Abstract: Nowadays, the managing and planning of hospitals is facing many problems. Failure to recognize the main criteria for strategic management to ensure long-term hospital performance can lead to many health problems. To achieve this goal, a qualitative-quantitate method titled Delphi-Fuzzy has been applied. This strategy makes it possible for experts to screen among the most important criteria in strategic management. To conduct this operation, a statistical society consisting of 20 experts in Ahwaz hospitals has been questioned. The final model confirms the key criterions after three stages of Delphi. This model provides the possibility to focus on the basic criteria and can determine the organization’s main orientation.
Abstract: Eating disorders are mental health disorders as a result of disruption of the diet. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between exam stress and binge eating disorder in high school students. The study was conducted in March 2018 with 60 high school students (31 females, 29 males) aged 15-19 years. Personal characteristics and eating habits of individuals were measured by using a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The binge eating disorder status of the individuals participating in the study was determined by the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE); test anxiety status was determined by Revised Exam Anxiety Scale. Statistical analysis of the data obtained from the study was done by IBM SPSS Statistics 23 program. While there was no significant relationship between the points obtained from the Bulimia Research Test Edinburgh and the consumption of something after the dinner (p > 0.05), there was a significant relationship with need to eat when stressed (p < 0.05). It is seen in 43.3% of individuals that there is no binge eating disorder, but abnormal eating behavior is observed. In 8.3% of the students, binge eating disorder (BED) was seen. No significant difference was found between male and female students in terms of BED (p > 0.05). It was determined that 60% of the participants who have BED had a medium level of anxiety and 40% had a high level of anxiety. A significant relationship was found between BITE and revised test anxiety (RTA) scale scores (p < 0.05). However, the relationship between the need for eating and the BMI and RTA scores were not significant (p > 0.05). In the study, the desired parameter was positive; there was a positive relationship between the BED and the test scores. In this period which is the starting time of dietary issues and different mental issues, for example, youthfulness, there should be regular trainings on the methods of coping with anxiety and on the principles of healthy nutrition in order to prevent health problems.
Abstract: In most developing countries, although the vast majority of the people are living in the rural areas, the qualified medical doctors are not available there. Health care workers and paramedics, called village doctors, informal healthcare providers, are largely responsible for the rural medical care. Mishaps due to wrong diagnosis and inappropriate medication have been causing serious suffering that is preventable. While innovators have created many devices, the vast majority of these technologies do not find applications to address the needs and conditions in low-resource settings. The primary motive is to address the acute lack of affordable medical technologies for the poor people in low-resource settings. A low cost smart medical device that is portable, battery operated and can be used at any point of care has been developed to detect breathing rate, electrocardiogram (ECG) and arterial pulse rate to improve diagnosis and monitoring of patients and thus improve care and safety. This simple and easy to use smart medical device can be used, managed and maintained effectively and safely by any health worker with some training. In order to empower the health workers and village doctors, our device is being further developed to integrate with ICT tools like smart phones and connect to the medical experts wherever available, to manage the serious health problems.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the excessive use of smartphones. Smartphones have enormous effects on the human body in that some musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and health problems might evolve. These days, there is a wide use of the smartphones among all age groups of society, thus, the focus on smartphone effects on human behavior and health, especially on the young and elderly people, becomes a crucial issue. This study was conducted in Jordan on smartphone users for different genders and ages, by conducting a survey to collect data related to the symptoms and MSDs that are resulted from the excessive use of smartphones. A total of 357 responses were used in the analysis. The main related symptoms were numbness, fingers pain, and pain in arm, all linked to age and gender for comparative reasons. A statistical analysis was performed to find the effects of extensive usage of a smartphone for long periods of time on the human body. Results show that the significant variables were the vision problems and the time spent when using the smartphone that cause vision problems. Other variables including age of user and ear problems due to the use of the headsets were found to be a border line significant.
Abstract: In both developed and developing countries, obesity among women is increasing, but in different patterns and at very different speeds. It may have a negative effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. This research studied the age distribution among obese women, the types of overweight and obesity, and the extent of the problem of overweight/obesity and the obesity etiological factors among women in Hillah city in central Iraq. A total of 322 overweight and obese women were included in the study, those women were randomly selected. The Body Mass Index was used as indicator for overweight/ obesity. The incidence of overweight/obesity among age groups were estimated, the etiology factors included genetic, environmental, genetic/environmental and endocrine disease. The overweight and obese women were screened for incidence of infection and/or diseases. The study found that the prevalence of 322 overweight and obese women in Hillah city in central Iraq was 19.25% and 80.78%, respectively. The obese women types were recorded based on BMI and WHO classification as class-1 obesity (29.81%), class-2 obesity (24.22%) and class-3 obesity (26.70%), the result was discrepancy non-significant, P value < 0.05. The incidence of overweight in women was high among those aged 20-29 years (90.32%), 6.45% aged 30-39 years old and 3.22% among ≥ 60 years old, while the incidence of obesity was 20.38% for those in the age group 20-29 years, 17.30% were 30-39 years, 23.84% were 40-49 years, 16.92% were 50-59 years group and 21.53% were ≥ 60 years age group. These results confirm that the age can be considered as a significant factor for obesity types (P value < 0.0001). The result also showed that the both genetic factors and environmental factors were responsible for incidents of overweight or obesity (84.78%) p value < 0.0001. The results also recorded cases of different repeated infections (skin infection, recurrent UTI and influenza), cancer, gallstones, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and infertility. Weight stigma and bias generally refers to negative attitudes; Obesity can affect quality of life, and the results of this study recorded depression among overweight or obese women. This can lead to sexual problems, shame and guilt, social isolation and reduced work performance. Overweight and Obesity are real problems among women of all age groups and is associated with the risk of diseases and infection and negatively affects quality of life. This result warrants further studies into the prevalence of obesity among women in Hillah City in central Iraq and the immune response of obese women.
Abstract: Extended periods engaged in sedentary behavior increases the risk of becoming overweight and/or obese which is linked to other health problems. Adding technology to the term ‘active living’ permits its inclusion in promoting and facilitating habitual physical activity. Technology can either act as a barrier to, or facilitate this lifestyle, depending on the chosen technology. Physical Activity Monitoring Technologies (PAMTs) are a popular example of such technologies. Different contemporary PAMTs have been evaluated based on customer reviews; however, there is a lack of published experimental research into the efficacy of PAMTs. This research aims to investigate the reliability of four PAMTs: two wristbands (Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP), a waist-clip (Fitbit One), and a mobile application (iPhone Health Application) for recording a specific distance walked on a treadmill (1.5km) at constant speed. Physical activity tracking technologies are varied in their recordings, even while performing the same activity. This research demonstrates that Jawbone UP band recorded the most accurate distance compared to Fitbit One, Fitbit Flex, and iPhone Health Application.
Abstract: The presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds,
such as bisphenol A (BPA), in the environment can cause serious
health problems. However, there are controversial opinions. This
study investigated the reproductive, metabolic, oxidative and
immunologic-disrupting effects of bisphenol A in male rabbits.
Rabbits were divided into five groups. The first four rabbit groups
were administered oral BPA (1, 10, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day) for ten
weeks. The fifth group was administered corn oil as the vehicle. BPA
significantly decreased serum testosterone, estradiol and the free
androgen index (FAI) and significantly increased sex hormone
binding globulin (SHBG) compared with the placebo group. The
higher doses of BPA showed a significant decrease in follicular
stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). A
significant increase in blood glucose levels was identified in the BPA
groups. The non-significant difference in insulin levels is a novel
finding. The cumulative testicular toxicity of BPA was clearly
demonstrated by the dose-dependent decrease in absolute testes
weight, primary measures of semen quality and a significant increase
in testicular malonaldehyde (MDA). Moreover, BPA significantly
decreased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and significantly
increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) at the highest concentration. Our
results suggest that BPA, especially at higher doses, is associated
with many adverse effects on metabolism, oxidative stress, immunity,
sperm quality and markers of androgenic action.
Abstract: Lead (Pb) poisoning is one of the most common and
preventable environmental health problems. There are different
sources of environmental pollution with lead as lead alkyl additives
in petrol and manufacturing processes. Pb in the atmosphere can be
deposited in urban soils, and may then be re-suspended to re-enter the
atmosphere. This could increase human exposure to Pb and cause
long-term health effects. Thus, monitoring Pb pollution is considered
one of the major tasks in controlling pollution. Scalp hair can be
utilized for the determination of lead (Pb) concentration. It provides a
lasting record of metal intakes of weeks or even months, and for most
metals, their accumulation in hair reflects their accumulation in the
whole body. This work was conducted to investigate the
concentration of lead in male scalp hair of Cairo (residential-traffic
and residential-industrial) and rural residents after twenty years of
phasing out of leaded gasoline. Results indicated that the mean
concentration of lead in hair of residential-traffic (9.7552 μg/g ±0.71)
and residential-industrial (12.3288 μg/g ±1.13) was significantly
higher than that in rural residents (4.7327 μg/g ±0.67). The mean
concentration of lead in hair of resident’s industrial areas was the
highest among Cairo residents and not the traffic areas as it was
before phasing out of leaded gasoline. Twenty years of phasing out of
leaded gasoline in Cairo has greatly improved the lead pollution
among residents of traffic areas, but industrial areas residents were
still suffering from lead pollution, which needs more efforts to
control the sources of lead pollution.
Abstract: Some of the major concerns regarding sewer overflows to receiving water bodies include serious environmental, aesthetic and public health problems. A noble self-cleansing sewer overflow screening device having a sewer overflow chamber, a rectangular tank and a slotted ogee weir to capture the gross pollutants has been investigated. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques are used to simulate the flow phenomena with two different inlet orientations; parallel and perpendicular to the weir direction. CFD simulation results are compared with analytical results. Numerical results show that the flow is not uniform (across the width of the inclined surface) near the top of the inclined surface. The flow becomes uniform near the bottom of the inclined surface, with significant increase of shear stress. The simulation results promises for an effective and efficient self-cleansing sewer overflow screening device by comparing hydrodynamic results.
Abstract: The aging of the workforce is occurring globally and has significant impact on organizations. The Malaysian population is ageing. Although, not as quickly as the populations of a number of Asian nations, or of parts of Europe; the rate is sufficient to cause a concern. The life expectancy of Malaysians has increased in year 2012 with an average of 73.8 years or equal to 71.1 years for males and 76.7 years for females. The birth and death rates are 26.05 births/1,000 population and 5.29 deaths/1,000 population respectively. These figures have placed a greater liability on the government’s shoulder, and have become a push factor for the country to revise a new retirement age for the public servants. The ‘aged population’ impinged on the new challenges faced by the Malaysian government, which had to deal with an unproductive aged workforce. A new retirement age from 58 to 60 years old has been introduced and this could have a positive effect on this cohort, in maintaining financial security. However, keeping older employees might affect organizations’ performance and productivity. The organizations need to pay more attention on them, since they are less effective and might be affected by numerous health problems. An innovative culture should be introduced and this could be a good indicator for organizations that deal with these ‘expensive’ workers.
Abstract: Trauma in early life is widely regarded as a cause for
adult mental health problems. This study explores the role of
secondary trauma on later functioning in a sample of 359 university
students enrolled in undergraduate psychology classes in the United
States. Participants were initially divided into four groups based on
1) having directly experienced trauma (assaultive violence), 2)
having directly experienced trauma and secondary traumatization
through the unanticipated death of a close friend or family member
or witnessing of an injury or shocking even), 3) having no
experience of direct trauma but having experienced indirect trauma
(secondary trauma), or 4) reporting no exposure. Participants
completed a battery of measures on concepts associated with
psychological functioning which included measures of
psychological well-being, problem solving, coping and resiliency.
Findings discuss differences in psychological functioning and
resilience based on participants who experienced secondary
traumatization and assaultive violence versus secondary
traumatization alone.