Search

Background. Nurses are one of the population groups with the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Preventive measures in Vietnamese hospitals on the job have not been proposed to study their effectiveness due to barriers related to the lack of knowledge about MSDs by health care administrators and the lack of human resources with expertise in MSD management in hospitals. Objectives. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of basic interventions (education, physical exercise) to prevent MSDs among district hospital nurses in Vietnam. Material and Methods. A quasi-experimental study was carried out before/after over a period of one year among two groups of nurses, one receiving the intervention ( n = 162 ) and the other the control group ( n = 128 ). The intervention includes 3 components: training on MSDs, ergonomics training, and instructions for physical exercise. The pre- and postintervention assessment tools included the Modified Nordic, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Short-Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Questionnaire (K6). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to assess the difference between the two groups at two points in time (before and after the intervention) on some indicators (prevalence of MSDs in the last 12 months and 7 days, score for quality of life and psychological distress). Results. There was a significant difference of the test on the prevalence of MSDs in the last 7 days between the 2 groups before and after the intervention with the p value = 0.016 . This difference occurred in 4 anatomical sites: neck, shoulder/upper arm, wrists/hand, and lower back, with p values being 0.013, 0.011, 0.038, and 0.009, respectively. Conclusions. The intervention measures are probably effective in reducing the prevalence of MSDs at 4 anatomical sites in the last 7 days. More in-depth studies are needed with a combination of measures over a longer period of time to obtain stronger evidence of interventions.

Lead poisoning in children is a major public health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 403 children aged from 3 to 14 years living nearly zinc–lead mining areas in two provinces in Vietnam (Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen) from 06/2016 to 10/2016 to identify risk factors for lead contamination. Results. The proportion of children withblood lead levels BLLs≥10 μg/dL was 80.51% in Bac Kan and 50% in Thai Nguyen; the mean blood lead level for children was14.41±9.42 μg/dL. In linear regression analyses, the body mass index was negatively associated with elevated BLLs withr=−0.404,p<0.05(95% CI: -0.801, -0.006). In multivariable regression analysis, several risk factors were associated with lead contamination including male sex (aOR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.13-5.24,p=0.02), play areas in Bac Kan (aOR=2.3(1.02-5.17),p=0.04), proximity of children’s home of less than 2 kilometers from the mine (aOR=2.90(1.54-5.44),p=0.001), and inattentive symptoms in Thai Nguyen (aOR=7.85, 95% CI 3.49-17.69,p=0.001). Environmental factors, including lead concentrations in the soil and ambient air samples in both locations, are many times higher than Vietnamese standards.

The prevalence of TB among PWID is very high, ranging from 1.6% to5.7%. PWID are 30 to 100 times more at risk of active TB than thegeneral population.Interestingly, the TB burden is very similar between HIV-positive andHIV negative PWID.n this cross sectional study, we showed that community-basedscreening was feasible and highly effective to identify TB cases inthis hard-to-reach population

Background. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are commonly observed among workers around the world. These diseases not only affect the health of workers, their quality of life, and their performance, but the effects of such diseases also represent a great burden for the health and social systems. These issues are even more prevalent in developing countries, and nurses are no exception. Many studies worldwide have shown a high prevalence of work-related MSDs in each body position among nurses. However, there are very few studies that have mentioned multisite musculoskeletal symptoms (MMS). Objectives. To describe the prevalence and characteristics of MMS among district hospital nurses in Haiphong, Vietnam. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 1179 nurses working in all 15 district hospitals using the Modified Nordic Questionnaire at 9 anatomical sites on the body (neck, shoulder/upper arm, elbow/forearm, wrist/hand, upper back, lower back, hip/thigh, knee/lower leg, and ankle/foot). The following main indicators were calculated: the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) (at least 1 of 9 sites), MMS (two or more sites), and widespread musculoskeletal symptoms (WMS) (MS of the upper limb, the lower limb, and the back or the neck). Results. The prevalence of MS during the past 12 months and symptoms lasting for at least 30 days was 60.6% and 17.2% in men and 77.6% and 21.5% in women, respectively. The lower back, neck, upper back, and shoulder/upper arm were the most common sites affected. In terms of MMS, the prevalence was 37.6% in men and 57.1% in women during the past 12 months while 8.6% of men and 11.3% of women reported that symptoms lasted for at least 30 days. The prevalence of MMS tended to increase with age, seniority, having a history of musculoskeletal diseases, and in nurses working in district hospitals located in urban areas. Nearly 90% of MMS concerned two or three anatomical regions during the past 12 months, and almost 80% of MMS lasting at least 30 days involved two or three anatomical regions. The prevalence of WMS was 10.4% in men and 18.6% in women during the past 12 months and 0.9% in men and 2.1% in women lasting at least 30 days. Conclusions. This study showed the high prevalence of MMS and WMS among nursing staff. Further and more extensive research is needed to improve our understanding of multisite musculoskeletal symptoms and act as the foundation for developing preventive measures for nurses.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Nurses are one of the population groups with the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). At many sites, musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) represent a major health-care burden, adversely affecting nurses' quality of life and giving rise to mental health issues.OBJECTIVES: This study measured the prevalence of multi-body-site (two or more anatomical sites) musculoskeletal symptoms (MMS), and the association between MMS, a number of demographic and work characteristics, psychological distress, and the quality of life among district hospital nurses.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 1179 nurses in Haiphong City using three questionnaires: the Modified Nordic; Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF); and the Kessler Psychological Distress Questionnaire (K6). RESULTS: Women have a higher MMS prevalence than men (57.1% in women vs 37.6% in men, P

Resume Contexte Les troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) constituent des entites nosologiques frequentes chez les travailleurs du monde entier. Les metiers du soin tel celui d’infirmier ne sont pas epargnes. A travers le monde, de nombreuses etudes ont ainsi montre que les infirmiers pouvaient decrire des TMS sur chacune des zones les plus a risque. Cependant, tres peu d’etudes ont evalue les symptomes musculo-squelettiques (SMS) multi-sites. Objectifs Decrire la prevalence et les caracteristiques des SMS multi-sites chez les infirmiers des hopitaux du district d’Haiphong, au Vietnam. Materiels et methodes Une etude transversale a ete realisee sur 1179 infirmiers travaillant dans les 15 hopitaux du district. Le questionnaire nordique modifie relatif aux 9 sites anatomiques du corps a ete utilise. Les principaux indicateurs suivants ont, par consequent, ete calcules a savoir la prevalence (pendant 2 laps de temps differents au cours des 12 derniers mois) de SMS (au moins 1 site sur 9), de SMS multi-sites (deux sites ou plus) et la prevalence de SMS etendus (SMS du membre superieur, de la region cervicale, du membre inferieur et du dos). Resultats La prevalence d’au moins une algie liee a des SMS au cours des 12 derniers mois chez les infirmiers et pendant plus de 30 jours au cours de ces memes 12 mois etaient respectivement de 60,6 % et 17,2 % chez les hommes et de 77,6 % et de 21,5 % chez les femmes. Les sites anatomiques les plus frequemment rapportes etaient la zone lombaire, le cou, le haut du dos et les epaules/bras. Concernant les SMS multi-sites, la prevalence des algies etait de 37,6 % chez les hommes, de 57,1 % chez les femmes au cours des 12 derniers mois et de 8,6 % chez les hommes et de 11,3 % chez les femmes pour celles durant plus de 30 jours. La prevalence des SMS multi-sites avait tendance a augmenter avec l’âge, l’anciennete, les antecedents de maladies musculo-squelettiques et chez les infirmiers travaillant dans les hopitaux du district situes en zone urbaine. Pres de 90 % des SMS multi-sites concernaient deux ou trois regions anatomiques au cours des 12 derniers mois et pres de 80 % des SMS multi-sites pendant plus de 30 jours. La prevalence de SMS etendus etait de 10,4 % chez les hommes et de 18,6 % chez les femmes au cours des 12 derniers mois et de 0,9 % chez les hommes et de 2,1 % chez les femmes pour ceux durant plus de 30 jours. Conclusions Cette etude a montre une prevalence elevee de SMS multi-sites chez le personnel infirmier des hopitaux. Des recherches plus approfondies sont necessaires afin de mieux comprendre ces SMS multi-sites et analyser leurs facteurs de risque dans le but de constituer le fondement de la mise en place de mesures preventives a destination de ces infirmiers.

The objective of this study was to validate the Karasek-Job Content Questionnaire in Vietnamese. A translation/back-translation of the questionnaire was performed prior to its administration to 344 health personnel in Vietnam. Several psychometric properties of the Vietnamese version of the Karasek-Job Content Questionnaire were assessed. A valid Vietnamese version of the Karasek-Job Content Questionnaire was produced, composed of five subscales based on the original theoretical model: Psychological demands, Social support at work, Decision latitude-Autonomy, Decision latitude—Authority, and Skill discretion. Internal consistency and reliability coefficients for each subscale of the questionnaire were satisfactory. The correlations with depression and work absence indicators were weak but statistically significant, as expected. The Vietnamese version of the Karasek-Job Content Questionnaire will help Vietnamese researchers and clinicians appropriately evaluate and document the job strain of workers in Vietnamese workplaces.