There was a high prevalence of occupational stress among ICU nurses. There was a significant relationship between occupational stress and mental health. Future interventions are needed to codify a comprehensive health program in this field to reduce occupational stress and enhance nurses' levels of mental health.

BACKGROUND: Nursing is one of the most stressful occupations. Educational intervention regarding stress management can play an important role in reducing occupational stress among nurses The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of educational intervention on reducing oxidative stress caused by occupational stress in nurses: A health promotion approach in a hospital in western Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present interventional study was performed in 2019 among 92 nurses working at the Kosar Hospital located in the city of Sanandaj in the country of Iran. Occupational stress was evaluated using the Osipow Occupational Stress Questionnaire. Oxidative stress was measured by taking blood samples and measuring the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde, and catalase (CAT) using SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA), and CAT kits. Educational intervention was carried out in the second stage. Three months after the intervention, data were taken again. RESULTS: The results of the present study indicated that there was a significant difference in occupational stress between before and after the educational intervention ( P < 0.05). A significant reduction in MDA ( P = 0.038) and SOD ( P = 0.048) was observed after educational intervention, but this was not the case for CAT ( P = 0.592). There was no significant correlation between occupational stress with oxidative stress parameters before and after the educational intervention ( P < 0.05). No significant difference in occupational stress was observed between men and women. Among the oxidative stress parameters under evaluation, MDA was higher among men compared to women and this was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Educational intervention regarding occupational stress is effective in reducing oxidative stress among nurses. The group meetings teach stress management to the participants and enable them to better manage their stress by utilizing their own capabilities. Thus, attention to this issue is vital in maintaining the mental and physical health of nurses and, in turn, improves the quality of care rendered.

BACKGROUND: Even in an era of automation and digitalization, Manual Material Handling (MMH) can be called the most common industrial task. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) induced by manual handling tasks on the workers of a printing factory in Tehran in 2017 and then to evaluate the effectiveness of a training intervention based on health promotion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had quasi experimental design and was conducted on 40 men. First, demographic data were collected and the Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of MSDs in workers. Then, MMH tasks were assessed using Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC). A short training course was designed to promote health. Finally, the same MMH tasks were re-evaluated 3 months after the training intervention. RESULTS: Among the various tasks, the highest prevalence of work-related MSDs (WMSDs) was observed in the lower back (77.5%) and shoulder (62.5%). Based on the final scores of the MAC method, the jobs that received the highest scores were cutting (individual lifting), with 22 scores and action level “immediately necessary,” cutting (individual load carrying), with 15 scores with action level “urgently needed.” Arranging the forms (individual lifting) received a similar score. After the training intervention, the estimated risk level reduced by 12, 9, and 6 points, respectively, reaching a safe action level, i.e., “necessary in the future.” CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that educational interventions might be equally effective in low-technology work environments. More in general, the MAC method can be used to make informed planning of educational interventions against WMSDs risk in MSDs. This health promotion approach is critical for care of human recourse.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are responsible for significant problem for workers' health. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among mining workers. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis study were designed in 2020 (from Jan to Mar). The researchers searched five international databases Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science. All analyzes were performed using STATA statistical software. Results: The search results were 447 articles and after screening stage finally 50 studies were included in review. The highest number of studies (26 studies) reported the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders of upper back and 4 studies reported the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders of the arms and ankles & feet. The results of meta-analysis based on prevalence in different organs showed that the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was in the upper back and the lowest in the knees with a prevalence of 50.39% (CI 95%: 31.23- 54.73%) and 16.03% (CI 95%: 11.78-20.28%), respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among miners is relatively high. Therefore, supervisors and mine managers should pay more attention to reducing musculoskeletal disorders and increasing the ergonomic level of mines in order to increase workers' health.

Background and Aims Today, human beings are exposed to the ELF magnetic field of electrical equipment and power lines, which can damage Leydig cells and alter the secretion of reproductive hormones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between exposure to ELF magnetic field and the level of some reproductive hormones in male power plant workers. Materials and Methods The present cross‐sectional study was carried out among all male employees of different units of the selected power plant around Tehran, Iran. All participants were asked to complete demographic data sheets and General Health questionnaire, on condition of consent and meeting the inclusion criteria. Time‐weighted average (TWA) exposure to magnetic field of 122 men was measured by IEEE Std C95.3.1 method using TES 1393 Gauss meter. Based on the exposure level, subjects were divided into three groups. Serum Levels of Free Testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in participants were determined. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA, Kruskal‐Wallis tests, and the relationships between variables were assessed by linear regression and correlation using SPSS v.25 software. Results There was no significant statistical correlation between the level of ELF exposure and serum levels of free testosterone, LH, and FSH, (r = 0.158). Serum levels of LH decreased significantly with age and duration of work experience (P < .05, r = −.25, P = .005, r = −.203, P = .025). Conclusion There was no relationship between exposure to magnetic field in power plants and reproductive hormone levels, although it is impossible to make definitive comments without using more accurate methods to estimate male fertility.

Background: Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of psychological and physical hazards. Objective: The present study, in 2023 was conducted to investigate the impact of job-related stress and shift work on the cognitive abilities of firefighters in an oil field located in western Iran. Methods: The cognitive performance and job stress levels of study participants were evaluated using IVA-2 software version 2020 and OSIPOW questionnaire, respectively. Results were analyzed using SPSS software version 2022. Results: The study found a significant discrepancy in cognitive performance between day and night shifts (P < 0.001) for firefighters. During the day shift, Auditory Persistence and Visual Stamina had the highest (100.88) and lowest (84.04) scores, respectively, while the night shift had higher scores in Auditory Speed and Visual Sensory-Motor. Overall, cognitive performance was better during the day shift, but both shifts had a notable gap in average scores with a baseline. Shift work is connected to role duality (P < 0.05), responsibility (P < 0.001), and the physical environment (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the attention scale is connected to the physical environment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Firefighters’ performance is impacted by shift work and job stress, even under normal conditions. To maintain and improve cognitive abilities, corrective actions should focus on improving efficiency, creating suitable working conditions, and improving shift work management. Prioritizing individual responsibility is also suggested based on the correlation between stress and cognitive performance