Mostafa Pouyakian, Mahnaz Saremi, Korosh Etemad, Hamid Shafagh,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (9-2018)
Abstract
Introduction: Pharmacies are one of the main elements of the service chain in the health system in each country. Therefore, it is important to identify characteristics of the job as well as the health issues of the employees of this business. The aim of the current study was to investigate the ergonomic issues of pharmacies.
Material and Method: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis during a 5- month study in the pharmacies of Maragheh city, Iran. Data was collected using focus group discussion. Thirty individual including 12 Pharmacists, 12 pharmacy technicians and 6 inspectors of deputy of the food and drugs office participated in five meetings. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously using the conducted content analysis.
Result: Using content analysis method 23 ergonomic issues were identified in the studied pharmacies. These issues were categorized into three broad categories based on the classification of the International Ergonomics Association (physical, cognitive, and organizational issues). The results showed that from ergonomic point of view, different issues of all three categories such as work postures, work space and layout, mental workload and work-rest schedules are of great importance for staffs. Some issues were more emphasized by personnel, themselves.
Conclusion: Unlike what appears at first, pharmacies as a work environment have multiple issues related to workforce health. Therefore, the occupational health and ergonomic evaluation of pharmacies that has been neglected should be taken into account by ergonomic researchers. Also, interventions to promote the ergonomic level of pharmacies require attention to all aspects of ergonomics. The results of this study can be used as a basis for promoting the regulations of establishment and utilization of pharmacies as well as ergonomic assessment of them.
Fereshteh Araghian Mojarad, Akram Snagoo, Leila Joybari,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (12-2022)
Abstract
Introduction: Workplace violence against nurses is regarded as a continuing and prevalent problem across the world. The purpose of this study was to explain oncology nurses’ experiences with workplace violence.
Material and Methods: The present study was fulfilled using qualitative content analysis in 2017 based on purposive sampling method. To this end, semi-structured interviews were performed with 23 oncology nurses from two teaching hospitals located in two neighboring provinces in the North of Iran. Then, the interviews were recorded, transcribed, encoded, classified, and subsequently analyzed according to qualitative content analysis developed by Graneheim and Lundman. The criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln were further utilized to strengthen this research study.
Results: Two main themes and four sub-themes were elicited from data analysis including “imbalance in care supply-demand” and “conflict resolution efforts” with sub-themes of “demand for special care”, “supply of task- focused care”, “aggressive behaviors”, as well as “conflict prevention”.
Conclusion: The study findings revealed that failure to meet patients’ care needs could bring about aggression and demonstration of violent behaviors. Given the understanding of patients’ conditions, the nurses also tried to resolve the conflicts mostly via forgiveness and negligence techniques.
Fatemeh Sadat Mirnajafi Zadeh, Mojtaba Khosravi Danesh, Ali Nahvi, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani, Mohammad Javad Sheikhmozafari, Adel Mazloumi,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Introduction: Despite advancements in road safety and vehicle design, road accidents remain prevalent, a quarter of which are caused by driver distraction. This issue is particularly critical in the public transport sector, especially among urban bus drivers, as distraction can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Accordingly, this study explored the factors influencing distraction among urban bus drivers through a qualitative approach and a macroergonomics perspective.
Material and Methods: In this study conducted in 2024 in Tehran, 18 urban bus drivers were selected through cluster sampling. The participants included 10 drivers from bus rapid transit (BRT) system and 8 drivers from non-BRT services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the drivers as well as on-site observations. Subsequently, a directed qualitative content analysis approach, based on the balance theory model, was used to analyze the collected data.
Results: The findings revealed that the primary sources of distraction belonged to six levels of the work system, the most cited of which were environment, tasks, and organization. Specifically, inappropriate behavior of other street users as an environmental factor and the driver’s interactions with passengers as task-related factors were identified as key sources. Additionally, organizational factors such as interactions with supervisors and colleagues, as well as salary issues, were significantly important. The participants very limitedly expressed using mobile phone while driving as a main distractor to their driving.
Conclusion: The current study identified various influential factors, spanning different levels of the work system, affecting bus drivers’ distraction, including generic factors that impact all urban drivers and specific factors that uniquely affect bus drivers. Addressing these factors through providing appropriate education for both passengers and street users along with implementing management strategies in the organization to enhance intra-organizational relationships and organizational support can lead to the safety of the bus drivers.
