The relationship between thermal comfort and light intensity with sleep quality and eye tiredness in shift work nurses

Prevalence and determinants of asthenopia among ophthalmologists in China: a national cross-sectional survey

Introduction

The role of ophthalmologists is defined by tasks requiring visual effort, emphasizing the importance of examining their condition within the realm of occupational visual health. Our goal was to explore the occurrence of asthenopia among Chinese ophthalmologists and identify contributing factors through the use of a reliable and validated survey instrument.

Methods

A national cross-sectional online survey was carried out in June 2017, involving 6,220 practicing ophthalmologists in China. Utilizing an 11-item Asthenopia Survey Questionnaire with established reliability and validity. Prevalence rates of asthenopia among subgroups categorized by age, gender, hospital classification, physician level, daily near vision activity duration, sleep duration, sleep quality, presbyopia status, and history of eye surgery were determined using the independent t-test, chi-square test and bonferroni test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to pinpoint independent factors linked to asthenopia.

Results

Out of the 5,009 ophthalmologists who completed the survey, a 40.7% prevalence of asthenopia was identified. Multivariate analysis revealed that good sleep quality (OR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.20-0.30), moderate sleep quality (OR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.38-0.59), engaging in daily near vision activities for less than 7 h (OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.68-0.86), having daily sleep duration exceeding 7 h (OR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.77-0.98), and working in tertiary hospitals (OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.78-0.99) were protective factors against asthenopia. Conversely, presbyopia was identified as a risk factor (OR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.04-1.70). All calculated p values were below 0.05. Age, gender, physician level, and eye surgery history were not related factors.

Conclusion

Asthenopia is prevalent among Chinese ophthalmologists, with employment in tertiary hospitals providing a protective effect and presbyopia is a risk factor. Preventive strategies include improving sleep quality, restricting daily near vision activity to under 7 h, and extending daily sleep duration to over 7 h. Further investigation is needed to explore the protective implications of working in tertiary hospitals.

Perceived Eye-Related Symptoms and Influencing Factors in Hospital Nurses

Nurses are at risk of eye discomfort due to the increasing use of visual display terminals and wearing masks, which may worsen eye-related symptoms. This study was conducted in South Korea to identify the factors influencing eye-related symptoms among hospital nurses on/off duty. The study included 154 nurses who completed a self-reported questionnaire that assessed demographic characteristics, perceived health status, dry-eye symptoms, occupational stress, and eye-related symptoms. The results showed that nurses complained of more eye-related symptoms on duty than off duty, with female sex and dry-eye symptoms being the factors influencing eye-related symptoms on duty. On the other hand, computer use time (≥4 h) and dry-eye symptoms were the factors influencing eye-related symptoms off duty. The study suggests that assessing dry-eye symptoms can facilitate early interventions to relieve eye-related symptoms in hospital nurses, and they should pay attention to eye health during working hours as well as off hours.

The Effects of Active Warming on Core Body Temperature and Thermal Comfort in Patients After Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Prevention and treatment of hypothermia by active warming in perioperative period care is recommended but scientific evidence of its effectiveness in a clinical setting is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of warmed intravenous fluids (WIVF) on the core body temperature and the patients' thermal comfort. Baseline data of 105 male patients undergoing TUR-P surgery and bladder irrigation were analyzed. The experimental group was warmed using active WIVF, and the control group's routine care was conducted using a cotton blanket. Body temperature was higher in patients in the experimental group than those in the control group. Repeated measures Manova revealed significantly different core temperature changes between groups (F = 34.446, p = .001). The thermal comfort scores were also higher in the experimental group than in the control group (x² = 203.552, p = .001). The findings indicated that WIVF can enhance body temperature and improve the thermal comfort of patients.

A Web Survey to Evaluate the Thermal Stress Associated with Personal Protective Equipment among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

The pandemic has been afflicting the planet for over a year and from the occupational point of view, healthcare workers have recorded a substantial increase in working hours. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), necessary to keep safe from COVID-19 increases the chances of overheating, especially during the summer seasons which, due to climate change, are becoming increasingly warm and prolonged. A web survey was carried out in Italy within the WORKLIMATE project during the summer and early autumn 2020. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate differences between groups. 191 questionnaires were collected (hospital doctor 38.2%, nurses 33.5%, other healthcare professionals 28.3%). The impact of PPE on the thermal stress perception declared by the interviewees was very high on the body areas directly covered by these devices (78% of workers). Workers who used masks for more than 4 h per day perceived PPE as more uncomfortable (p < 0.001) compared to the others and reported a greater productivity loss (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study highlighted a high perception of thermal stress among healthcare workers that worn COVID-19-PPE and this enhances the need for appropriate heat health warning systems and response measures addressed to the occupational sector.

Thermal Comfort Applied in Hospital Environments: A Literature Review

The predicted mean vote (PMV) is the most widely used model around the world to assess thermal comfort in indoor environments. The year 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the PMV model and also the year in which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. In this context, hospital environments and health professionals are at the center of attention, and a good indoor environment for those professionals to develop their activities is essential. Thus, considering the PMV model and focusing on hospital environments, this study performed a literature review of studies published between 1968 and August 2020. The research identified 153 papers on thermal comfort and its application in hospitals, health centers, and elderly centers. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted to determine the most relevant studies for the four research questions proposed in this study. After applying the exclusion criteria, 62 studies were included in order to identify their main characteristics. In the universe of the 62 studies, this review identified 24 studies that applied the PMV model and 12 where there was a comparison of PMV and the thermal sensation votes (TSV) reported by people. The main findings of this research are: (i) A good thermal environment for professionals and patients is important, and more studies are needed; (ii) there are little explored topics, such as productivity related to thermal comfort in hospital environments; (iii) in addition to thermal comfort, other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters have also been evaluated, such as indoor air quality (IAQ); (iv): the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how the quality of indoor spaces is important in order to ensure occupant’s health.

The effects of indoor ambient temperature at work on physiological adaptation in night shift nurses

AIM

To examine the effects of indoor ambient temperature on thermal comfort, night work tolerance (fatigue, sleepiness and night adaptation) and urinary melatonin in night shift nurses.

BACKGROUND

Night shift induces physical stress and mental stress. Night shift work and ambient temperature are associated with work performance. The working environment must be improved for successful night shift working. However, the effects of indoor ambient temperature on night shift nurses are unclear.

METHODS

In this crossover study, 20 participants were divided into two groups of 10 and were assigned to work in one of two thermo-controlled environments (23°C vs. 26°C) during two consecutive night shifts. Thermal and humidity sensation vote, night work tolerance, body temperature and urinary melatonin were assessed.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the two groups in thermal sensation and body temperature. There were no significant differences in humidity sensation vote or night work tolerance. Urinary melatonin levels decreased significantly during the second 23°C night shift.

CONCLUSION

A temperature of 23°C may exert a positive effect on night shift adaptation.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nurses and nursing managers should assess thermal comfort during night shifts, and improved thermal comfort level should be provided to nurses.

Prediction of Computer Vision Syndrome in Health Personnel by Means of Genetic Algorithms and Binary Regression Trees

One of the major consequences of the digital revolution has been the increase in the use of electronic devices in health services. Despite their remarkable advantages, though, the use of computers and other visual display terminals for a prolonged time may have negative effects on vision, leading to a greater risk of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among their users. In this study, the importance of ocular and visual symptoms related to CVS was evaluated, and the factors associated with CVS were studied, with the help of an algorithm based on regression trees and genetic algorithms. The performance of this proposed model was also tested to check its ability to predict how prone a worker is to suffering from CVS. The findings of the present research confirm a high prevalence of CVS in healthcare workers, and associate CVS with a longer duration of occupation and higher daily computer usage.

Correlation between handheld digital device use and asthenopia in Chinese college students: a Shanghai study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of handheld digital devices and the prevalence of self-reported asthenopia among college students in China and their potential relationship.

METHODS

Five thousand students were randomly assessed using a self-reported asthenopia questionnaire. The students' demographic characteristics and habits regarding digital device use were recorded. Univariate analysis was performed to select potential risk factors, and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios for the selected risk factors of interest.

RESULTS

Among the 4786 students who completed the survey, the prevalence of asthenopia was 53.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed significant relationships between asthenopia and each of the following: level of digital reliance (OR 1.350, 95%CI: 1.230-1.481), workload, time spent on computer per day, sex and time spent on handheld digital devices in bed and at desk. Aerobic exercise duration (OR 0.912, 95%CI: 0.839-0.990) was found to be strong predictor of less asthenopia complaints.

CONCLUSION

Asthenopia appears to be common among college students in China. Preventative measures against asthenopia include limiting the amount of time spent using digital devices in bed (<0.5 h), adopting a posture of lying on one's back while doing so and engaging in aerobic exercise for more than one hour per day. Furthermore, studies on this topic are needed.

Towards establishing evidence-based guidelines on maximum indoor temperatures during hot weather in temperate continental climates

Rising environmental temperatures represent a major threat to human health. The activation of heat advisories using evidence-based thresholds for high-risk outdoor ambient temperatures have been shown to be an effective strategy to save lives during hot weather. However, although the relationship between weather and human health has been widely defined by outdoor temperature, corresponding increases in indoor temperature during heat events can also be harmful to health especially in vulnerable populations. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the relationship between outdoor temperature and human health and examine how human health can also be adversely influenced by high indoor temperatures during heat events. Our assessment of the existing literature revealed a high degree of variability in what can be considered an acceptable indoor temperature because there are differences in how different groups of people may respond physiologically and behaviorally to the same living environment. Finally, we demonstrate that both non-physiological (e.g., geographical location, urban density, building design) and physiological (e.g., sex, age, fitness, state of health) factors must be considered when defining an indoor temperature threshold for preserving human health in a warming global climate.

The effect of three ergonomics interventions on body posture and musculoskeletal disorders among stuff of Isfahan Province Gas Company

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is high among computer users. The study investigates the effect of three ergonomic interventions on the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among the staff of Isfahan Province Gas Company, including training, sport, and installation of software.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed in the summer of 2013 on 75 (52 men, 23 women) Isfahan Province Gas Company employees in three phases (phase 1: Evaluation of present situation, phase 2: Performing interventions, and phase 3: Re-evaluation). Participants were divided into three groups (training, exercise, and software). The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software and McNemar test, t-test, and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

Based on the evaluations, there was a decrease in musculoskeletal symptoms among the trained group participants after they received the training. McNemar test showed that the lower rate of pain in low back, neck, knee, and wrist was significant (P < 0.05). The results obtained from the RULA method for evaluation of posture showed an average 25 points decrease in the right side of the body and 20 points decrease in the left side of the body in the group subjected to training. Based on t-test, the decrease was significant.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that majority of the participants accepted interventions, which indicates that most of the people were unsatisfied with the work settings and seeking improvement at the workplace. Overall, the findings show that training, chair adjustment, and arrangement in workplace could decrease musculoskeletal disorders.

The effects of state anxiety and thermal comfort on sleep quality and eye fatigue in shift work nurses

Psychological problems as state anxiety (SA) in the work environment has negative effect on the employees life especially shift work nurses, i.e. negative effect on mental and physical health (sleep quality, eye fatigue and comfort thermal). The purpose of this study was determination of effects of state anxiety and thermal comfort on sleep quality and eye fatigue in shift work nurses.

METHODS

This cross-sectional research conducted on 82 shift-work personnel of 18 nursing workstations of Isfahan hospitals in 2012. To measure the SA, sleep quality, visual fatigue and thermal comfort, Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory, Pittsburg sleep quality index, eye fatigue questionnaire and thermal comfort questionnaire were used respectively. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, student test and correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Correlation between SA and sleep quality was -0.664(P < 0001), Pearson correlation between SA and thermal comfort was -0.276(P = 0.016) and between SA and eye fatigue was 0.57 (P < 0001).

CONCLUSION

Based on these results, it can be concluded that improvement of thermal conditions and reduce state anxiety level can be reduce eye fatigue and increase the sleep quality in shift work nurses.

Association between Workplace Risk Factor Exposure and Sleep Disturbance: Analysis of the 2nd Korean Working Conditions Survey

OBJECTIVES

Sleep is essential for human beings to live and work properly. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between occupational exposures to workplace risk factors and sleep disturbance in Korean workers.

METHODS

The data were drawn from the second Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS); a total of 7,112 paid workers were analyzed. The independent variables were occupational exposures such as physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial risk factor in the workplace, and psychosocial risk factor was divided into five categories (job demand, job control, social support, job insecurity, lack of reward). We estimated the relationship between various occupational exposures and sleep disturbance using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed that people who exposed to physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial (high job demand, inadequate social support, lack of reward) risk factors were more likely to increase the risk of sleep disturbance. Furthermore, after adjusting for general and occupational characteristics, we found significant positive associations between exposures to physical (odds ratios [OR] 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.07) and psychosocial (high job demand (OR 2.93, 95% CI 2.16-3.98), inadequate social support (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.14-2.15), lack of reward (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08-1.96)) risk factors and sleep disturbance.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that occupational exposures to physical and psychosocial workplace risk factors are significantly related to sleep disturbance.

Prevalence of asthenopia and its risk factors in Chinese college students

AIM

To determine the prevalence of asthenopia and identify any associated risk factors in the college students in Xi'an, China.

METHODS

From April to September 2012, 1 500 students from five universities in Xi'an were selected according to a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Data on demographic features, lifestyle or dietary habits, health status, living environment conditions, sleep and mental status, and asthenopia symptoms were collected through a self-administered validated questionnaire. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis modified by the factor analysis were performed to evaluate risk factors for asthenopia.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven percent of the college students complained of asthenopia. Statistically significant risk factors for asthenopia in the univariate analysis included 13 variables. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between the use of computer and asthenopia (OR 1.21, 95%CI: 1.09 to 1.35). Good sleep and mental status (OR 0.86, 95%CI: 0.76 to 0.97), good living environment conditions (OR 0.67, 95%CI: 0.60 to 0.76), and high intake of green leafy vegetables (OR 0.89, 95%CI: 0.80 to 0.98) were found to be strong predictors of decreasing the occurrence of asthenopia complaints.

CONCLUSION

Asthenopia symptom appears to be common among college students; and it is strongly associated with computer use, psychosocial state, environment conditions and dietary habits, suggesting that additional studies are warranted to verify these risk factors and establish prevention guidelines, especially for college students.