do 62 godine i 111 žena (47,8 %) u dobi od 23 do 53 godine, koji su radili od kuće osam mjeseci, tj. od 16. 3. 2020. do 4. 12. 2020. Za potrebe ovog istraživanja autori su izradili virtualni upitnik u kojem su ispitanici samostalno procijenili intenzitet bolova u šakama, donjem dijelu leđa te u vratu i gornjem dijelu leđa tijekom rada od kuće, uvjete rada od kuće te razinu vlastite tjelesne aktivnosti. U odnosu na vrijeme prije rada od kuće, 90 ispitanika (39,1 %) prijavilo je jače bolove u donjem dijelu leđa tijekom rada od kuće, pri čemu je pogoršanje bola u vratu i gornjem dijelu leđa prijavilo 105 ispitanika (45,7 %), a bola u šakama njih 63 (27,2 %). Samo trećina zaposlenika nije prijavila mišićno-koštane tegobe tijekom rada od kuće. Muškarci su značajno rjeđe prijavili bol u šakama, donjem dijelu leđa te u vratu i gornjem dijelu leđa (p=0,033; p=0,001 odnosno p=0,013). Posebnu prostoriju za rad od kuće imalo je 69 ispitanika (29,9 %), odvojeni radni prostor njih 75 (32,4 %), a njih 87 (37,7 %) nije imalo radni prostor, pa su najčešće radili u blagovaonici (njih 30). Pisaći radni stol za rad nije imalo 95 ispitanika (40,9 %), a ergonomsku radnu stolicu imalo je njih tek 75 (32,3 %). Od ispitanika koji žive s ukućanima (N=164), njih 116 (70,7 %) smatralo je da ih ukućani ometaju u radu stalno ili povremeno. Više od polovice ispitanika (52 %) smatralo je da radi dulje kod kuće nego na poslu, i to značajno više žene (p=0,05). Samo je 69 ispitanika (29,9 %) uzimalo češće predahe, i to značajno češće stariji zaposlenici (p=0,006). Naši rezultati upućuju na to da, radi sprječavanja mišićno-koštanih tegoba, zaposlenike treba educirati o metodama i načinima prilagodbe neergonomske opreme, korištenju pauza, potrebi tjelovježbe, a poslodavce treba educirati o potrebi organizacije radnog vremena u novim uvjetima rada od kuće.
One of the side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is a global change in work ergonomic patterns as millions of people replaced their usual work environment with home to limit the spread of the severe ...acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection. The aim of our cross-sectional pilot study was to identify musculoskeletal pain that may have resulted from this change and included 232 telecommunications company workers of both genders 121 (52.2 %) men aged 23–62 (median 41; interquartile range 33–46 yrs.) and 111 (47.8 %) women aged 23–53 (median 40; interquartile range 33–44) who had been working from home for eight months (from 16 March to 4 December 2020) before they joined the study. The participants were asked to fill in our web-based questionnaire by self-assessing their experience of hand, lower back, and upper back/neck pain while working at home and by describing their work setting and physical activity. Compared to previous work at the office, 90 (39.1 %) participants reported stronger pain in the lower back, 105 (45.7 %) in the upper back/neck, and 63 (27.2 %) in their hands. Only one third did not report any musculoskeletal problems related to work from home. Significantly fewer men than women reported hand, lower back, and upper back/ neck pain (p=0.033, p=0.001 and p=0.013, respectively). Sixty-nine workers (29.9 %) reported to work in a separate room, 75 (32.4 %) worked in a separate section of a room with other household members, whereas 87 (37.7 %) had no separate work space, 30 of whom most often worked in the dining room. Ninety-five participants (40.9 %) had no office desk to work at, and only 75 (32.3 %) used an ergonomic chair. Of those who shared their household with others (N=164), 116 (70.7 %) complained about constant or occasional disturbances. Over a half of all participants (52 %) said that they worked longer hours from home than at work, predominantly women (p=0.05). Only 69 participants (29.9 %) were taking frequent breaks, predominantly older ones (p=0.006). Our findings clearly point to a need to inform home workers how to make more ergonomic use of non-ergonomic equipment, use breaks, and exercise and to inform employers how to better organise working hours to meet the needs of work from home.
The aim of this study was to assess psychosocial stress-related risks in 70 specialists in occupational health (SOHs) who answered the questionnaire designed in 2016 by the Croatian Institute of ...Public Health – Department of Occupational Health. The average score of 119.7 points (±28.9; range: 38–175) of maximum 275 points revealed medium level of stress. Eighteen respondents had a high level of stress (>135 points). The most prominent and the only stressor with high stress scores was pressure at work, paperwork and multitasking items in particular. After having grouped the SOHs into three groups by type of organisation in which they work, our results singled out SOHs working in public institutions as having the highest levels of stress (average of 143 points). They reported high pressure at work, work overload, and poor relationship with superiors (in terms of communication and support). SOHs working in healthcare centres and private outpatient clinics also reported higher pressure at work, but the latter had no problems with relationship with superiors, while healthcare centre SOHs complained of work underload and advancement constraints. Differences in relationship with superiors, disagreement/conflicts at work and advancement constraints reflect different organisation of work, which was confirmed by later analysis of subgroups. The findings of this pilot study could be of value for SOHs who are engaged in training programmes as examiners and educators, yet they call for further improvement of the questionnaire and for continued investigation that could give a better insight into the role of various stressors in work efficiency and satisfaction among SOHs.
CHOLESTEROL AND CHLORIDE IN ACUTE HEART FAILURE Radulović, Bojana; Potočnjak, Ines; Dokoza Terešak, Sanda ...
Acta clinica Croatica (Tisak),
06/2019, Letnik:
58, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Detecting predictors of poor outcome is crucial for understanding the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) and thus creating new therapeutic concepts. It is well established that low ...serum lipid levels are associated with unfavorable outcomes in HF patients. Several studies examined the association between serum lipids and established predictors of mortality in HF patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of serum lipid and chloride concentrations, as well as their impact on survival in acute heart failure (AHF). The present study was performed as a prospective, single-centre, observational research. The study included 152 patients with AHF. Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed a significant positive correlation of serum chloride levels with serum levels of total cholesterol (ρ 0.221, p=0.006), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (ρ 0.187, p=0.015) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) (ρ 0.169, p=0.038). Binary logistic regression revealed a significant association of chloride, total cholesterol and LDL-c serum levels measured at admission with hospital survival (OR 1.077, CI 1.01-1.154, p=0.034), (OR 1.731, CI 1.090-2.748, p=0.020) and (OR 1.839, CI 1.033-3.274, p=0.038), respectively, as well as with 3-month survival (OR 1.065, CI 1.002-1.131, p=0.042), (OR 1.625, CI 1.147-2.303, p=0.006) and (OR 1.711, CI 1.117-2.622, p=0.014), respectively. In conclusion, positive statistical association between serum cholesterol (total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c) and chloride levels may suggest their similar modulation by AHF pathophysiology. Serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c and chloride contribute to patient survival.
EDITORIAL Radulović, Azra Huršidić
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju,
07/2019, Letnik:
70, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Dear readers, It is the deeply sorrowful and emotional task of the Editorial Office of the Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology to inform you that on 22 July 2019 our Honorary Editor Prof ...Marko Šarić passed away at the age of 96. Through his immense expertise, experience, and wisdom, our dear Professor gave an almost unrivalled contribution to the growth and advancement of our journal, for which we will forever be grateful. A more detailed recollection of the rich life's work of Marko Šarić, an esteemed and internationally renowned expert in occupational health, member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and longstanding director of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health will be published in the next issue of the Archives.
Computer users most often complain of the eye and locomotor system disorders. The goal of this paper was to find out the frequency and relation between musculoskeletal and eye symptoms among computer ...workers.The data on musculoskeletal and eye symptoms were provided by two questionnaires. Forty-nine workers were included in the study. Their mean age was 41 years and average length of service 16 years. The average amount of time they spent in front of computers was 6.73 hours per day. Women spent more time working at a computer per day than men (P=0.025). The most frequent complaint in the past year referred to the upper back pain (30.6 % of the workers). Every fourth worker, i.e. 24.5 % of them experienced neck pain in the past year; women more often than men (P=0.024). A health problem which reduced the range of motion and prompted the workers to ask for sick leave was lower back pain. The relation between eye symptoms and the upper back pain experienced in the past year (P=0.004), and in the last week (P=0.031) was statistically significant.Proper exercises for stretching musculoskeletal system, ergonomic computer equipment, and artificial tears could decrease muscular and eye problems, which in turn could enhance productivity and reduce sick leaves.
PDF
