Iranian Journal of Ergonomics
Year:2016 | Volume:4 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Introduction: Many employees in different professions including nurses work with shifts.On the other hand, different and long shift work can endanger physical and mental health of nurses. This study, according to ergonomic standards, aimed to design a model for shift working in order to minimize the problems caused by shift work.Methods: In this study, all 35 nurses working in the emergency ward of Imam Sajjad (AS) Hospital of Ramsar city, Iran, were considered. Then, the information gathered from answering the Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) (Circadian rhythm) and Survey Sampling International (SSI) (personal and social charactristics) questionnaire were changed to a model and then reconstruct after comparing it again with circadian rhythm principals. The final model was implemented with GAMS (gamma glut amyl amino methyl sulfonic acid) and at the end, shift working with ergonomic criteria were proposed.Results: Shift working were designed for each nurse. Also, the obtained objective function value (Z=1.110223e16-) showed that the designed model was really close to ideal model. According to hospital rules and policies, if five more nurses get added to the currently employed ones, the proposed working program on one hand will improve satisfaction and efficiency of nurses and on the other hand it can decrease the effects of disorders on shift work.Conclusions: Hospitals can have healthy and motivated workforce by applying the scientific approach to adjust a suitable working plan for their nurses and decrease the number of disabilities and also the rate of early retirement.

Introduction: Low back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain syndrome which leads to activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between severity of low back pain and work limitation in patients with acute and chronic low back pain.Methods: Ninety patients with acute and chronic low back pain who attended the rheumatology Clinic of Booali Hospital were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire containing demographic information and one about the onset and cause of low back pain were asked from patients. Work Limitation Questionnaire was asked from patients. Severity of pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. All the data were analysed using SPSS software.Results: The results showed that the most common cause of low back pain was discopathy with 33 patients (%36.7). There was no significant difference between males and females in terms of work limitation (P=0.66). Patients with discopathy showed the most severe work limitations (%72). Also, there was a significant relationship between severity of work limitation and patients' age. Older patients had more severity of work limitations (P<0.001, r=0.42). There was a significant correlation between work limitation and severity of pain. Patients with increasing pain had more severity of work limitations (P<0.001).Conclusions: Our results showed that with increasing age and pain work limitations will increase due to low back pain.

Introduction: Job stress such as role ambiguity, a situation that arises from the interaction between people and jobs, reduces the performance and job satisfaction. Proactive people eliminate ambiguity in their jobs by behaviors such as innovation. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of proactive personality on job satisfaction and performance mediated by information seeking.Methods: The statistical population of this survey consisted of the official staff and contractual personnel of Bid Boland gas refinery, from whom 260 were selected using the hierarchical random sampling method. The research design of this study was correlation, through structural equation modeling. The data collection tools were Role Ambiguity Scale, Proactive Behavior Questionnaire (Ashford and Black), Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (Brayfield & Rothe), and Job Performance Questionnaire (Paterson). The assessment of the proposed pattern was conducted through path analysis.Results: The results supported the suitability of the relationship between the patterns and the collected data. The results revealed that proactive behavior mediated the effect of role ambiguity in job satisfaction and performance. All the routes in the research model were meaningful (P<0.001) and the overall fit index [root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)] was 0.04, which represents an excellent fit pattern.Conclusions: Proactive behavior eliminates uncertainty for employees and finally eliminates the negative effects of role ambiguity on job performance and satisfaction and leads to increased performance and satisfaction of employees.

Introduction: Foot anthropometric dimensions could be useful in designing comfortable footwear. The objective of this study was the measurement of foot anthropometric dimensions in a group of students.Methods: This was a descriptive study in which 21 dimensions of foot for 580 males and females were measured manually. To measure the foot dimensions, a digital caliper and a tape were used. The measured dimensions included the important lengths, widths, heights and girths of foot. Descriptive statistics such as percentiles, mean and standard deviation were calculated for the collected data. To test and survey of the mean of foot dimensions between males and females, statistics such as independent t-test and effect size (Cohen's d) were used.Results: The values of mean, standard deviation, the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles were calculate and tabulated for the total studied population and for gender. In all measured foot dimensions, males had bigger dimensions than females. Gender had different impacts on the measured foot dimensions. The mean of all foot dimensions was significantly different between males and females (P value=0.001). Digital pattering of I and II were observed in %78 and %22 of the studied population, respectively.Conclusions: In the present study, important anthropometric data of foot were collected for a group of students. The presented percentiles could be used in design of male and female shoes. Conducting similar studies in children with different age categories could help completion of the anthropometric database.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common occupational health problems, reported with high costs and loss of productivity in nurses. On one hand, the quality of life is a multidimensional concept that affects factors such as physical and psychological ones. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between WMSDs and quality of life in nurses.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 940 nursing staff in Hospitals of Sari, Iran. The samples were selected by census sampling method. Data were gathered using particular questionnaires of musculoskeletal disorders (Nordic) and quality of life (SF36-). Collected data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test and Pearson's correlation using SPSS software (version 18).Results: The results showed that low back disorder with prevalence of %60.9 was the most prevalent disorder among nurses. All aspects of quality of life, except for social functioning, were significantly correlated with WMSDs (P<0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship in age, gender and education level with WMSDs as well as in gender and work with quality of life (P<0.05).Conclusions: According to this study, the prevalence of WMSDs was relatively high in nurses. In the majority of nurses, moderate quality of life was observed. Therefore, any intervention to improve quality of life and prevent WMSDs should be focused on, to reduce the physical needs and psychological pressures.

Introduction: Introduction: Inappropriate sizes of school furniture and the deformation of children's bodies is one of the issues of concern in the world. The aim of this study was the evaluation of anthropometry of primary students aged 12-6 years in Mazandaran, Iran and the design of school furniture based on the anthropometric criteria of the students.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18 anthropometric dimensions of 2336 boys and girls aged 12-6 years in 2015-2014 were measured. To collect data, anthropometric chair, camera and camera stand, and Anthropometric photo graphical software were used. After determining the anthropometric dimensions, ergonomic school furniture was designed.Results: Average, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, median and percentile value of 2.5 to 97.5 of the anthropometric dimensions of students were calculated. The results showed that gender had no effect on the popliteal height in the age groups of 6 to 7 and 7 to 8, but age had effects on popliteal height (P<0.001). In the age groups of 8 to 9 and 9 to 10 years and also the age groups of 10 to 11 and 11 to 12 years both gender and age had effects on popliteal height (P<0.001).Conclusions: The results showed that by eliminating the effects of gender, 16.2 mm popliteal height increased per year. It was also found that after eliminating the effects of age, popliteal height increased 20.39 mm more in girls than in boys. Until the age of puberty, the anthropometric dimensions in girls increased more than in boys. The dimensions of ergonomics tables and chairs for students were designed in three sizes.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are the major health problems in nurses. One of the main reasons is patient transfer. The work technique of nursing personnel during patient transfers has been evaluated using different methods. One of the most useful ones is Direct Nurse Observation Instrument (DINO). The purpose of the present study was to assess the musculoskeletal disorders risk related to patient transfer in nursing personnel using the DINO method.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 250 nurses working in affiliated hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran in 2015. Data were collected by Nordic questioners and DINO index check list. The validity and reliability of DINO checklist were reviewed and approved. For data analysis, independent t-test, chi-squared test and logistic regression were used.Results: The average result of DINO checklist was 9.73 points (SD=1.8), which can suggest that the way in which the technical transfer was carried out might not have been the safest. The results showed that the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff was significantly associated with final scoring of the DINO index (P<0.001).Conclusions: According to the findings, DINO was an appropriate tool to assess musculoskeletal disorders risk due to patient handling in the nursing personnel. This method can be used in the evaluation of patient transfer educational programs and also to identify and assess an unsafe work techniques used by nurses.

Introduction: Using human data and observing local manufacturers of domestic products for imported furniture seems necessary to design and manufacture sofas with ergonomic indices. This paper uses data from the study of human population. The design process from the perspective of ergonomic furniture and product design consists of ergonomic principles such as shape and posture in the correct state and consideration of parts of body that need cushion for protection.Methods: In this research, anthropometric data of 150 males and 110 females between the ages of 25 to 35 were measured. The calculations were based on a sample size sofa to gather user evaluation.Results: After analyzing the measured results of a similar internal investigation using SPSS software and combining them with ergonomic principles, the optimal size sofa measurements with all angles for Iranians adults was calculated and the results were compared with the dimensions of the furniture.Conclusions: Seat height and backrest height and width, respectively 57, 37 and 62 cm, the angle of 105 degrees between the seat and the back, and the slope of 5 degrees for the seat surface are suggested as the standard.