Leila Keikavoosi-Arani, Mirghani Seyed Someah,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (11-2020)
Abstract
Introduction: Occupational stress is known today as one of the biggest challenges to higher education policy-makers. Students with high levels of stress find themselves lacking in self-confidence, vulnerable in controlling academic processes, and unable to compensate for clinical weaknesses. The main purpose of this study was to assess the levels of occupational stress among clinical dental students of Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran.
Material and Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytic research with a cross-sectional design. The statistical population included all dental clinical students enrolled in the 7th, 9th, and 11th semesters in 2018 (n=84). According to the Krejcie and Morgan’s table, the sample size was 70. The data were also collected through the Osipow Occupational Stress Questionnaire, and then analyzed using the SPSS Statistics software (ver. 22). Besides, t-test was employed to investigate the relationship between variables and stress.
Results: The results revealed that the mean score of the students was 150.8. The mean total stress in the age group above 26 years was also 158 and that was 147 for those under the age of 26 (P-value=0.027). Besides, the mean score of overall occupational stress was equal in women and men. Comparisons also demonstrated that students in the 9th and 11th semesters (mean=161) were undergoing more stress than the ones enrolled in the 7th semester (mean=147) (P-value=0.014).
Conclusion: It was concluded that these clinical dental students were suffering from moderate-to-severe occupational stress. Likewise, older students had more stress than younger counterparts did. As well, male and female students’ levels of occupational stress were the same. Resolving this issue accordingly required special attention by higher education policy-makers to provide support and counseling in this respect.
Mirghani Seyed Someah, Farideh Golbabaei, Reza Arjomandi, Farzam Babaei Semiromi, Ali Mohammadi,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the legal prohibition of asbestos fiber usage in the country, numerous studies have documented its presence in the air of various cities, including Tehran. This urban air pollution stems from the extensive use of asbestos in construction materials such as pipes, insulators in cooling and heating systems, and friction devices like brake pads and clutch plates, among other consumer products. Prolonged exposure to these fibers can have severe health consequences for residents, leading to respiratory issues, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancers such as mesothelioma. Consequently, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study to examine both the extent and nature of asbestos fiber distribution in Tehran’s air.
Material and Methods: This study measured the concentration of asbestos fibers in Tehran’s air over a 12-month period. Monthly samplings were conducted at eleven Tehran Air Quality Control Company-operated stations. The sample collection, preparation, and analysis adhered to the NIOSH 7400 method. Microscopic examination results were then translated into asbestos fiber concentrations using the appropriate formulas.
Results: Analysis of samples taken across four seasons revealed that spring recorded the highest average asbestos fiber concentration at 0.00134 f/ml, while the lowest concentration was observed in summer at 0.117 f/ml.
Conclusion: Given the widespread ban on asbestos use in many countries, including Iran, its presence in urban air is unexpected. Regrettably, flawed policy decisions made during the import ban announcement and the extended timeframe set for the ban’s initiation allowed companies to import and stockpile asbestos indiscriminately for future use.
