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Unnatural working postures usually cause musculoskeletal problems for workers in work field, especially in traditional industry. Many analysis and survey methodologies have been developed to identify unnatural postures and disorder risks in workplaces. The Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (OWAS) and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) are the representative methods and applied widely. This study applied the both tools to investigate the work field of a manufacturing factory of the water heater’s case. We divided the manufacturing process into nine workshops, took the pictures of working motions by DV camera and analyzed the postures on OWAS. From the OWAS results, we could identify the risks level of musculoskeletal symptoms as four Action Categories (AC). And from the comparison of OWAS and NMQ results, we could provide the suggestions to improve the working methods and environment. From the results of OWAS, we found that the operators) head/neck and back were above AC3 in some workshops. If the situation continued in long period, the operators might have the risk to get musculoskeletal symptoms. From the investigation of NMQ, we also found that the percentage of aches on neck, shoulders and lower back were higher than other parts of body. The correlation between aches and jobs was more than 75 per cent. So we provided some suggestions to improve: work rotation and adjustment of work surface/height to fit in with Ergonomics. Then the risks of musculoskeletal symptoms would be reduced.

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in the experience of somatic symptoms by domain (exhaustion, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, heart distress) between psychologically abused and non-abused older persons, and to scrutinize associations between abuse and somatic symptoms while considering other factors (e.g. social support).

The design was cross-sectional. The participants were 4,467 women/men aged 60-84 years living in seven European cities. The data were analysed using bivariate/multivariate methods.

Psychologically abused participants scored higher on all somatic symptom domains than non-abused, and thus were more affected by the symptoms. The regressions confirmed a positive association between psychological abuse and most somatic symptom domains, but other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety) were more salient. Demographics/socio-economics were positively (e.g. marriage/cohabitation) or negatively (e.g. education) associated with somatic symptoms depending on the domain. Social support and family structure “protected” the experience of somatic symptoms.

The research focused on psychological abuse. It did not incorporate other abuse types calling for further research on the effects of other abuse types on somatic symptoms. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that psychological abuse is linked to somatic symptoms, but the role of other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety, social support) is also important.

Improvements in the older person's situation regarding somatic symptoms need to consider psychological abuse, co-morbidities, social support and living conditions.

The paper reports data from the ABUEL Survey, which collected population-based data on elder abuse.

Because of the importance of having enough sleep in life and health, this study aims to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on sleep quality and pregnancy symptoms (primary outcomes) and side effects (secondary outcome).

In this triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 88 pregnant women with gestational age of 8–10 weeks and serum vitamin D concentration less than 30 ng/ml were allocated into vitamin D (n = 44) and control (n = 44) groups by blocked randomization method. The vitamin D group received a 4,000 IU vitamin D pill, and the control group received a placebo pill daily for 18 weeks. Independent t-, Mann–Whitney U and ANCOVA tests were used to analyze the data.

The post-intervention mean (SD: standard deviation) of total sleep quality score in the vitamin D and placebo group were 1.94 (2.1) and 4.62 (1.71), respectively. According to the Mann–Whitney U test, this difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) of pregnancy symptoms in the vitamin D and placebo groups was 23.95 (16.07) and 26.62 (13.84), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups based on ANCOVA test (p = 0.56). Considerable side effects were not observed in any groups.

This study was conducted due to the contradictory results of the effect of vitamin D on sleep quality and the high prevalence of sleep disorders and pregnancy symptoms.

Investigating demands within an occupational context has always been an essential endeavor to guarantee worker well-being and performance efficiency. In blue-collar occupations, the physical demands of manual labor have always been the major focus, but recent technological changes may come with higher demands on the intellectual capacities of workers. For this reason, the purpose of this paper is to assess physical and cognitive demands that construction workers face.

The authors conducted a quantitative study using standardized research instruments. Construction workers of three German construction companies were asked to volunteer to participate in interviews (n=35) and a survey (n=30) that assessed the extent of physical demands and a variety of cognitive demands experienced by construction workers.

The results suggest that construction work is demanding in physical terms as well as in perceptual, psychomotor, social and cognitive terms. Using and updating specialized knowledge, giving advice and providing consultation, friendliness, assertiveness and reliability are important demands among construction workers.

Construction workers face an undervalued level of demands in their everyday work environment. As high demands can affect well-being and mental health, construction companies would greatly benefit from investing efforts into evaluating the multi-component demands profile of their workers and the impact on their health, in particular through the strongly increasing cognitive demands due to the ongoing digitization of the sector.

The study identified essential demands in construction work that are relevant for the workers’ productivity and well-being.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate health effects and determine the factors associated with health effects from smartphone and tablet use among the elderly in Thailand.

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants comprised 490 elderly people. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection via the Healthy e-Elderly People Assessment mobile application in the Android operating system by Google which consists of five parts of a questionnaire. The variables were analyzed using SPSS such as frequency, percentage, mean and binary logistic regression.

Altogether, the participants were 223 males and 267 females; mean age=64.9±5.4. The average time spent using a mobile device was 2.8±1.9 h/day. Participants recorded that after use of either device, 59.0 percent experienced eye pain, 52.7 percent experienced dim eyes, 30.2 percent experienced tiredness, and 28.0 percent experienced moodiness. Socially, 26.8 percent recorded changes in social interaction. Periods of time using devices, time consumed in device usage (hours/day), the type of application, and the difference in times of use, place of usage and time spent in rest breaks from smartphone or tablet usage were significantly associated with health effects (p<0.05).

The elderly users may be at risk of several health effects from smartphone and tablet use. The potential gap in knowledge conceals some of the risk factors for the current health effects. Practical intervention to reduce health effects from the use of smartphones and tablets should be considered.

The purpose of this paper is to further the understanding of public sector line managers' work-related well-being and health in relation to job strain, gender and workplace social support.

An online survey was sent to all senior and middle line managers (N = 357) in three administrative departments of Iceland's largest municipality. The response rate was 64.7%. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data.

A minority of respondents experience high job strain. However, for these managers, the risk of experiencing emotional exhaustion is about fivefold, compared to those not experiencing high job strain. Social support is an important buffering against job strain and enhances well-being. Female managers are more likely than their male counterparts to report myositis, back or shoulder pain and sleeping difficulty.

The study emphasises that workplace social support attenuates the negative impact of job strain on line managers' work-related well-being. Furthermore, it demonstrates that in a society at the forefront in gender equality, gender differences in health symptoms exist among line managers in the public sector – a finding that highlights the importance of studying all aspects of workplace well-being by gender. This calls for future research using a more comprehensive survey data and interviews to shed light on the pathways through which female line managers' health is negatively affected.

Knowledge relating to well-being and health of line managers in the public sector is scarce. This study contributes to filling that gap. As work-related well-being is often gender-blind, the value of the study is also the investigation of the gender patterns in the authors’ data.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the musculoskeletal problems faced by the workers carrying out head lifting at the construction sites and to present a solution for the identified problems.

The methodology of the paper is framed in two phases. First, the identification of the problems faced by workers through interviews/questionnaire and second, designing and fabricating a mechanical system to safe guard workers against musculoskeletal disorders.

Based upon the interviews and questionnaires, it was ascertained that majority of the workers were subjected to neck pain and low back pain. This was mainly attributed to the lifting of heavy loads on head, sudden and jerky movements and bad postures.

The developed frame has been appreciated by the Physiotherapists also; however, it still has certain limitations which can be taken as a future scope for the further modification of the frame. The limitations are as follows: the weight of the frame is a limitation, as the worker has to bear this load in addition to the load which is to be lifted. However, this can be dealt with by replacing the material of the frame with lightweight materials such as aluminium alloys, carbon fibres, etc. The continuous wearing of the frame may result in discomfort, as the worker cannot freely roam around. Sweating and etching due to wearing of belt. Worker cannot place the load him/herself on the frame. Stability issues in lifting liquids overhead.

Findings revealed the bleak possibility of replacing head loading. However, there is an urgent need of developing a cost-effective system which could help workers while carrying out head lifting of loads.

This work presents an ergonomically designed mechanical frame which will help workers in carrying out head loading without effecting their skull, spine, etc. The system was tested on workers and the results were alarming and the working capacity of the workers was observed to increase with the fabricated frame.

Prolonged working in repetitive and awkward postures can result in musculoskeletal disorders among workers involved in labour-intensive jobs like those of brick kiln workers. Unlike other labour-intensive sectors, workers in this particular sector have a lack of awareness about musculoskeletal problems. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore musculoskeletal issues and associated risk-factors among brick kiln workers.

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 217 male and 111 female workers aged between 17 and 53 years. They were employed in traditional brick kiln units situated in Rajasthan, India. Postures were analysed by Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and Rapid Entire Body Assessment methods. Binary logistic regression was used to find the association between musculoskeletal problems and risk-factors.

For the mould evacuating task, wrist (76.2 per cent) and lower back (56 per cent) issues were the most frequently reported musculoskeletal problems, while in spading task, lower back (62.4 per cent) and shoulder (57.7 per cent) problems were prominent. Musculoskeletal symptoms in one or more body regions were associated with personal and work-related factors including the type of task and experience.

Kiln workers are exposed to high musculoskeletal and postural risks, particularly in spading and mould filling tasks. To reduce these risks, ergonomic interventions are needed.

It is recognised that the musculoskeletal health of brick kiln workers is a cause for concern. The present study provides the evidence of the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by brick kiln workers and the association of symptoms with various risk-factors, which has not been addressed in previous studies.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the self‐reported health‐promoting behaviours of music and non‐music performance students in higher education. It also seeks to determine the extent to which perceived health and self‐reported symptoms are associated with lifestyle, emotional affect state, self‐regulation and self‐efficacy.

Music performance students from two conservatoires (n=198) and students of nursing and biomedical science (health students) from two universities (n=65) aged 18‐26 years completed the health‐promoting lifestyle inventory; the positive and negative affect, the self‐efficacy and the self‐regulation scales, as well as reporting their present health and completing an inventory of musculo‐ and non‐musculoskeletal health problems.

Music performance students score lower than health students on health responsibility, physical activity and spiritual growth; also on self‐efficacy and self‐regulation. Music performance students rate their health, generally, worse than do health students, and report a wider variety of symptoms, which they rate as more severe than do health students. Perceived present health is most strongly correlated with reported healthy lifestyle. This in turn is associated with positive affect, self‐efficacy and self‐regulation.

This is a relatively small‐scale investigation of the health‐promoting behaviours and experiences of ill‐health reported by two groups of students following different programmes of study and with different career aspirations. Firm conclusions cannot therefore be drawn.

While nursing and biomedical science students may be atypical in that they are likely to gain a greater awareness of health issues from their studies, it could be argued that music performance students need to adopt healthy lifestyles in order to reach their full potential as musicians, and health promotion should be part of their training.

The interrelationships among lifestyle, physical health and psychological well‐being have been studied in a number of populations. The health‐promoting behaviours of music performance students in comparison with those of other students are of particular interest given the physical and emotional demands of expert music making.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of self‐reported musculoskeletal symptoms among the three Taiwan’s traditional industries as lathe, electronics and food by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Moreover, the study was also to make a comparision among the aforesaid industries for revealing their differences. The result of the questionnaire indicated that the symptoms appeared on the three industries were all originated from four parts as neck, shoulders, elbows, and wrists/hands. More than 68 per cent of the interviewers’s thought that their symptoms might be related to their work. However, the rate of harmful influence resulted from life or job was over 50 per cent. As to the respect of the interviewers’ attitude in treating their symptoms, more than 80 per cent of them neglected or just treated the symptoms by massaging or cold/hot compressing and resting. From the questionnaire, the proportion of symptoms discussed in each item inicated that the distribution, in perceiving symptom, of interviewers were not quite identical; however the Chi‐square test discovered majority did not reach 0.05 levels, hence the difference among industries were not significant.