Using Behavioral Theory to Enhance Occupational Safety and Health: Applications to Health Care Workers

Occupational Health Hazards and Control Measures in Government Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurses' and Nurse Managers' Perspectives

Background: Healthcare environments expose workers and patients to hazardous substances, leading to sickness and death. Nurses play a critical role in maintaining patient health and managing occupational risks, including biological, physical, chemical, and psychological hazards, highlighting the need for significant commitment. This study aims to explore the occupational health hazards and control measures among nurses and nurse managers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 222 nurses and nurse managers in Northern Border Hospitals. A Google survey questionnaire was utilized for capturing data, including demographic information, occupational health hazards, and control measures. Results: Of the 222 nurses surveyed, 20.3% experienced high ergonomic hazards, 14.4% experienced physical hazards, 14.9% experienced chemical hazards, 17.1% experienced biological hazards, and 34.2% experienced moderate psychological hazards. Regarding safety measures, 86.0% of participants reported high levels of control, 80.6% took proactive safety precautions, and 87.8% adhered to comprehensive control measures. There was little correlation between demographic characteristics, occupational hazards, and control measures. A significant negative association was found between control measures and occupational hazards (p value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Nurses face a range of occupational hazards, including ergonomic, physical, chemical, biological, and psychological risks. Addressing these hazards is essential for the well-being of nurses, the quality of patient care, and the creation of a healthier work environment. While control measures are generally effective, some healthcare workers lack access to adequate safety protocols. The results indicated a negative correlation between exposure to occupational health hazards and the implementation of control measures.

Psychological Help-Seeking Among College Students: Applying the Multi-Theory Model of Health Behavior Change in Assessing Telehealth Use for Psychological Help-Seeking

Background

Due to the deleterious effects on psychological health and wellbeing spurred by the pandemic, utilization of telehealth-based care increased over the past few years. The rapid transition from in-person to telehealth-based health service delivery has yet to be fully understood. The aim of the current study was to examine telehealth use for psychological help-seeking among college students using the Multi-theory Model of health behavior change (MTM) as a theoretical framework.

Methods

A cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted among students at a large US university (N = 356). Valid and reliable scales were used to measure domains of psychological distress and MTM constructs. Participants were grouped based on past 12-month utilization of telehealth for any mental, emotional, or substance use problems.

Results

Roughly 67% of the sample reported that they needed help dealing with psychological distress, and 56.1%,43.3%, and 38.7% screened positive for anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, respectively. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were positively associated with past 12-month telehealth-based help-seeking. Past 12-month telehealth users reported greater advantages, confidence, and emotion direction toward telehealth-based psychological help-seeking than their counterparts. Participants also perceived higher exhibition of behavioral skills and greater social support to aid help-seeking than their counterparts. Advantages and disadvantages as well as behavioral confidence predicted intentions for telehealth-based help-seeking after controlling for anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, perceived stigma, and perceived need for help among both groups.

Conclusion

The MTM theoretical framework is a valuable framework for predicting telehealth-based psychological help-seeking among college students. Such framework can be used to design and implement mental health programing.

Understanding Solid Waste Collectors' Awareness of Occupational Hazards and Personal Protective Equipment Practices in Northern Malawi

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Solid Waste Collectors' (SWCs) knowledge of occupational hazards, their views on personal protective equipment (PPE), strategies for PPE use, and challenges in managing occupational risks. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of protective measures in addressing occupational hazards, but there is a need for further research to assess the knowledge levels of waste collectors regarding these hazards and PPE practices. This study used a qualitative research technique, particularly, a phenomenological research design to capture the living experiences from SWCs. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews were employed to gather data. Subgroups of topics were created by coding the data using a predefined codebook as part of the content analysis process. SWCs demonstrated that they were aware of the risks they face in their work environments. The risks include which can range from long-term health issues brought by repetitive exposure to harmful substances and sharp objects. The lack of PPE accessibility and availability has become a significant issue, exposing waste collectors to various diseases and accidents, forcing them to work without necessary safeguards. Efforts to increase PPEs through public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be promoted. The city council should provide on-the-job training on health risks, occupational hazards related to waste collection, and PPE usage regularly; and establish efficient channels for SWCs to report problems and ensure that their grievances are properly addressed.

Co-occurrence of occupational outcomes and associated factors among hospitals cleaners, eastern ethiopia: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Hospital cleaners face a complex and varied work environment due to several potentially dangerous circumstances, including the risk of getting injured by sharp objects and being subjected to various ergonomic and physical risks. They thus acquire a combination or co-occurrence of outcomes associated to their line of work. In this study it stands for occurrence of occupational injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) during study period, which has not been explored in developing countries like Ethiopia, particularly among hospital cleaners.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of co-occurrence of occupational outcomes and associated factors among hospital cleaners, Eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was conducted on 741 cleaners in eight hospitals in eastern Ethiopia from May, 2023 to 30th August, 2023. Face-to-face interview was conducted. The data quality was maintained by designing standard questions that preserved both external and internal validity. The entered data was exported from Epi-Data 3.1 to Stata 17MP. Descriptive statistic was used to characterize one variable, While, binary logistic regression was used to explore the relationship of the predictors. At binary analysis variables having a p-value of < 0.20 were candidates for multivariate logistic regression. The crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were presented. Those variables having < 0.05 were reported. The variance inflation factor used to test multicollinearity. While, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit-test was applied for model fit.

RESULT

From total of 741 hospital cleaners, 679 (91.63%) of them were responded. The prevalence co-occurrence of occupational outcome among cleaners was 25.04% (95%CI: 21.82, 28.47). The multivariate logistic regression shows that those had workload (AOR:2.78, 95%CI: 1.25,6.17), those worked more than 8r/day (AOR:3.45, 95%CI:2.34,6.32), those have sleeping disorders (AOR: 4.61,95%CI: 2.89, 8.03), those had work stress (AOR:2.05, 95%CI:0.98,4.29), those highly exposed with hazards (AOR: 4.22, 95%CI:2.40, 7.45) and those had poor knowledge of risk (AOR:2.41, 95%CI:1.06, 5.50) were more likely increase the odds of co-occurrence of occupational outcome as compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The current study concluded that one-fourth of the co-occurrence of occupational outcomes was reported among hospital cleaners. The study also found that lack of supervision, workload, working more hours per a day, severely presence of occupational hazards, lack of regular job rotation, the sleeping disorders and having work stress all increased the odds of co-occurrence occupational outcome.

Voice as a Working Tool for Teachers: A Qualitative Study of Work-Related Perceptions and Impact

BACKGROUND

Teachers rely heavily on their voices, making them susceptible to voice disorders affecting their teaching efficacy and well-being. This study explores the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives, a necessary step in designing intervention points.

METHODS

Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with 18 teachers (13 females, 5 males) from diverse backgrounds. They represented diverse teaching areas, grade levels, and school districts. Data were analyzed through content analysis. In this process, 52 codes were identified, totaling 753 code references.

FINDINGS

This study uncovered insights into the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives. In-depth analysis of the interviews with 18 teachers resulted in 6 key themes: (1) Voice is a crucial occupational tool for teachers for instruction, engagement, and classroom management; (2) working conditions significantly impact teachers' vocal health, with environmental factors and vocal load contributing to voice problems; (3) vocal health concerns are frequently reported by teachers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive health management strategies; (4) there are notable best practices and gaps in vocal care, with teachers expressing the need for more resources and formal training; (5) amplification devices play a significant role in sustaining teachers' vocal health, although access to and use of these tools is inconsistent; and (6) voice-related problems have a significant emotional and psychosocial impact on teachers, affecting their self-perception, professional identity, and well-being.

DISCUSSION

This study highlights the critical role of vocal health in teachers' professional lives, revealing its impact on teaching efficacy, well-being, and professional identity. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems, including vocal health programs, resources like amplification devices, and counseling for emotional impacts. The six identified themes emphasize the necessity of holistic interventions to enhance teachers' well-being and effectiveness.

Precision prevention in occupational health: a conceptual analysis and development of a unified understanding and an integrative framework

Introduction

Precision prevention implements highly precise, tailored health interventions for individuals by directly addressing personal and environmental determinants of health. However, precision prevention does not yet appear to be fully established in occupational health. There are numerous understandings and conceptual approaches, but these have not yet been systematically presented or synthesized. Therefore, this conceptual analysis aims to propose a unified understanding and develop an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health.

Methods

Firstly, to systematically present definitions and frameworks of precision prevention in occupational health, six international databases were searched for studies published between January 2010 and January 2024 that used the term precision prevention or its synonyms in the context of occupational health. Secondly, a qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze the existing definitions and propose a unified understanding. Thirdly, based on the identified frameworks, a multi-stage exploratory development process was applied to develop and propose an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health.

Results

After screening 3,681 articles, 154 publications were reviewed, wherein 29 definitions of precision prevention and 64 different frameworks were found, which can be summarized in eight higher-order categories. The qualitative content analysis revealed seven themes and illustrated many different wordings. The proposed unified understanding of precision prevention in occupational health takes up the identified themes. It includes, among other things, a contrast to a "one-size-fits-all approach" with a risk- and resource-oriented data collection and innovative data analytics with profiling to provide and improve tailored interventions. The developed and proposed integrative conceptual framework comprises three overarching stages: (1) data generation, (2) data management lifecycle and (3) interventions (development, implementation and adaptation).

Discussion

Although there are already numerous studies on precision prevention in occupational health, this conceptual analysis offers, for the first time, a proposal for a unified understanding and an integrative conceptual framework. However, the proposed unified understanding and the developed integrative conceptual framework should only be seen as an initial proposal that should be critically discussed and further developed to expand and strengthen both research on precision prevention in occupational health and its practical application in the workplace.

The effects of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory on the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Emergency ward nurses face a variety of occupational hazards due to the nature of their occupational and professional duties, which can negatively affect their health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory on the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards in Tehran, Iran, in 2023.

METHODS

The present quasi-experimental study was conducted with two intervention and control groups, using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 124 nurses working in the emergency wards of four hospitals (two hospitals for the intervention group and two hospitals for the control group by random assignment) were selected by multistage sampling method. The educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory was implemented for the intervention group for three weeks. The nurses of both groups completed a demographic questionnaire and the scale of emergency ward nurses' protective behaviors against occupational hazards before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential methods.

RESULTS

The two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics at the baseline (p > 0.05). Protective behaviors of emergency nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomics, and psychosocial hazards) were higher in the intervention group than in the control group immediately and one month after the educational intervention. In addition, the measurement over time also showed the positive effect of time and educational intervention on the protective behaviors of emergency nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed that the educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory can be effective and helpful in improving the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales. Future studies can focus on a more specific design of this kind of intervention based on the type of occupational hazards and needs of nurses in different wards.

Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior Practices and Compliance of Workers Exposed to Respirable Dust in a Zambian Copper Mine

Work in the copper mining industry is often associated with exposure to respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica. This exposure has the potential to cause silicosis, an incurable occupational respiratory lung disease. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, work behavioral practices and compliance with safety standards and workers' exposure to respirable dust. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on 528 mine workers. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the descriptives. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables and partial least squares (LVPLS) analysis were employed to determine the relationship among these variables. The results indicated that of the four hypotheses, two were supported, and two were rejected, showing that there is a significant relationship between exposure to respirable dust and work behavioral practices, as well as compliance with safety standards. Knowledge and attitudes toward respirable dust exposure did not significantly influence exposure. According to the results from the survey, positive work behavioral practices as well as compliance with safety standards were significantly associated with exposure to respirable dust. It is recommended that mines should focus on the miners' work behavioral practices and compliance with safety standards.

Depressive symptoms among Thai male seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among seafarers is higher than the general population because of their unique work conditions. Factors that can be changed must be considered and promptly addressed in order to decrease the prevalence of depression. This study aims to clarify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its related factors among Thai seafarers in an effort to contribute to policies and to prevent depression among Thai seafarers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 381 male seafarers working onboard ocean-going vessels of five Thai shipping companies. The questionnaire items comprised of personal factors, working factors and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. First, the chi-square test was used for univariate analysis. Then, variables significantly associated by the chi-square test were used for multivariate logistic regression analysis (employing the stepwise method) as independent variables.

RESULTS

The average age of participants in this study was 36.4 years. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.5%. One half of the participants (58.3%) reported subjective sleep problems, and most (75.1%) experienced poor coping behaviors. Two thirds (67.5%) were officers, and 10.1% of participants reported that they sometimes or never performed occupational safety behaviors. Regarding work environments, 62.2% reported that their work was disturbed from performing repetitive tasks. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed two personal factors; sleep problems (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 7.97, 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 3.52-18.05) and poor coping behaviors (AOR = 4.46, 95%CI = 1.61-12.34), and three working factors; job assignment (AOR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.33-4.70), inadequate occupational safety behaviors (AOR = 4.51, 95%CI = 1.85-11.01) and performing repetitive task (AOR = 2.27, 95%CI = 1.16-4.45), were significantly associated with depression.

CONCLUSION

During COVID-19 pandemic, 19.5% of Thai male seafarers had depressive symptoms. Personal and working factors including subjective sleep problems, poor coping behaviors, job assignment, performing inadequate occupational safety behaviors and performing repetitive tasks were risk factors of depressive symptoms among Thai male seafarers. Monitoring work environment rigorously and coping with work-related stress of the occupational safety behaviors program should be suggested.

BASE: Pragmatic Injury Prevention for Practitioners

Unintentional injury remains a leading health problem in developed nations, making injury prevention imperative. Practitioners are primary stakeholders in the injury prevention process but rarely can devote significant time to complicated prevention efforts. Furthermore, theory-based approaches to support injury prevention are less common than atheoretical approaches. We propose a simple method for injury prevention grounded in concepts found in antecedent models. Barriers, attitudes, social context, and environmental factors (or BASE) are suggested as a simple injury prevention model practitioners can follow when working with patients. We present each component of BASE and offer examples of how the approach can be applied to risk factors associated with several types of injury risk behavior.