Introduction: In this study we (i) introduced time-motion analysis for assessing the impact of workplace heat on the work shift time spent doing labor (WTL) of grape-picking workers, (ii) examined whether seasonal environmental differences can influence their WTL, and (iii) investigated whether their WTL can be assessed by monitoring productivity or the vineyard manager's estimate of WTL. Methods: Seven grape-picking workers were assessed during the summer and/or autumn via video throughout four work shifts. Results: Air temperature (26.8 ± 4.8°C), wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT; 25.2 ± 4.1°C), universal thermal climate index (UTCI; 35.2 ± 6.7°C), and solar radiation (719.1 ± 187.5 W/m2) were associated with changes in mean skin temperature (1.7 ± 1.8°C) (p < 0.05). Time-motion analysis showed that 12.4% (summer 15.3% vs. autumn 10.0%; p < 0.001) of total work shift time was spent on irregular breaks (WTB). There was a 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.6%, and 2.1% increase in hourly WTB for every degree Celsius increase in temperature, WBGT, UTCI, and mean skin temperature, respectively (p < 0.01). Seasonal changes in UTCI explained 64.0% of the seasonal changes in WTL (p = 0.017). Productivity explained 36.6% of the variance in WTL (p < 0.001), while the vineyard manager's WTL estimate was too optimistic (p < 0.001) and explained only 2.8% of the variance in the true WTL (p = 0.456). Conclusion: Time-motion analysis accurately assesses WTL, evaluating every second spent by each worker during every work shift. The studied grape-picking workers experienced increased workplace heat, leading to significant labor loss. Monitoring productivity or the vineyard manager's estimate of each worker's WTL did not completely reflect the true WTL in these grape-picking workers.
Background The computer-based electronic medical record (EMR) is an essential new technology in health care, contributing to high-quality patient care and efficient patient management. The majority of southern European countries, however, have not yet implemented universal EMR systems and many efforts are still ongoing. We describe the development of an EMR system and its pilot implementation and evaluation in two previously computernaïve public primary care centres in Cyprus. Methods One urban and one rural primary care centre along with their personnel (physicians and nurses) were selected to participate. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools were used during the implementation phase. Qualitative data analysis was based on the framework approach, whereas quantitative assessment was based on a nine-item questionnaire and EMR usage parameters. Results Two public primary care centres participated, and a total of ten health professionals served
This elicitation study shed light into GPs' beliefs regarding prescribing. Factors that are not common in the usual European setting were revealed, such as the influence of the patients' family and special situations during prescribing. Thus, various issues were highlighted that should inform the development of items for inclusion in a forthcoming TPB-based questionnaire. The results of this study revealed also certain issues that can affect the design of policies aiming at the rationalization of prescribing.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of the glycemic index of post-exercise meals on sleep quality and quantity, and assess whether those changes could affect the next day’s exercise performance. Following a baseline/familiarization phase, 10 recreationally trained male volunteers (23.2 ± 1.8 years) underwent two double-blinded, randomized, counterbalanced crossover trials. In both trials, participants performed sprint interval training (SIT) in the evening. Post-exercise, participants consumed a meal with a high (HGI) or low (LGI) glycemic index. Sleep parameters were assessed by a full night polysomnography (PSG). The following morning, exercise performance was evaluated by the countermovement jump (CMJ) test, a visual reaction time (VRT) test and a 5-km cycling time trial (TT). Total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency were greater in the HGI trial compared to the LGI trial (p < 0.05), while sleep onset latency was shortened by four-fold (p < 0.05) and VRT decreased by 8.9% (p < 0.05) in the HGI trial compared to the LGI trial. The performance in both 5-km TT and CMJ did not differ between trials. A moderate to strong correlation was found between the difference in TST and the VRT between the two trials (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this is the first study to show that a high glycemic index meal, following a single spring interval training session, can improve both sleep duration and sleep efficiency, while reducing in parallel sleep onset latency. Those improvements in sleep did not affect jumping ability and aerobic endurance performance. In contrast, the visual reaction time performance increased proportionally to sleep improvements.
High-intensity functional training improves cardiorespiratory fitness and neuromuscular performance without inflammation or muscle damage. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 615-623, 2022-We examined the effects of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular performance, as well as on inflammatory and muscle damage markers. Thirteen physically active healthy volunteers (aged 28.3 6 3.8 years, 5 men and 8 women) underwent 8 weeks of a group HIFT program performed 3 times per week. Each session consisted of 4 rounds of a 9-exercise circuit (30-second exercise and 15-second recovery). During the first and last weeks of training, venous blood was sampled daily to monitor changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatine kinase (CK). After 8 weeks of HIFT, body fat decreased by 0.64 6 1.01 kg (p 5 0.041), maximal oxygen uptake improved by 1.9 6 2.2 ml•kg 21 •min 21 (p 5 0.009), countermovement jump by 2.6 6 1.5 cm (p 5 0.001), bench press 1-repetition maximum (1RM) by 4.5 6 3.8 kg (p 5 0.001), maximum number of bench press repetitions at 65% 1RM by 4 6 5 repetitions (p 5 0.03), and abdominal muscle endurance by 6 6 4 repetitions (p , 0.001). In both week 1 and week 8 of training, CK increased mildly in the morning after the first session of the week (main effect for day, p 5 0.008), whereas no significant changes were observed in CRP (p 5 0.31). During week 8, CK on all days was ;32% lower compared with week 1 (160 vs. 235 U•L 21 ; main effect of week 1 vs. week 8, p 5 0.027), whereas CRP remained unchanged (p 5 0.225). This HIFT program was effective in improving cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular physical fitness without causing significant inflammation or muscle damage in physically active subjects.
A pilot multifaceted quality improvement intervention programme for patients with diabetes and HTN implemented in primary care settings in Cyprus showed promising results. Future studies need to involve a broader number of practices and patient populations.
Successful implementation of cooling strategies obviously depends on identifying effective interventions, but in industrial settings, it is equally important to consider feasibility and economic viability. Many cooling interventions are available, but the decision processes affecting adoption by end-users are not well elucidated. We therefore arranged two series of meetings with stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps, receive feedback on proposed cooling interventions, and discuss factors affecting implementation of heat-health interventions. This included four meetings attended by employers, employees, and health and safety officers (n = 41), and three meetings attended primarily by policy makers (n = 74), with feedback obtained via qualitative and quantitative questionnaires and focus group discussions. On a 10-point scale, both employers and employees valued worker safety (9.1 ± 1.8; mean±SD) and health (8.5 ± 1.9) as more important than protecting company profits (6.3 ± 2.3). Of the respondents, 41% were unaware of any cooling strategies at their company and of those who were aware, only 30% thought the interventions were effective. Following presentation of proposed interventions, the respondents rated "facilitated hydration", "optimization of clothing/protective equipment", and "rescheduling of work tasks" as the top-three preferred solutions. The main barriers for adopting cooling interventions were cost, feasibility, employer perceptions, and legislation. In conclusion, preventing negative health and safety effects was deemed to be more important than preventing productivity loss. Regardless of work sector or occupation, both health and wealth were emphasized as important parameters and considered as somewhat interrelated. However, a large fraction of the European worker force lacks information on effective measures to mitigate occupational heat stress.
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