BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nutritional anemia has become a national public health problem, particularly among female workers, who are a high-risk group. Dates can be formulated into functional food to treat anemia in this group. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of date biscuits formulated with 10% (A1) and 20% (A2) substitutes in treating anemia among female workers in Makassar, Indonesia.

Experimental research design using a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with a pre-test post-test randomized group was used. The population of this study were female workers in Makassar City, with a total sample of 61 participants. The study randomly divided the sample into three groups: the intervention group that received formula A1 date biscuits (10%), the intervention group that received formula A2 date biscuits (20%), and the control group that did not receive any intervention. The researchers administered 20 grams of biscuits for 60 days. Hemoglobin levels were measured twice, at baseline and after the intervention. The study further performed a bivariate test by comparing the hemoglobin examination results before and after the intervention using the paired t-test, and analyzed differences between groups using the ANOVA test. The significance value was set at pRESULTS

The results showed that A1 date biscuits reduced the case of anemia by 23.8%, from 38.1% to 14.3%. Meanwhile, provision of A2 date biscuits reduced the case of anemia by 13.7%, from 36.4% to 22.7%.

The provision of A1 date biscuits is more effective than A2 for women with anemia. Date biscuits should be specifically provided to workers or women with anemia as they are less effective for those with normal hemoglobin levels. To further increase hemoglobin levels, female workers should also be given additional nutrient- rich foods

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 infection can present in various clinical forms. Anosmia has been significantly associated with a positive RT-PCR, but it usually appears after four days and has also been observed among COVID-19 negative patients. Knowledge on the clinical course of COVID-19 can guide decision-making on screening, diagnostic testing, and quarantine/isolation procedures.

To describe the clinical course of healthcare workers (HCWs) with COVID-19-related exposure, symptoms, differential diagnoses, and time to return to work clearance.

This was a cross-sectional study involving HCWs diagnosed as COVID-19 contacts/suspects between April 2020 and April 2021. Information on demographics, time elapsed between clinical events, outcomes, and final diagnoses were collected from hospital records. Categorical data was presented in frequencies and percentages, while numerical data were reported as range and median values.

There were 4755 consultations for COVID-19-related symptoms or exposure that were included in the study. Symptoms developed at a median of one day post-exposure. Consultation was at two days following symptom onset or four days after exposure. RT-PCR was done on the day of consult. Symptoms resolved after a median of six days. Return to work (RTW) was seven days from consult. Common presenting symptoms were respiratory (56.71%) and systemic (34.04%). COVID-19 was positive in 13.79% of consults. Almost all HCWs recovered (99%) as outpatient (88%). Differential diagnoses were usually other respiratory infections (8.60%) and allergic rhinitis (2.37%).

The clinical course for HCWs who consulted for COVID-19-related symptoms or exposure lasted for two weeks from symptom onset or exposure until clearance for work resumption. The most common symptoms were respiratory and systemic in nature. Recovery was noted after six days. The most common alternative diagnoses for COVID-19 negative cases were respiratory infection and allergic rhinitis.

Burnout and psychological distress were reported at higher rates among hospital healthcare workers. Despite this, there is a paucity of research examining the associated risk factors among workers across specialties and occupations in Asia. This paper aimed to examine the risk factors associated with burnout and psychological distress among Malaysian hospital healthcare workers from diverse medical specialties and occupations. A total of 368 doctors, nurses, assistant medical officers and hospital attendants were recruited from major medical and surgery departments in an urban general hospital. The participants were self-administered a questionnaire consisting of demographic information, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. In the fully adjusted multivariate analyses, doctors were about four to five times more likely to be emotionally exhausted (aOR [adjusted Odds Ratio], 4.826; 95% CI [Confidence Interval]: 1.492-15.604, p<0.01), depressed (aOR, 5.221; 95% CI: 1.995-13.661, p<0.01) and stressed (aOR, 3.990; 95% CI: 1.473-10.809, p<0.01). Paediatric workers demonstrated three to five times higher risks of depression (aOR, 3.105, 95% CI: 1.043-9.243, p<0.05), anxiety (aOR, 3.517, 95% CI: 1.194- 10.356, p<0.05) and stress (aOR, 5.404, 95% CI: .1.628-17.942, p<0.01). Emotional exhaustion (aOR, 1.046, 95% CI: .1.013-1.079, p<0.01) and depersonalization (aOR, 1.078, 95% CI: .1.015-1.145, p<0.05) led to higher risks of psychological distress, while stress predicted higher risks of burnout (aOR, 1.153, 95% CI: 1.062-1.251, p<0.01). There were occupational and departmental differences in susceptibility to burnout and psychological distress, requiring further investigation into the unique working environments and roles of hospital healthcare workers.
Burnout ; psychological distress ; healthcare worker ; healthcare personnel ; hospital ; Malaysia

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the effects of job stress, including organisational system to self-rated depression through a panel study of male municipal firefighters in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: A panel of 186 municipal firefighters reported self-rated depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The effects of job stress were evaluated using the Korea Occupational Stress Scale, taken one year earlier and classified by the median value. Panel members were classified into Depression or Control groups according to BDI scores, with a cut-off level of \'over mild depression' in a follow-up survey. RESULTS: The Depression group included 17 (9.1%) workers. Firefighters who scored high on occupational system had an 8.3 times greater risk of being assigned to the Depression group than those who had not (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 8.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.73-37.22]). In contrast, job stress from a \'difficult physical environment' revealed negative risks related to being classified in the Depression group (AOR = 0.20, 95% CI = [0.04-0.92]). CONCLUSIONS: Although the healthy worker effect may be involved, job stress based on perceptions of organisational system was a strong risk factor for depression. A comprehensive approach should be considered that encompasses social issues when assessing or mental health in high-risk groups, as well as the practical issue of physiochemical hazards.
Depression* ; Firefighters* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Worker Effect ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Mental Health ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors

Exposure to manganese (Mn) is associated with neurobehavioral effects. There is disagreement on whether commonly occurring exposures in welding, ferroalloy, and other industrial processes produce neurologically significant neurobehavioral changes representing parkinsonism. A review of methodological issues in the human epidemiological literature on Mn identified: (1) studies focused on idiopathic Parkinson disease without considering manganism, a parkinsonian syndrome; (2) studies with healthy worker effect bias; (3) studies with problematic statistical modeling; and (4) studies arising from case series derived from litigation. Investigations with adequate study design and exposure assessment revealed consistent neurobehavioral effects and attributable subclinical and clinical signs and symptoms of impairment. Twenty-eight studies show an exposure-response relationship between Mn and neurobehavioral effects, including 11 with continuous exposure metrics and six with three or four levels of contrasted exposure. The effects of sustained low-concentration exposures to Mn are consistent with the manifestations of early manganism, i.e., consistent with parkinsonism. This is compelling evidence that Mn is a neurotoxic chemical and there is good evidence that Mn exposures far below the current US standard of 5.0 mg/m3 are causing impairment.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Healthy Worker Effect ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Manganese* ; Models, Statistical ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupations* ; Parkinson Disease ; Parkinsonian Disorders* ; Welding

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare the cardiovascular disease status between large scale industry office and self employed male workers who have gaps in their intensive health management. METHODS: The cross sectional study was carried out with subjects composed of 244 shipyard office male workers and 381 self employed male workers, aged 30 to 55 years. They were given a health exam in a general hospital from January 2007 to June 2009. Information was based on data from self-administered questionnaires, physical examination and laboratory results on blood samples. The degree of coronary artery calcification and stenosis was evaluated by a 64 channel multi-detector computed tomography angiography. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension(p<0.01) and diabetes mellitus(p=0.02) and waist circumference(p<0.01) was significantly lower in the shipyard office workers than in self employed workers. Proper drinking(p<0.01) was more commmon in shipyard office workers. The rates of coronary artery calcification and stenosis were estimated to be 18.4% and 11.5% respectively for shipyard office workers and were significantly lower than the 26.5% and 21.5% for self employed workers. After adjustment for age, the probability of coronary artery stenosis in shipyard office workers was lower than in self employed workers (OR=0.56, 95% CI=0.35~0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The study results verified the benefits of a health promotion and intervention program and the healthy worker effect for cardiovascular diseases. More specifically, it verified the benefits regarding coronary artery stenosis in large scale industry office workers. This result should encourage the establishment of health promotion programs and the study of occupational epidemiology.
Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Health Promotion ; Healthy Worker Effect ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to determine the characteristics of shift work and the relationship between shift work and the level of self-rated health using the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS) data, which represents urban households in Korea. METHODS: Using the 9th wave of KLIPS, this study analyzed 2,087 male workers aged 25 to 64 years; participants missing data were excluded from analysis. To determine the impact of shift work on the level of self-rated health, logistic regression analysis was applied that controlled for socio-demographic characteristics, labor environment, and health-related behaviors. RESULTS: Shift workers comprised 13.4% of study subjects overall. The majority(69.2%) of participants were in 2-teams and in 2-shifts. Week 1 shift cycle changes were the highest, 56.3%. The risk of poor self-rated health was not significantly higher among shift workers compared to non-shift workers (OR=1.08, 95% CI=0.79~1.48). When divided by tenure, shift workers with more than 10-years experience (OR=1.79, 95% CI=0.91~3.50) tended to show greater risk than non-shift workers at marginal significance. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a significantly higher risk of self-rated poor health among shift workers was not observed. However, shift workers with more than 10-years experience tended to show increased health risk compared to non-shift workers. Further studies are required to determine time-series data and to consider both healthy worker effect and information bias.
Aged ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Family Characteristics ; Healthy Worker Effect ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male

The basic advantages in the national tuberculosis control programme: policies of our government and party, the public health system and health worker worldwide in whole country, support from International organization. The disadvantages in tuberculosis control programme: survey of epidemiology on tuberculosis were n’t taken in all country, HIV/AIDS epidemic, tuberculosis resistance/ antidrug, lack of health workers for tuberculosis control, manage and control the private health system is limited, shortage finance. The solving method in the future: the stable method is communication activities and immobilization aids from society, finance and human resources serve for tuberculosis control, combination of private healthy that take part in the activities of tuberculosis control, but first of all must maintain a good observation programme for tuberculosis and survey of epidemiology on tuberculosis
Tuberculosis ; Healthy Worker Effect ; health

In the year 2001, the influence of working environment of the tunel of Hoa Binh hydraulic power station on workers’ labour capacity was studied. Results show that in a shift of workers, the decline of capacity accounts for 39.71% generally for some occupational function, the most decreased is loss of memory (60.88%). Between two shifts the less rest time, the more decrease of capacity. The degree of decline of labour capacity increases progressively along the occupational age
Healthy Worker Effect ; Occupational Diseases ; Health Occupations

Study was performed in the mountainous district of Mai Son and the plain district of Vinh Bao. 560 health workers at commune level were interviewed by a questionnaire designed of opened and semi opened questions on the skill and the practices of these workers. The authors showed that the knowledges and the skills on health education of health workers are very limited. High percentages of them have no awareness on the skills, the contents, and the management of their duty. This issue raises the necessary of train and retrains for these health workers on health education and manage of this activity
Medical Staff, Healthy Worker Effect, Knowledge