BACKGROUND: Ophthalmology is unique in that its practitioners are exposed to a host of ergonomic (eg, indirect ophthalmoscopy), ergo-ophthalmologic (laser), infectious (adenovirus), and allergic (topical anesthetics) hazards. The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary occupational health profile of Iranian ophthalmologists. METHODS: A comprehensive list of occupation-related entities was incorporated into a questionnaire, which was distributed among 350 ophthalmologist participants of the Annual Iranian Congress of Ophthalmology (November 2000, Tehran) and was mailed twice to the 1050 nation's registered ophthalmologists. Independent Samples t and chi-square tests were used to assess the relationships. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two questionnaires were returned. The mean career time was 15.7 (range, 1-40) years. Twenty (12.3%) of the participants were women. The reported prevalences were as follows: history of infectious conjunctivitis, 49.4%; contact dermatitis, 43.2%; back pain, 80%; chronic headache, 54.9%; and laser or operating microscope-related visual disturbances, 15%. Psychological indispositions were reported by two thirds. Age and career time were inversely related to contact dermatitis, chronic headache, and stress-related problems (P < .05). Visual complaints were more prevalent in vitreoretina surgeons (P < .004). Psychosocial disorders were significantly more reported by women (P = .026; odds ratio = 4.4). Only 3% of participants reported to have none of the listed problems. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary survey disclosed a high prevalence of diverse complaints from back and neck pain, contact dermatitis, visual disturbances, and infectious conjunctivitis to stress-related and psychosocial disorders among the participants. Younger age, being a woman, and vitreoretina practice were the complaints correlates. Due to the low response rate, uncertainty over the representativeness and coverage of the sample, and lack of control groups, the findings have to be interpreted conservatively.
BACKGROUND: Ophthalmology is unique in that its practitioners are exposed to a host of ergonomic (eg, indirect ophthalmoscopy), ergo-ophthalmologic (laser), infectious (adenovirus), and allergic (topical anesthetics) hazards. The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary occupational health profile of Iranian ophthalmologists. METHODS: A comprehensive list of occupation-related entities was incorporated into a questionnaire, which was distributed among 350 ophthalmologist participants of the Annual Iranian Congress of Ophthalmology (November 2000, Tehran) and was mailed twice to the 1050 nation's registered ophthalmologists. Independent Samples t and chi-square tests were used to assess the relationships. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two questionnaires were returned. The mean career time was 15.7 (range, 1-40) years. Twenty (12.3%) of the participants were women. The reported prevalences were as follows: history of infectious conjunctivitis, 49.4%; contact dermatitis, 43.2%; back pain, 80%; chronic headache, 54.9%; and laser or operating microscope-related visual disturbances, 15%. Psychological indispositions were reported by two thirds. Age and career time were inversely related to contact dermatitis, chronic headache, and stress-related problems (P < .05). Visual complaints were more prevalent in vitreoretina surgeons (P < .004). Psychosocial disorders were significantly more reported by women (P = .026; odds ratio = 4.4). Only 3% of participants reported to have none of the listed problems. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary survey disclosed a high prevalence of diverse complaints from back and neck pain, contact dermatitis, visual disturbances, and infectious conjunctivitis to stress-related and psychosocial disorders among the participants. Younger age, being a woman, and vitreoretina practice were the complaints correlates. Due to the low response rate, uncertainty over the representativeness and coverage of the sample, and lack of control groups, the findings have to be interpreted conservatively.
Authors: William C Stewart; Michelle P Adams; Jeanette A Stewart; Lindsay A Nelson Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2011-04-26 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Majed N Alnefaie; Abdullah A Alamri; Abdulaziz F Hariri; Mohammed S Alsaad; Abdulbari Ma Alsulami; Anas Mn Abbas; Adel A Alfozan; Murad M Aljiffry; Hatim Al-Abbadi Journal: Med Arch Date: 2019-02