OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this initial study is to analyze the validity and dependability of the Malay translation of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire.
METHODS: The questionnaire was self-administered two times, with an interval of two weeks in order to evaluate the accuracy of the original findings with a retest. The study involved 115 participants.
RESULTS: The range of Cronbach Alpha coefficient showed a considerable consistency of the items for each sub-scale (Cronbach's a > 0.95). The range of Kappa coefficients was between (ICC = 0.690-0.949, p
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pain, which is localized to the low back, differs epidemiologically from that which occurs simultaneously or close in time to pain at other anatomical sites SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Low back pain (LBP) often occurs in combination with other regional pain, with which it shares similar psychological and psychosocial risk factors. However, few previous epidemiological studies of LBP have distinguished pain that is confined to the low back from that which occurs as part of a wider distribution of pain.
METHODS: We analyzed data from CUPID, a cohort study that used baseline and follow-up questionnaires to collect information about musculoskeletal pain, associated disability, and potential risk factors, in 47 occupational groups (office workers, nurses, and others) from 18 countries.
RESULTS: Among 12,197 subjects at baseline, 609 (4.9%) reported localized LBP in the past month, and 3820 (31.3%) nonlocalized LBP. Nonlocalized LBP was more frequently associated with sciatica in the past month (48.1% vs. 30.0% of cases), occurred on more days in the past month and past year, was more often disabling for everyday activities (64.1% vs. 47.3% of cases), and had more frequently led to medical consultation and sickness absence from work. It was also more often persistent when participants were followed up after a mean of 14 months (65.6% vs. 54.1% of cases). In adjusted Poisson regression analyses, nonlocalized LBP was differentially associated with risk factors, particularly female sex, older age, and somatizing tendency. There were also marked differences in the relative prevalence of localized and nonlocalized LBP by occupational group.
CONCLUSION: Future epidemiological studies should distinguish where possible between pain that is limited to the low back and LBP that occurs in association with pain at other anatomical locations.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case review of pilots diagnosed with CAD at the Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in October 2020.
RESULTS: Thirteen cases of CAD were included in the review. Ten pilots were diagnosed after developing acute coronary syndrome; the remaining three pilots were diagnosed during a routine medical examination via an exercise stress test. Twelve pilots required a revascularization procedure. A total of 11 pilots (84.6%) were recertified for flying duties, while another two were disqualified. The duration to recertification for these 11 pilots was between three months and one year.
CONCLUSIONS: The risk assessment was initiated with initial risk-stratification using population-appropriate risk calculator combined with the 4 × 4 aeromedical risk matrix. The reassessment of return to flying after coronary artery disease must be carried out no sooner than six months after the event. Pilots must be hemodynamically stable with no evidence of significant inducible ischemic left and a minimum 50% of ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A follow-up is recommended at the initial six months after recertification and then annually with a routine noninvasive cardiac assessment.
DESIGN: A secondary data analysis of the 2023 Registry of Occupational Disease Screening (RODS) was performed. The RODS survey tool, which included the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire, a symptoms checklist and items on work-relatedness, was used to screen for OSDs. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors.
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Restaurant workers (n=300) registered in RODS from February 2023 to April 2023, aged 18 years and above and working in restaurants across Selangor, Melaka and Pahang for more than 1 year, were included in the study, whereas workers who had pre-existing skin diseases were excluded.
RESULTS: The prevalence of suspected OSDs among study participants was 12.3%. Higher odds of suspected OSDs among study participants were observed among those exposed to wet work (adjusted OR (AOR) 22.74, 95% CI 9.63 to 53.68) and moderate to high job stress levels (AOR 4.33, 95% CI 1.80 to 10.43).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that OSDs are a significant occupational health problem among restaurant workers. Interventions targeting job content and wet work may be vital in reducing OSDs among this group of workers.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among HO in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Kuching, Sarawak. The socialdemographic factors were also evaluated to identify the high-risk groups.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 227 house officers in SGH over a period of three months. The social-demographic data such as age, sex, marital status, current posting, duration of posting, place of graduate and state of origin were obtained from interviews with the respondents. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) questionnaire was completed to assess the psychological morbidities.
RESULTS: HO were found to have high prevalence of psychiatric morbidities such as depression (42%), anxiety (50%) and stress (42.7%). Foreign graduates showed a significantly higher odds of depression (odds ratio, OR: 3.851; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI: 2.165, 6.851), anxiety (OR: 2.427; 95%CI: 1.394, 4.225) and stress (OR: 2.524; 95%CI: 1.439, 4.427) as compared to local graduates.. Further, non-Sarawakians were observed to have higher odds of developing anxiety (OR: 1.772; 95%CI: 1.022, 3.073) as compared to the Sarawakians.
CONCLUSION: HO in SGH had high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress. Therefore, psychiatric morbidities should be screened regularly amongst the HOs in Malaysia.
METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed among young doctors less than 40 years old, working at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using questionnaires and home sleep apnea testing (Apnealink™Plus). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5). The secondary objectives were to evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) defined by AHI ≥5 + excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep deprivation (the difference of weekend (non-workdays) and weekday (workdays) wake-up time of at least 2 h), EDS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥10), tiredness, and perception of inadequate sleep as well as to identify their predictors.
RESULTS: Total of 52 subjects completed the study. Mean age and mean body mass index (BMI) were 31.3 ± 4 and 23.3 ± 3.6, respectively. The prevalence of OSA and OSAS were 40.4 and 5.8 %, respectively. One third of OSA subjects were at least moderate OSA. Prevalence of sleep deprivation, EDS, tiredness, and perception of inadequate sleep were 44.2, 15.4, 65.4, and 61.5 %, respectively. History of snoring, being male, and perception of inadequate sleep were significant predictors for OSA with the odds ratio of 34.5 (p = 0.016, 95 % CI = 1.92-619.15), 18.8 (p = 0.001, 95 % CI = 3.10-113.41), and 7.4 (p = 0.037, 95 % CI = 1.13-48.30), respectively. Only observed apnea was a significant predictor for OSAS with odds ratio of 30.7 (p = 0.012, 95 % CI = 2.12-442.6). Number of naps per week was a significant predictor for EDS with the odds ratio of 1.78 (p = 0.007, 95 % CI = 1.17-2.71). OSA and total number of call days per month were significant predictors for tiredness with the odds ratio of 4.8 (p = 0.036, 95 % CI = 1.11-20.72) and 1.3 (p = 0.050, 95 % CI = 1.0004-1.61), respectively. OSA was the only significant predictor for perception of inadequate sleep with the odd ratios of 4.5 (p = 0.022, 95 % CI = 1.24-16.59).
CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated relatively high prevalence of OSA and OSAS among young doctors. Snoring, being male, and perception of inadequate sleep were significant predictors for OSA. Observed apnea was a significant predictor for OSAS. OSA was a significant predictor for tiredness and perception of inadequate sleep.
METHOD: A cross-sectional study was performed in March and April 2016. The outdoor temperatures were measured using the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) tool. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing sociodemographic factors prior to work shift; while working profile, hydration practices, and HRI symptoms at the end of work shift. The hydration status of the respondents was assessed by direct observation of their urine colour. Multiple logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of age, working profile, hydration practice, history of previous HRI, and hydration status on the likelihood that outdoor workers having moderate to severe HRI.
RESULTS: A total of 320 respondents completed the questionnaire. The mean (standard deviation) outdoor workplace temperature was 30.5°C (SD 0.53°C). The percentage of respondents who experienced moderate to severe HRI was 44.1%. The likelihood that outdoor workers experienced moderate to severe HRI symptoms was associated with irregular fluid intake [odds ratio (OR): 16.11, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 4.11; 63.20]; consumption of non-plain water (OR: 5.92, 95%CI: 2.79; 12.56); dehydration (OR: 3.32, 95%CI: 1.92; 5.74); and increasing outdoor workplace temperature (OR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.09; 3.11).
CONCLUSION: Irregular drinking pattern and non-plain fluid intake was found to have a large effect on HRI severity among outdoor workers exposed high temperatures during a heat wave phenomenon.