عبدالله برخورداری

Covid-19 was first reported as a viral disease in China in 2019, and it soon became a global pandemic. In addition, the types of occupations people have and the environments in which they work may increase the likelihood of being exposed to the virus. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Covid-19 disease in various occupations and its relationship with some effective parameters in Shahroud city.

This research is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in 2021. The required information was extracted from the database provided by Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. These files contain the results of the comprehensive study of COVID-19 in Shahroud. All the jobs that were asked of the person were classified based on International Standard Classification of Occupations and suspicious and definite cases were examined in different occupation. The information analyzed using SPSS software version 22.

According to the results, the highest percentage of cases (45%) was in healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses, and operating room staffs—in other words, all employees working in the healthcare system. The next highest percentages were in household and home nursing workers (44.5%), retirees (43.2%), and construction workers (43%). The relationship between variables such as age, smoking status, presence of comorbidities, and presence of a high body mass index (BMI) associated with Covid-19 disease was examined by the regression test. It was found that the relationship was significant, that these variables affected the prevalence of the disease. Based on the odds ratio in the age variable, with each year of age, the chance of getting infected increased by 1%. A current smoker had a reduced chance of getting the disease by 57.2%. Having a comorbidity increased the chance of getting the disease by 14%, and with each increase in BMI, the chance of getting the disease increased by 3.8%.

The study found that in some occupations, such as healthcare worker, the prevalence of the disease was higher because workers were in direct contact with patients and people infected with the virus. In general, it can be said that the prevalence of the disease was low in workers who could telework and remain at home rather than go to a job or in the community. Factors such as age, the presence of comorbidities, status as a current smoker, and having a high BMI had an effect on contracting Covid-19 disease.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, research has focused on identifying people at risk and preventing its spread. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood groups (ABO) and the risk of COVID-19 infection in Shahroud.

This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Data from suspected cases of Covid-19 were collected in Shahroud by the Corona Registration System from the beginning of the epidemic in February 2020. In this study, confirmed cases of Covid-19 were defined as those that had a positive RT-PCR test. Logistic regression was used in order to investigate the relationship between ABO and COVID-19 infection, and other variables, such as co-morbidities, age, and gender also were adjusted.

In this study, the highest percentage of positive PCR was for B type (49.6%) and then AB (43.1%), but this difference was not significant. In the modeling, a significant relationship was observed between B type and Covid-19 infection, so that the risk is 56% higher. Also, in the study of the relationship between non-O blood groups and adjusted for the variables of age, gender, and comorbidities, it was shown that non-O blood type compared to O blood type increased the odds of infection by35% significantly. Rh did not show a significant association with infection.

This study showed that non-O blood types have higher odds of developing Covid-19 compared to the O blood type. Among the various blood types, type B increases the odds of infection by 56%.

Training process is any learning-based activity and experience, performed with the aim of causing relatively fixed and stable changes in people to improve their ability to do a job. In this regard, the apprenticeship course is one of the most important educational courses, especially for action-oriented or practical fields of studies of the universities. In these fields, apprenticeship is considered as an opportunity for experiential learning, acquiring skill, and practical training. This course involves learning during working, practice, practical training, and acquiring skill, which provides an opportunity for students to gain practical experience, apply their skills acquired in the university, improve their management and personal skills, and create new job opportunities. An apprenticeship period is suitable for trail and test under the supervision of academic educators and industry experts. It creates real conditions for the link between industry and university, and a young graduated person is prepared for work in the community. The essential part of the practical skills training occurs during this period. In general, apprenticeship leads to acquiring valuable practical experiences and improving behavior and attitudes. It also prepares them to enter the world of work in graduated people.
Evaluation is one of the most important steps in the training process and the correct implementation of it provides very useful information on the way of planning and implementing educational programs and can be a very useful basis for evaluating educational performance.  In fact, systematic evaluations and interventions based on the results of the evaluation have a direct impact on the improvement of the educational process and the achievement of the educational goals of a field of study.
 Apprenticeship, as other courses, requires evaluation, and it requires a standard and effective tool that can accurately measure the educational and expected goals.  By using such a valid tool, the success of interventional programs can be evaluated with more assurance to improve the efficiency of the apprenticeship period. Thus, the development of a standard evaluation tool and its psychometric properties is crucial. It can be developed by a group of experts of the same field of the study.
Professional health engineering is one of the important fields of medical sciences. At the bachelor level, apprenticeship is vital in this field of study. This course is considered an essential part of the bachelor level and bachelor students require acquiring special skills to perform their professional tasks to meet the needs and expectations of faculty members as well as employer and worker expectations. In this regard, the method of evaluation of apprentices is one of the most important concerns for apprentices and even professors in this field of study. One reason for the importance of this course is the number of its units (16 units), which has a significant effect on the final GPA of students. It is also a concern for other fields of medical sciences. Based on a research conducted by the research team using advice of experts and research resources, it was found that no study had been conducted so far on the evaluation of the apprentices of professional health engineering field of study in Iran. It might be due to the lack of a standard and valid tool to evaluate the apprentices.
 Problems and concerns related to the assessment of field internship course in field of occupation health engineering is one of the most important issues for the students and the proffessors.
This study aimed to development and validating a tool for assessing the field internship course in the field of occupational health engineering.

This study was conducted in the occupational health engineering department of the Faculty of Health of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences during the second semester of 2016-2017 to the second semester of 2017-2018. Students of these two courses were evaluated using the designed evaluation tool. The dimensions and items of tool was developed based on curriculum of internship course in the field of occupational health engineering and using litreture review and panel discussions with the participation of occupational health professors and experts. Validity was assessed by Face validity, content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI) and Item Impact score (IS).  Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) and test–retest reliability analyses.
In this method used to extract opinions, ideas, and perceptions of a group of people with common characteristics on a particular topic, interviews and group discussions were used. Finally, three areas (dimensions) were defined, which a graduate of this field of the study should be trained based on them. First area: educational and learning

It includes the initial criteria to achieve educational objectives according to the headlines. It is in fact the science and technology that a bachelor student who is being graduated should learn.
Second area: Management and personal skills (behavioral objectives): it is a performance criteria of an apprentice in the behavioral and management section which includes the performances preparing a student for accepting management role of occupational health and related executive actions in the community. Skilled experts consider this area as conventional management and personal skills.
Third area: development of professional job and entrepreneurship competences and qualifications (management objectives): it is a combination of personal and personality traits, skills, characteristics and behaviors that directly affect the performance of an individual. This area is a state of a person's readiness to enter into a particular profession. In other words, it indicates if a person has the ability to do that work and if he or she is able to create value for new situations by creating various opportunities.
 Then, the comprehensive criteria in accordance to these three objectives were prepared. These criteria were determined based on the review of relevant literature, interviews and the use of the experiences of professors and educators in the field of professional health engineering, experts of professional health unit of health centers and professional health experts. These criteria were used as a conceptual framework for designing the items.  Then, in accordance to the conceptual framework and considering the frequency of criteria for each area, appropriate items were developed for all of them. The conceptual fit of each item with its measured dimension was maintained in the process of developing items for all of the dimensions. Finally, after evaluating the psychometric properties of the questionnaire, five-point Likert scale (very poor (1), poor (2), moderate (3), good (4) and excellent (5) was used to score the items. An excellent score was considered for very appropriate performance and without any need for guidance, a good score was considered for often satisfactory performance with minimum guidance, a moderate score was considered for in appropriate performance requiring guidance, a poor score was considered for inappropriate performance requiring guidance and supervision, and a very poor score was considered for extremely inappropriate performance requiring precise and thorough supervision and guidance.

Based on the three dimensions defined, in the first step, a three-dimensional questionnaire with 44 items was designed. Each of dimensions of educational and learning objectives, management and personal skills, and the development of professional job and entrepreneurship competencies had 14, 20 and 10 items, respectively. The effect score of the item showed that all designed items had a score of above 1.5. Thus, in this step, none of the items were eliminated and all of them were considered important and appropriate from the target ‘s point of view.
The final version of the tool contained 3 dimensions and 40 items. CVI was 0.85, CVR was 0.76, and IS all items were above 1.5, indicating good content validity from the experts’ points of view. The Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and test-retest Pearson correlation coefficients for the final version of the tool were 0.835, 0.899 (P < 0.001) and 0.913 (P < 0.001), respectively.

In general, the positive results of validity of the designed tool suggest the desirable psychometric property of the 40-item questionnaire of evaluation of the apprenticeship course in the field of professional health engineering with three areas of educational and learning objectives, management and personal skills, and the development of professional job and entrepreneurship competencies. This standard tool, in addition to evaluating the level of apprentices’ information and knowledge, can be a desirable tool for evaluating the expected job skills and competencies required in the health professional engineering field of study. This was a preliminary study and the authors of this research faced with various limitations. Thus, further studies are needed for more comprehensive application of the designed tool as well as reassessment of the psychometric properties and eliminating its defects and disadvantages in other professional health engineering departments of Iran’s medical universities. Finally, a complete and comprehensive tool for evaluating apprentices of this field of study is provided for academic community.
 The results indicated that the field internship course in the Field of occupational health engineering In three dimension, it includes the dimension of educational and learning objectives, the field of managerial and individual skills, as well as the development of professional qualifications and entrepreneurship assessment tool has good psychometric properties and can be used as a standard mseare for assessing the field internship course of student occupational health engineering. The scope of educational and learning objectives, the field of managerial and individual skills, as well as the development of professional qualifications and entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Questionnaire designs, Validity, Reliability, Occupational health.

Efficiency of hoods for local exhaust ventilation system is influenced by hood geometry, its situation relative to the process and the air volume exhausted by it. The aim of this study was to present a simple and practical method based on the standards for assessment of potential problems of ventilation system in a steel making company.
Material and In this cross-sectional study, a checklist based on the ACGIH ventilation standards was developed for investigating potential problems related to the three types of hoods in an oxide screen process. This checklist has completed in order to feasibility study of corrective changes in evaluation of the hood hardware parameters. The differences between design and current status to the standards were considered as noncompliance. Finally, differences were analyzed statistically.
Based on statistical analysis, the average of current status of hoods, plans and design documents and standards were for variables of conveyors downstream enclosure (1.6, 2.38 and 2.41m), vertical distance from hoods to conveyors (0.39, 0.37 and 0.61m), conveyor longitudinal enclosing after hood (1.225, 1.288 and 0.296 m) and hood numbers (18, 17 and 31), respectively. Comparing the results between current status of hoods with plans and design documents showed no significant differences (0. P-value≤ 0.05). But, the results between current status of hoods and design documents with standards have significant difference (0. P-value≥ 0.05). A significant difference (0. P-value≥ 0.05) revealed between the average of the current status of hoods, plans and design documents and the standards for variables of hood flow (813.3, 2276.9 & 3085.9 cfm) and duct velocity leading to the hoods (2289.3, 5083.5 & 3500 fpm), respectively.
This method can be applicable for the local ventilation systems with extensive pollution sources and hoods. One of the advantages of this method can be easily application of this system, as one of the requirements for delivering ventilation systems from contractors and the use of it for studying potential problems of the hoods that they have standards. Also, by comparing current status of hoods with the design specifications and standards, the mismatches/ unconformities in the lifetime and maintenance process of the system can be understood.

The cement industry is one of the most important industries involved in development of countries and also of the most polluting industry work place with harmful agents’ preposition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the workers’ health status in a cement company based on their available medical records. This cross-sectional study is conducted in 2011. In the study, we examined data obtained from 331 workers’ health records (all Shahroud cement company personnel) including their pre-employment, periodical examination and case-specific medical records. Chi-square and independent t-test was used to analyze the data using SPSS version 15. The significance level in all tests was 0.05. Average (Standard Deviation) of age and work history for workers were 40 ±7.5 and12.1 ± 5.5 respectively. Hearing loss (33.5%), cardiovascular disease (18.4%) and musculoskeletal disorders (13.9%) were the most prevalent diseases. statistically significant association was found between cardiovascular diseases (p=0.03) and hearing loss (p=0.002) with job category. Work history was associated with cardiovascular disease (p=0.02), musculoskeletal disorder (p=0.03), renal disease (p=0.003), gastrointestinal disease (p=0.04) and hearing loss (p=0.002). Significant associations were found between age and cardiovascular disease (p=0.007), gastrointestinal disease (p=0.007), and hearing loss (p<0.0001). Working in cement industry may cause hearing loss, high risk of renal diseases and diabetes compared to the normal people. The unsuitable conditions and the harmful work environment are possible causes to workers’ health problems.

Heavy metal fume is one of the most important risk factors in the workplaces. This study was performed to investigate unknown fumes with high concentrations and to reduce exposure stress among exposed workers in the site of scrap metal cutting in one of the country''s major steel industries. In this study، to determine the composition of unknown fumes produced from scrap cutting process، personal samples were collected from breathing zone of all exposed workers. Samples preparation and analysis were carried out based on NIOSH methods; Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry-AAS (Method 7300) and Induced Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry- ICP-AES (Method 7048). From ten metals identified، only mean concentration of iron oxide exceeded Threshold Limit Value (TLV) and concentrations of the remaining nine metals were below the exposure limits. High concentrations of fumes generated from cutting process of scraps were mainly due to iron oxide. Therefore، concerns among workers and managers over presence of chemicals; such as cadmium and nickel، and their health effects were not the case. This was also confirmed by periodic examination results.

Visual display terminals (VDT) are standard equipment for many office workers. Their use، however، may increase the risk of developing adverse conditions related to vision، the musculoskeletal system، and mental health such as insomnia. In this study، we examined the relationship between duration of daily VDT use and insomnia in bank tellers. In this cross-sectional study، 382 bank tellers working with VDT who met our inclusion criteria were selected randomly. Their demographic data، sleep quality، and stress information were collected by AIS and DCM model questionnaires. We used SPSS 15 software for data processing. Chi-square and independent t-test were used for data analysis. The results showed that the insomnia symptoms score were significantly higher in the participants using VDT more than 6 hours/day (P<0. 001). To protect bank tellers from VDT adverse effects، we recommend restriction of daily work time in these terminals to less than 6 hours، and planning for work-rest periodic times during working shift.

Musculoskeletal disorders and premature tiredness caused by work are arisen from incompatible individual work capacity and job demands. According to the statistics provided by World Health Organization (WHO), prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is the most important cause of the loss of working timein work environments. For this cross sectional study samples were selected from workers employed in workshops of metallic products in Isfahan city. Data were collected using TMW standard questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software. Relationships between physical work demands and disorders of the upper limbs such as shoulders, wrist, elbow, and hand, were examined using X2 statistical test and the results showed that there are significant relationships between these disorders and the physical work demands. If exceed the work ability of a person; work demands, as important factors in job doing, have a direct relationship with musculoskeletal disorders.

Bioaerosol spreading in different parts of hospitals are known as hazardous factors for health، which play a major role in hospital infection. The object of this study was to investigate the possibility of microorganisms in the air، including fungal spores and bacteria in the air of different parts of hospitals. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in 1390. Air samples were collected using bioaerosol sampling pumps and Sabro dextrose agar and Chapman agar plates. Bioaerosols were counted as the number of colonies per cubic meter of air. Finally، the types of microorganisms were detected using a microscope. The results of the present study showed that the surgical ward at Rezai hospital and labour room of the 11th of Muharram hospital had the highest concentrations of fungal contamination. Intensive care unit (ICU) and radiology wards at Rezai Hospital as well as the examination room in the 11th of Muharram hospital had the lowest concentration of contamination. In addition، the highest concentration of staphylococcus was seen in pediatric wards at Rezai hospital. The lowest pollution contamination concentration was observed in ultrasonagraphy and kitchen. The results showed that aspergillus and penicillium species were the most frequent types of fungi in hospital environment. In this study، bioaerosol concentrations in different parts of the hospitals were different while the types of microorganisms dispersed at hospital environment were similar، thus there is the possibility of occupational exposure for workers in different parts of hospital.

Workers working in car painting workshops are exposed to different contaminants including isocyanates. One of the most important sequelae of this exposure is occupational asthma. The aim of this study was to identify alterations in peak expiratory flow test in the workers working in the car painting workshops. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. 43 workers were selected randomly from the car painting workplaces in Isfahan. The peak expiratory flow of the workers was measured by means of a peak flow meter set at the beginning and at the end of the work shift, for one week. The mean percentage of alterations in peak expiratory flow was 6.91% on the first day and 8.11% on the last day of week. The mean percentage of alternation of peak expiratory flow of the workers were 11.2±1.8 and 7.9±1.9 an the day of exposure to the contaminants after painting, and also one day after exposure respectively, which was indicative of pathological changes in the lungs of the workers, as shown by standard tests of pulmonary function. 72% of the workers after exposure to the contaminants showed alternation of more than 10% in the peak expiratory flow. This study showed there is high risk of occupational asthma and other lung diseases in the workers working in car painting workshops and peak flow meter test can be useful for assessment of pulmonary disorders

Abstract Hexamethylene diisocyanate is an aliphatic isocyanate and car painters are exposed to it. One of the most important disorders is occupational asthma. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of 1, 6 hexamethylene diisocyanate on the peak expiratory flow test to car painters in Isfahan. In this descriptive and a cross-sectional study the forty three car painters were included. The sample were extracted and analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography. Peak expiratory flow test was carried out within a period of one week of working shift. The averages of daily and weekly exposure of workers to Hexamethylene diisocyanate concentration were. 0.42±0.1 and 0.13±0.05mg/m3, respectively The average of variation percent of peak expiratory flow of workers on painting day were 11.2 % ±1.8 % and the change average of peak expiratory flow of worker on the post day painting were 7.9 %±1.9. 72%. 72% of the painters had a variation more than 10% of the peak expiratory flow on painting day. All inhalation exposure was 10% more than the threshold standard limits value (tenfold of TLV)