Gurdeep Singh, M. Ahmad, Shazia Muneer, Najam ul Sabah, Wajeeha Baig, Amjad Khan
{"title":"Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice towards post exposure prophylaxis for HIV among health care professionals in Lahore","authors":"Gurdeep Singh, M. Ahmad, Shazia Muneer, Najam ul Sabah, Wajeeha Baig, Amjad Khan","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000208","url":null,"abstract":"HIV infections in health care workers have become a major health problem especially in developing countries in these days. Most in poor resource setting HCWs dealing with large number of HIV infected patients. This situation raises the need for post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV exposed group really important. Considering this a cross sectional survey was conducted in general and governmental hospitals of district Lahore Pakistan to asses Knowledge, attitude and practice of HCWs regarding PEP for HIV. Response regarding Knowledge, attitude and practice of 609 HCWs were entered on a predesigned self explanatory questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of the data showed that almost half of the HCWs have never heard about PEP. 68% of HCWs were of the opinion that PEP guidelines should not be listed in the working area or they responded with no idea regarding PEP. A good number of HCWs almost 47.2% believed PEP non protective against HIV or either did not have knowledge about it. Significant proportion (>50%) of the respondents were found having in adequate knowledge and improper attitude towards PEP. 35.3% of the respondents were placed on PEP after exposure while rest of the HCWs were not or either did not have idea about PEP. It was concluded that knowledge and attitude of HCWs about HIV for PEP was just satisfactory, consequently formal training for HCWs about PEP for HIV is recommended.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"33 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82123609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Voluntary Blood Donation and Associated Factors among Health Care Providers in Addis Ababa health Facilities, Ethiopia","authors":"Destaw Bantayehu","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000209","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The discovery of blood circulation in 1628 has made an important mile stone in the history of transfusion medicine. Although the first successful blood transfusion occurred in 1818, scientists had put quite a lot of effort earlier than this period. Despite the fact that blood transfusion service has about 200 years of history, there is still a significance shortage of blood and blood products particularly in the developing world. In 2010 the annual blood demand of Ethiopia was estimated to be about 100,000 units per year, yet 44 686 units of blood were collected by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society in the same year. Of which, only 22% were collected from voluntary non remunerated sources. Health care providers could also be a potential source of voluntary blood donation if we encourage them. Objective: to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of health care providers in Addis Ababa health facilities towards voluntary blood donation and identify the possible determinants of blood donation practice \u0000Methods: Facility based cross sectional analytic study was used. To select the participants and determine the sample size, multistage sampling technique with a design effect of two was employed; hence the total sample size became 808 using single population proportion formula. Structured questionnaire which is adapted from other published journals were used. The data collected were cleaned, coded and entered to computer. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis and management. 95% confidence level with 5% margin of error was tolerated. \u0000Result: The level of knowledge determined in this study was found to be good for 72.7% of the respondents. Availability of blood transfusion services within the facility is one of the factors which affect the level knowledge of the participants. 81.7% of respondents have a positive attitude towards blood donation and being male increases the odds of favorable attitude. 32.6% has ever donated blood at least once in their life time yet only less than half of the overall donors are donated blood based on sense of voluntarism. \u0000Conclusions and recommendations: although there was a good level of favorable attitude observed in this study, the level of knowledge as well as the practice of blood donation is found to be something that needs attention. Perhaps to create more awareness and sensitization among health care workers to wards voluntary blood donation would be worthy to improve them.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"115 1","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79649119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Wildland firefighting and food safety","authors":"J. Lange","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000E110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000E110","url":null,"abstract":"Wildland fires are becoming more common, occurring earlier, experiencing a longer duration, exhibiting greater intensity, and larger in area of involvement. Some suggest this is a result of global climate change [1]. These fires for the most part are no longer the concern of the local fire department or even state fire services. Many of the fires due to size and complexity are employing resources on a national level and even requiring an international response. In many cases, all these factors have increased the risk for fighting wildland fires. Historically, the greatest acute hazard to firefighters has been cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD has been reported to be a factor in 45% of on-duty fatalities [2], yet this is only one of a myriad of hazards. During wildland fires, personnel will often reside near the event for days to months for purposes of preventing, controlling and cleanup. These locations have traditionally been referred to as base camps. This scenario creates a number of issues and hazards for these personnel, one being food safety.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"30 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89752405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The future of occupational medicine","authors":"S. Bondy","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000E109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000E109","url":null,"abstract":"In the past, much work-related illness involved relatively major exposure to toxic agents with effects that tended to be acute and severe. As occupational hazards have been increasingly recognized and regulated, the incidence of such events has declined. However, there is an increasing recognition of the long-term health consequences of low-level exposures to harmful agents. Illness incurred by this means can be difficult to diagnose as their expression may be delayed long after exposure, and may coincide with many common conditions not involving work exposure. For example Parkinson's disease has a greater incidence among those employed in certain industries but is also prevalent in the general population. The future of occupational medicine will thus increasingly overlap with more environmentally widespread issues. This will make epidemiological studies important but more challenging. Since many confounders can limit the precision of such studies, their value will be increased if findings can be paralleled by results from experimental animal models. Such substantiation can strengthen a suspected link between a specific exposure and any pathological outcome. The almost invariable epidemiological conclusions that \" more work needs to be done \" will not be indefinitely acceptable. Occupational medicine increasingly relates to the health effects of the general environment. There is a gradual transition from high dose exposures, to more subtle effects of prolonged low-level exposure on health. Since such chronic changes can mimic or interact with other diseases or the aging process, the contribution that occupational studies can make to public health is likely to be enlarged in the future.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76632033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Yılmaz, H. Yılmaz, S. Ozyoruk, Furkan Yuzba i, M. Arda
{"title":"Fatal Posttraumatic Tension Pneumocephalus: A Case Report","authors":"M. Yılmaz, H. Yılmaz, S. Ozyoruk, Furkan Yuzba i, M. Arda","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000205","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Tension pneumocephalus occurs when a continuous flow of air accumulates in the intracranial cavity and produces a mass effect on the brain. Presentation of case We describe a fatal case in a 16-year-old boy who developed extensive tension pneumocephalus following basal skull fracture after acute head trauma that required surgery. \u0000Discussion: Although the aetiology of tension pneumocephalus is obscure, a good result could be achieved with an early diagnosis and prompt treatment using burr hole trephination and saline infusion.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"45 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85930772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Skeletal Muscle Glycogen Depletion and Recovery During Four ConsecutiveDays of Prolonged Lift and Carry Exercise","authors":"T. Price, D. Brady","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000207","url":null,"abstract":"A substantial portion of the nation’s working population has jobs that involve lifting and carrying heavy objects. Muscles metabolize carbohydrate stores to accomplish such work. Little is known about how muscles replenish carbohydrates from day to day during the workweek. Objective This study documents muscle glycogen depletion and recovery in two muscles routinely used in extended lifting and carrying exercise, and determines the extent to which four days of such exercise affects muscle glycogen levels. Methods Ten subjects (5 M, 5 F) were studied; age 25±4y M, 22±2y F, weight 92±8kg* M, 62±5kg F, and height 185±3cm* M, 170±2cm F. Subjects recorded their diet before and during the protocol. On four consecutive days subjects were asked to squat to floor level and lift a 30kg box, carry it 3m, and place it on a shelf 132cm high. This was repeated 3X/min over a three hour period (540 lifts) or until the subject could no longer continue. Subjects were allowed five minutes rest every 30min. Exercise was performed at the same time of day, allowing nineteen hours of recovery between bouts. The protocol was not normalized for subject gender or size. Natural abundance C-13 NMR was performed on the left quadriceps and left biceps brachialis immediately before and after each exercise bout. Ability to complete the prescribed protocol, dietary intake before and during the protocol, and muscle glycogen levels before and after exercise were recorded and compared. Results Subjects differed significantly by gender in their ability to complete the four-day protocol (12 hours total protocol: 10.8±0.9hr M, 6.4±1.6hr F, p=0.0366). Dietary intake did not differ during the four-day protocol versus prior to the study (2109±256kcal/da M prior, 2107±87kcal/da M during, 1657±136kcal/da F prior, 1755±331kcal/da F during). In the biceps brachialis (both genders combined) pre-exercise glycogen levels rose significantly over the four-day protocol (vs day one) [62.3±3.6mmol/L D1, 68.5±4.6mmol/L (p=0.0437) D2, 75.1±4.9mmol/L (p=0.0019) D3, 81.9±5.4mmol/L (p=0.0003) D4, paired analysis vs D1]. In the quadriceps a similar pattern was seen [92.2±9.0mmol/L D1, 101.3±8.9mmol/L (p=0.0107) D2, 110.3±10.2mmol/L (p=0.0089) D3, 115.9±9.8mmol/L (p=0.0003) D4 paired analysis vs D1]. Conclusions We conclude that male and female muscle glycogen is similarly super compensated between each day of four consecutive days of prolonged exercise, in the absence of increased dietary intake.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"31 1","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74564129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Nowrouzi, Alicia McDougall, Basem Gohar, Behnam Nowrouz-Kia, Jennifer Casole, F. Ali
{"title":"Weight Bias in the Workplace: A Literature Review","authors":"B. Nowrouzi, Alicia McDougall, Basem Gohar, Behnam Nowrouz-Kia, Jennifer Casole, F. Ali","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000206","url":null,"abstract":"The prevalence of obesity continues to increase in today’s society. Individuals who are overweight or obese appear to be less accepted and are targets for discrimination. The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate what constitutes obesity stigma in the workplace, what societal attitudes are present regarding obesity in the workplace and what interventions exist to reduce and eliminate weight bias in the workplace. A review was conducted using keyword searches. Results revealed that overweight individuals face weight bias and discrimination at every stage of the employment cycle and the presence of negative perceptions and stigmatization in the workplace concerning individuals with obesity. Intervention strategies have included individual based strategies as well as social change models that include both environmental and population strategies. Legal cases for weight-related discrimination in the workplace have been met with mixed results. Recommendations are provided to foster a healthier work environment that is inclusive of all workers and one that supports a higher quality of work in organizations.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"155 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83371219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Get Out of a Scrape! An Approach to Corneal Foreign Bodies and Abrasions for the Primary Care Physician","authors":"Victoria Squissato, Glenn Brown, S. Baxter","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000202","url":null,"abstract":"Work-related injuries (WREIs) to the eye are common. Many are minor but, if not treated quickly, can lead to vision-threatening complications. Others are severe, but even with expert management sight can be lost. This article promotes an understanding of the physician’s role in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of WREIs. By far the most common WREIs are corneal foreign bodies (CFBs) and abrasions, which this article primarily focuses on. Foreign bodies (FBs) visualized under slit lamp microscopy can be removed with a moistened cotton tip or bent 25-gauge needle followed by antibiotic and tetanus prophylaxis. Pain associated with corneal abrasions can interfere with daily functions including return to work. Adequate pain relief may be achieved using oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. Patching is not recommended because it does not improve comfort and may impair healing. Non-complicated CFBs need only to be seen once by an ophthalmologist 4-6 days after the initial presentation.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"12 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78559964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Malariometric indices of mosquitoes caught outdoors in Iba LCDA, Ojo local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria.","authors":"Okwa Oo, Dennis Jo","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000203","url":null,"abstract":"Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catches between February and June 2013 (early wet season) outside houses situated at Iba local council development authority (Iba LCDA) in Ojo local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 264 mosquitoes were caught and transferred to bottles containing 70% ethanol and labeled accordingly. Species and sex differentiation was carried out using a dissecting binocular microscope. Morphotaxonomic keys indicated that there were more Anopheles 211 (80%) than Culex mosquitoes 53(20%) and more females 221(84.5%) than males 43(16.2%). However only 29 Anopheles female had bloodmeals (engorged). Malariometric indices as bloodmeal analysis (Human host preference) and sporozoite rate were carried out on the engorged female Anopheles using the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 11(37.5%) tested positive for human host out of the 29 engorged females while five (17.24%) tested for sporozoite. The study highlighted that since malaria can be contacted outdoors when bitten control should not be restricted only to indoors. Control Methods like clearing of bushes, gutters, destruction of breeding sites and regular environmental sanitation are strongly advocated in this area.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80645855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Brief Review of Physical and Psychosocial Factors Involved in Chronic Low Back Pain","authors":"N. Rishiraj","doi":"10.4172/2329-6879.1000201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4172/2329-6879.1000201","url":null,"abstract":"There is a high incidence of low back pain (LBP) in developed countries. Researchers have investigated potential occupation setting(s) that increase the risk of LBP and have reported numerous job related adaptations to reduce the various identified risks. However, chronic LBP results in approximately 10% of all reported LBP cases which can result in frustrating prolonged disability and extensive financial costs to the healthcare system. In the absence/successful treatment of medical and neurological pathology, biopsychosocial interventions may assist chronic LBP sufferers regain their personal and professional lifestyle. Following the biopsychological intervention model, recent research indicates that following ‘normal’ clinical practice guidelines for LBP and the feedback/recommendations made by healthcare practitioners (physicians’ and therapists’) plays a crucial role in chronic LBP patients treatment and recovery duration.","PeriodicalId":19397,"journal":{"name":"Occupational medicine and health affairs","volume":"104 1","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86485578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}