Iran Occupational Health

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Background and aims: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most important causes of workers disabilities, increasing compensations and reducing productivity in developed and developing countries .According bureau of labor statistics in 2010, 29 percent of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders are diseases that cause absence from work. The objective of this study is determining the role of response efficacy as one of the component of protection motivation theory to reduce ergonomic risk factors in one of manufacturing industries.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study 158 workers of an assembly industry were studied .In order to assess the ergonomic work stations .Quick Exposure Check method was used. The data gathered via exclusive interviews with selected workers using the questionnaire designed based on protection motivation theory and were analyzed .Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio values were calculated for validity and reliability was obtained by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Results: Results of the assessment to the QEC method showed that 37.97% and36.71% respectively of those at moderate and high risk groups. Also there was a significant negative correlation between response efficacy and QEC scores and action level

Conclusion: Regarding negative significant correlation between self efficacy and QEC scores and action levels ,designing educational program based on Protection Motivation Theory to decrease ergonomic risk factors is recommended.

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Background and aims: Skin cancer is the most common cancers. Repeated exposure to sunlight causes high levels of cancer and climate change including changes in the ozone layer along with changes in personal and social habits. Given the importance of farmers' health and increase their skin cancer, the study aimed to determine the factors preventing skin cancer in farmers city Tuyserkan on protection motivation theory was done in 2014.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 200 peasant farmers from 18 to 60 years, Tuyserkan city where the sun had Using a cluster of four health centers and rural health houses Were selected. Using a questionnaire, which was based on protection motivation theory, Collected through interviews with farmers and were analyzed using SPSS 21.

Results: Farmers who use sunscreen, hats, gloves and clothing worn used Respectively, 31.5, 53.5, 3, and 65%. and 81% of farmers do not use eyeglasses. Among Agricultural work experience and average score reward structures and perceived severity a significant correlation was found. Also Between preventive behaviors and the mean score of the fear structure, intensity and reward and motivation, perceived protection there was a significant correlation.

Conclusion: With regard to the theory solidarity structures associated with the use of means of protection against the sun's rays, Education and health promotion programs designed to increase the incentives for farmers to use the theory of protection is emphasized.

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Abstract
Background and aims: Nowadays, Covid-19 is considered as a pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of March 25, 2020, in more than 156 countries, about 664,731,000 new cases of the disease and 30,892 deaths were reported. Iran is one of the countries with the highest incidence. Although there is a possibility of occupational accident in all health care provision environments, the offices is the main dangerous health care provider in terms of occupational infections in health systems. Ensuring the safety of employees in offices is not only crucial in protecting them against the virus but also in preventing the transmission of the virus. Protective behaviors are effective in prevention of occurrence of the disease. Protection motivation theory (PMT) helps to understand preventive behaviors better and can be used in occupational injury training programs. Considering the importance of identifying the factors of the preventive behaviours of Covid-19 in the development and implementation of preventive programs, this study was conducted for predicting the preventive behaviour againt Covid-19 based on the PMT among employees in crowded offices in Qom, Iran.
Methods: In this cross sectional study, 232 employees in crowded offices in Qom, Iran have been selected using random clustering sampling method. Data collection instrument included demographic characteristics,  protective behaviors against Covid-19, and PMT scale. The PMT constructs were assessed by questions composed and 7 subscales as follows: perceived vulnerability (2 items); perceived severity (2 items); perceived fear (2 items); self-efficacy (3 items); response efficacy (3 items); response cost (2 items); and protection motivation (1 items). The items were rated on a five-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). According to the theoretical assumptions, the threat appraisal score is the sum of the perceived susceptibility and severity scores. Also, the coping appraisal score is the sum of the self-efficacy and response efficacy scores minus the response cost score. Eight items scale by a three-point rated ‘always’, ‘sometimes’ and ‘never scored 2, 1 and 0, respectively measured Covid-19 preventive behaviours. The validity of the scale was confirmed using the viewpoints of health-education experts. The reliability of the scale was investigated by calculating internal consistency. Data have been analyzed via descriptive statistics and structural equations through SmartPLS statistical software. In the structural model, path coefficient, and R square were used to measure relationships among constructs. The predictive power of the model was examined by calculating Q2 indexes of behavior. Finally, a goodness of fit (GoF) index was calculated to display the model fit to the model.
 
Results: Mean and standard deviation of participants’ age has been 39.8 8.7; and, 90.1% of them have been male. More than half of participants (53.8%) have shown protective behaviors higher than average. There has been a significant relationship between coping appraisal and protection motivation ( =0.297 and p-value˂0.05). However, there has been no significant relationship between threat appraisal and fear constructs and protection motivation ( =0.060 and p-value>0.05). Also, there has been significant positive relationship between protection motivation and protective behaviors ( =0.214 and p-value˂0.05). Fit indices of the model have been desirable and the model could predict overall 5% of changes in performing protective behaviors. GoF was 0.503, indicating the model good fit.
Conclusion: According to the results, coping appraisals were identified to be the significant positive associations with protection motivation. Contrary to the expectations based on the PMT, it is generally seen that none of the threat appraisals (severity, vulnerability, and fear) predicted protection motivation and preventive behaviour against Covid-19. Protection motivation is predictor factor of the protective behaviors. The results can be used in formulating training programs to optimize protective behaviors among employees working in offices.
Keywords: Protective Behaviors, Covid-19, Protective Motivation, Employees

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Background and aims: COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous pandemics of the 21st century, which has caused disease in humans and has had various consequences for humans. One of the most at-risk groups are bank employees. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the predictors of protective behaviors against COVID-19 in bank employees of Sirjan.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in Sirjan. The participants in this study were 280 bank employees who were selected randomly. The data collection tool was a questionnaire in three sections, including demographic information, knowledge, and questions related to the Protection Motivation Theory, which was self administered. After collecting the data, descriptive tests (frequency and percentage), Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data in SPSS 23.
Results: The mean age of participants was 41.6±2.16 years. The results of correlation coefficients showed that there was a significant correlation between perceived susceptibilityand perceived severity. However, it should be noted that there were positive correlations between protection motivation with perceived susceptibility (r = .414, P <0.001), perceived severity (r = .354, P <0.001), response efficiency(r =. 411, P <0.001), self-efficacy (r = .508, P <0.001), and fear (r = .484, P <0.001),; and negative correlations between response costwith rewards (r = -. 104, P = <0.05) and response cost(r = -. 237, P = 0.002) . According to the linear regression test, 0.585 percent of protection motivation was predicted by perceived susceptibility and severity, response efficiency, self-efficacy, fear, among which the role of perceived fear (β = 0.28) was stronger than other variables.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the effectiveness of the application of the protection motivation theory in predicting the behaviors for preventingCOVID-19. Therefore, these structures, especially the perceived fear structure can be used in the development of educational programs and intervention techniques to change the attitude and behavior of bank employees.