Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 88 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Improvement of urgent tests laboratory turnaround time through laboratory lean management
    Salbiah Isa, Rohayu Hami, Hanita Hashim, Mohd Nizam S., Harani MS., Sairi S., et al.
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(102):15-21.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Laboratory turnaround time (LTAT) is considered a reliable indicator of the quality and efficiency of a laboratory’s service. LTAT achievement, particularly of urgent tests, remains unsatisfactory and challenging in many clinical laboratories especially in tertiary health care centres with high workload and restricted resources. The unresolved issue of unsatisfactory urgent renal profile (RP) LTAT below the standard performance goal prompted our interest to improve laboratory’s handling of urgent test request. We thus implemented the Lean principle in the management of urgent test requests using urgent RP as the test model. Methods: The implementation of laboratory Lean involved 4 steps process; (1) Development of burning platform for change (2) Identification of waste (3) Plan- ning and implementation of control measures (4) Measuring, monitoring, and sustaining the improvement. Urgent RP LTAT and the percentage of the request met the time requirement determined based on the data extracted from laboratory information system (LIS) before and after the implementation of Lean was compared to assess the effec- tiveness. Results: Urgent RP LTAT after the implementation of Lean was reduced i.e 35 min (before) vs 31 min (after), with the percentage of LTAT met the time requirement was significantly increased above the set target i.e 82.8% (before) to 93.5% (after) with P-value = 0.001. Conclusion: Implementation of innovation using Lean management has significantly improved urgent RP LTAT achievement, thus optimised urgent test management in our Chemical Pathology laboratory. Lean is a strongly recommended strategy to improve urgent test LTAT especially in laboratories with restricted resources.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  2. Fulltext A review on hindering factors to maximize healthcare potential in poverty and Islamic way of promoting health
    Farrah Farzana Abdullah, Mohd Rahman Omar
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):106-106.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Malaysia has been nominated among the top four well-established healthcare system in the world. However, with the status of a developing country, there are still lacking in offering healthcare services and aware-ness among poverty. The objective of this review is to look into the factors hindering healthcare coverage in poverty. Methods: These literature reviews were carried out by using the electronic databases included, Google Scholars, Medline, PUBMED and EBSCOhost. Results: In current economic status, poverty status needs to be revised as the cost of living has markedly increased especially in the urban. Many factors affect the health status, which include the issues in term of rising health expenditure, demography-geography and imbalance workload distribution. Less expo-sure to health and wellness and geographical-demographic profile are the main reasons for the lack of self-awareness in assessing health services. Various actions had been taken by the stakeholders to improve health statuses such as telehealth, referral system and integration between agencies. Suggestion to improve the existing plan with the atten-tion given especially in the rural area which composed of multi-ethnicity and demography-geographical distribution. In Islam, Prophet Muhammad PBUH promotes health through his eating habits, physical activities include prayer and sports, proper sleep habit and through fasting. Conclusion: Poor and lack of awareness of healthcare services and health ownership have been the main reason for low health-seeking in poverty. Factors such as rising health expenditure, demography-geography factors and lack of facilities provided and unbalance workload distribution in the public-private sector contribute to the issue of concern.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  3. Fulltext Stressors and coping strategies during clinical practices among diploma nursing students
    Rusnani Ab Latif, Mohd Zarawi Mat Nor
    Education in Medicine Journal, 2016;8(3):21-33.
    MyJurnal
    INTRODUCTION: Stress is a particularly important issue in education because it has the potential to decline learning and performance. However, little empirical evidence about the influence of stress in nurse students’ clinical practices.
    Methods: There are 346 totals of respondents for this study. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which have six domains of stressors and Brief COPE inventory, consisted of 28 items which measure 14 different coping styles was used. By using Likert scale in order to measure the degree of stress for each stressor. Higher mean score indicates higher degree of stress.
    Results: In this study, stress from clinical assignments and workload was the most stressful having by nursing students (Mean = 3.19, SD = 1.09). Among the 14 types of coping strategies, religion was the most frequently used, religion (Mean = 3.30, SD = 0.71).
    Conclusion: The results provided valuable information for nurse educators, clinical educators and clinical staff in identifying students’ needs, facilitating their learning in the clinical setting and developing effective interventions to reduce the stress. Therefore it is important, especially nursing students can handle the pressure because it will affect the level of achievement in academic and thereby affecting student skills in the field of clinical nursing. And this affects the care of patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  4. Fulltext Working conditions, self-perceived stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life: a structural equation modelling approach
    Rusli BN, Edimansyah BA, Naing L
    BMC Public Health, 2008 Feb 06;8:48.
    PMID: 18254966 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-48
    BACKGROUND: The relationships between working conditions [job demand, job control and social support]; stress, anxiety, and depression; and perceived quality of life factors [physical health, psychological wellbeing, social relationships and environmental conditions] were assessed using a sample of 698 male automotive assembly workers in Malaysia.

    METHODS: The validated Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. A structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was applied to test the structural relationships of the model using AMOS version 6.0, with the maximum likelihood ratio as the method of estimation.

    RESULTS: The results of the SEM supported the hypothesized structural model (chi2 = 22.801, df = 19, p = 0.246). The final model shows that social support (JCQ) was directly related to all 4 factors of the WHOQOL-BREF and inversely related to depression and stress (DASS). Job demand (JCQ) was directly related to stress (DASS) and inversely related to the environmental conditions (WHOQOL-BREF). Job control (JCQ) was directly related to social relationships (WHOQOL-BREF). Stress (DASS) was directly related to anxiety and depression (DASS) and inversely related to physical health, environment conditions and social relationships (WHOQOL-BREF). Anxiety (DASS) was directly related to depression (DASS) and inversely related to physical health (WHOQOL-BREF). Depression (DASS) was inversely related to the psychological wellbeing (WHOQOL-BREF). Finally, stress, anxiety and depression (DASS) mediate the relationships between job demand and social support (JCQ) to the 4 factors of WHOQOL-BREF.

    CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that higher social support increases the self-reported quality of life of these workers. Higher job control increases the social relationships, whilst higher job demand increases the self-perceived stress and decreases the self-perceived quality of life related to environmental factors. The mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress on the relationship between working conditions and perceived quality of life in automotive workers should be taken into account in managing stress amongst these workers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology*
  5. Medical physics aspects of cancer care in the Asia Pacific region: 2014 survey results
    Kron T, Azhari HA, Voon EO, Cheung KY, Ravindran P, Soejoko D, et al.
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2015 Sep;38(3):493-501.
    PMID: 26346030 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-015-0373-2
    It was the aim of this work to assess and track the workload, working conditions and professional recognition of radiation oncology medical physicists (ROMPs) in the Asia Pacific region over time. In this third survey since 2008, a structured questionnaire was mailed in 2014 to 22 senior medical physicists representing 23 countries. As in previous surveys the questionnaire covered seven themes: 1 education, training and professional certification, 2 staffing, 3 typical tasks, 4 professional organisations, 5 resources, 6 research and teaching, and 7 job satisfaction. The response rate of 100% is a result of performing a survey through a network, which allows easy follow-up. The replies cover 4841 ROMPs in 23 countries. Compared to 2008, the number of medical physicists in many countries has doubled. However, the number of experienced ROMPs compared to the overall workforce is still small, especially in low and middle income countries. The increase in staff is matched by a similar increase in the number of treatment units over the years. Furthermore, the number of countries using complex techniques (IMRT, IGRT) or installing high end equipment (tomotherapy, robotic linear accelerators) is increasing. Overall, ROMPs still feel generally overworked and the professional recognition, while varying widely, appears to be improving only slightly. Radiation oncology medical physics practice has not changed significantly over the last 6 years in the Asia Pacific Region even if the number of physicists and the number and complexity of treatment techniques and technologies have increased dramatically.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  6. Fulltext Hybrid Symbiotic Organisms Search Optimization Algorithm for Scheduling of Tasks on Cloud Computing Environment
    Abdullahi M, Ngadi MA
    PLoS One, 2016;11(6):e0158229.
    PMID: 27348127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158229
    Cloud computing has attracted significant attention from research community because of rapid migration rate of Information Technology services to its domain. Advances in virtualization technology has made cloud computing very popular as a result of easier deployment of application services. Tasks are submitted to cloud datacenters to be processed on pay as you go fashion. Task scheduling is one the significant research challenges in cloud computing environment. The current formulation of task scheduling problems has been shown to be NP-complete, hence finding the exact solution especially for large problem sizes is intractable. The heterogeneous and dynamic feature of cloud resources makes optimum task scheduling non-trivial. Therefore, efficient task scheduling algorithms are required for optimum resource utilization. Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) has been shown to perform competitively with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The aim of this study is to optimize task scheduling in cloud computing environment based on a proposed Simulated Annealing (SA) based SOS (SASOS) in order to improve the convergence rate and quality of solution of SOS. The SOS algorithm has a strong global exploration capability and uses fewer parameters. The systematic reasoning ability of SA is employed to find better solutions on local solution regions, hence, adding exploration ability to SOS. Also, a fitness function is proposed which takes into account the utilization level of virtual machines (VMs) which reduced makespan and degree of imbalance among VMs. CloudSim toolkit was used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method using both synthetic and standard workload. Results of simulation showed that hybrid SOS performs better than SOS in terms of convergence speed, response time, degree of imbalance, and makespan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  7. Fulltext Work-related stress and coping: a survey on medical and surgical nurses in a Malaysian teaching hospital
    Emilia, Z.A., Noor Hassim, I.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2007;13(1):55-66.
    MyJurnal
    Background: A cross-sectional study on work-related stressors among nurses in a public teaching hospital had also attempted to explore functions of coping strategies in determining stress.
    Materials and Methods: A structured bilingual questionnaire (English-Malay) on symptoms and sources of stress, and coping style measure was disseminated to medical and surgical nurses working in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Socio demographic information and stress management methods were inquired. Frequency in workplace stressors were assessed using Nursing Stress Scale. Stress symptoms and home-life stressors were evaluated using Personal Stress Inventory. Measurement of coping strategies was performed using Coping Orientation for Problems Experienced questionnaire.
    Results: A total of 181 questionnaires were disseminated and 151 (83.4%) were satisfactorily completed by nurses. It was found that the prevalence of work-related stress among medical and surgical nurses was 49.3% (N=74/150). Analysis of dichotomized outcome (between Stress and No stress group) illustrated high workload (t-value=4.122; p
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  8. Fulltext A study of occupational stress and coping strategies among correctional officers in Kedah, Malaysia
    Mohd Zukri, I., Noor Hassim, I.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2010;16(2):66-74.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The effect of stress among correctional officers at the workplace can contribute to various health problems and this also affect their work performance and motivation.
    Methodology: Study was done at a prison located at the rural district in Kedah. The study was conducted by using randomized stratified sampling method. A total of 418 self administrated questionnaires were distributed. These questionnaires included socio demographic factor, family and marriage factor, Personal Stress Inventory (using Stress Symptom Scale with 52 items), work related stressors (Job Stress Survey) and Brief COPE (Coping Orientation for Problems Experienced with 28 items).
    Result: Response rate was 90.9%. Stress prevalence for correctional officers was 45.8%. Socio demographic factors which have significant relation with stress status were marital status, promotion factor, age, monthly salary, duration of service and number of children (p< 0.05). Family and marriage factor which have significant relation with stress status among married officer were pressure from relatives, clean up house, sexual frustration, conflict with spouse, conflict with children, conflict due to household work and no babysitter (p< 0.05).
    Discussion: The study showed that work related stressors that have influence with stress were excessive workload, working after work hours, not enough staff, disgraced words from fellow workers, competition in carrier development and excessive work stress (p< 0.05). Multiple linear regression model was done in this study and revealed factors that explained 52% of variation in stress score distributions were behavioural disengagement, no babysitter, denial, conflict with children, replace other worker’s duty, not enough time with family, competition in carrier development, venting of emotion, positive reframing and emotional support. Coping strategies that have significant effect in reducing stress symptoms are positive reframing and emotional support.
    Conclusion: Stress management programs should be implemented and emphasizing on specific stressors and coping mechanism are important to reduce the risk of occupational stress among correctional officers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  9. Fulltext Work Stress Prevalence among the Management Staff in an International Tobacco Company in Malaysia
    Swee, W.F., Anza, E., Noor Hassim, I.
    Medicine & Health, 2007;2(1):93-98.
    MyJurnal
    A cross sectional study on work stress prevalence was carried out among 185 executives and managers in the head quarter of an international tobacco company. The aim of the study was to identify work stress prevalence in this company and work stressors that were associated with stress experienced by the workers. A questionnaire based on the Personal Stress Inventory by O'Donell (1984) was used. Data collected from participants included sociodemography factors, symptoms of stress and work stressors related to organizational policy, organizational structure, organizational process, and work environment. The study showed that the prevalence of stress among executives was 68.1% and managers were 67.9%. There was no significant difference in the level of stress between the executives and the managers in the company. The sociodemographic factors that were significantly associated with stress were salary, number of children and personal factors. The significant stressors in the workplace were lack of job recognition, over focusing on quality of work, heavy workload and long working hours.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  10. Work and women's well-being: religion and age as moderators
    Noor NM
    J Relig Health, 2008 Dec;47(4):476-90.
    PMID: 19093675
    Religion has been found to moderate the stress-strain relationship. This moderator role, however, may be dependent on age. The present study tested for the three-way interaction between work experience, age, and religiosity in the prediction of women's well-being, and predicted that work experience and religiosity will combine additively in older women, while in younger women religiosity is predicted to moderate the relationship between work experience and well-being. In a sample of 389 married Malay Muslim women, results of the regression analyses showed significant three-way interactions between work experience, age, and religiosity in the prediction of well-being (measured by distress symptoms and life satisfaction). While in younger women the results were in line with the predictions made, in the older women, both additive and moderator effects of religiosity were observed, depending on the well-being measures used. These results are discussed in relation to the literature on work and family, with specific reference to women's age, religion, as well as the issue of stress-strain specificity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology
  11. Work-family conflict, locus of control, and women's well-being: tests of alternative pathways
    Noor NM
    J Soc Psychol, 2002 Oct;142(5):645-62.
    PMID: 12236473 DOI: 10.1080/00224540209603924
    The author tested for the 3 possible pathways (i.e., direct, moderator, and mediator effects) in which locus of control can influence the relationship between work-family conflict and well-being. The author predicted that work-family conflict would be negatively correlated with well-being. In a sample of 310 Malaysian employed women with families, work-family conflict was a significant predictor of both job satisfaction and distress--negatively related to job satisfaction and positively related to symptoms of distress. More important, the results provided support for the effects of all 3 pathways of control on the relationship between work-family conflict and well-being, depending on the outcome measure: For job satisfaction, locus of control had direct effects, acted as a partial mediator, and played a significant moderating role. In contrast, only the direct effect of locus of control predicted distress. The author discusses those findings with reference to the literature on work-family conflict, locus of control, and the issue of stress-distress specificity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload*
  12. Predictors of Work-Family Role Conflict and Its Impact on Professional Women in Medicine, Engineering, and Information Technology in Nigeria
    Uzoigwe AG, Low WY, Noor SN
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 Oct;28(7):629-637.
    PMID: 27637552 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516667782
    This study examines work-family role conflict and the factors predicting it, with a sample of 173 professional women in engineering and information technology (IT) firms, including 2 hospitals-1 public and 1 private. Our findings show no significant difference in the level of work-family role conflict encountered by women across medicine, engineering, and IT, whereas hours of work, family responsibilities, job demand, and work role overload were significantly correlated with work-family role conflict. Multiple linear regression analysis indicates that only work role overload, family responsibilities, and hours of work significantly predicted 45.9% of work-family role conflict. This implies that working women are burdened by work demands, which invariably affects the work-family role conflict they experience and leads to deterioration of their occupational health. It is suggested that employers should create a flexible work schedule and establish family-friendly policies in the workplace to promote a healthy work-life balance for women in science careers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology
  13. Fulltext Occupational burnout and its influencing factors among primary health care providers under Tuaran Area Health Office
    Joshua Teo Beng Chin, Shamsul Bahari Shamsudin, Noraziah Bakri
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):28-28.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Primary health care providers face a wide range of stressors and are at high risk of developing occu-pational burnout, which may cause ineffectiveness and reduce the productivity of the health care system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the primary health care provider working in health facilities under Tuaran Area Health Office. A total of 199 of 604 providers randomly selected as respondents for this study. Self-ad-ministered questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory are used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence and Chi-square test was used to determine the association of risk factors. Results: Prevalence of occupational burnout is 10.1% with high level of overall burnout (n = 20), 60.8% are having low to moderate level of overall burnout (n = 121) and 29.1% has no burnout (n = 58). A significant relationship was observed between burnout, high workload, out-of-scope workload and distance between home and workplace (p≤0.01). However, no significant relationship was observed between burnout and age, gender, marital status, finan-cial status, education level, experience and income. Conclusion: This study shows that distribution of workload as well as the job scope may affect burnout. Further study can be conducted to identify home-workplace distance re-lation to burnout. With the identification of these factors, a counter measures and intervention can be implemented.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  14. Fulltext Reliability and construct validity of the Malay version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) among secondary school teachers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Hadi AA, Naing NN, Daud A, Nordin R
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2006 Nov;37(6):1254-9.
    PMID: 17333785
    This study was conducted to assess the reliability and construct validity of the Malay version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) among secondary school teachers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A total of 68 teachers consented to participate in the study and were administered the Malay version of JCQ. Reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency whilst construct validity was assessed using factor analysis. The results indicated that Cronbach's alpha coefficients revealed decision latitude (0.75), psychological job demand (0.50) and social support (0.84). Factor analysis showed three meaningful common factors that could explain the construct of Karasek's demand-control-social support model. The study suggests the JCQ scales are reliable and valid tools for assessing job stress in school teachers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology
  15. Fulltext Validity and Reliability of Malay Version of the Job Content Questionnaire among Public Hospital Female Nurses in Malaysia
    Amin NA, Quek KF, Oxley JA, Noah RM, Nordin R
    Int J Occup Environ Med, 2015 10;6(4):232-42.
    PMID: 26498051 DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2015.632
    BACKGROUND: The Job Content Questionnaire (M-JCQ) is an established self-reported instrument used across the world to measure the work dimensions based on the Karasek's demand-control-support model.

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometrics properties of the Malay version of M-JCQ among nurses in Malaysia.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on nurses working in 4 public hospitals in Klang Valley area, Malaysia. M-JCQ was used to assess the perceived psychosocial stressors and physical demands of nurses at their workplaces. Construct validity of the questionnaire was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cronbach's α values were used to estimate the reliability (internal consistency) of the M-JCQ.

    RESULTS: EFA showed that 34 selected items were loaded in 4 factors. Except for psychological job demand (Cronbach's α 0.51), the remaining 3 α values for 3 subscales (job control, social support, and physical demand) were greater than 0.70, indicating acceptable internal consistency. However, an item was excluded due to poor item-total correlation (r<0.3). The final M-JCQ was consisted of 33 items.

    CONCLUSION: The M-JCQ is a reliable and valid instrument to measure psychosocial and physical stressors in the workplace of public hospital nurses in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology
  16. Prevalence and predictors for musculoskeletal discomfort in Malaysian office workers: Investigating explanatory factors for a developing country
    Maakip I, Keegel T, Oakman J
    Appl Ergon, 2016 Mar;53 Pt A:252-7.
    PMID: 26499952 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.10.008
    Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major occupational health issue for workers in developed and developing countries, including Malaysia. Most research related to MSDs has been undertaken in developed countries; given the different regulatory and cultural practices it is plausible that contributions of hazard and risk factors may be different. A population of Malaysian public service office workers were surveyed (N = 417, 65.5% response rate) to determine prevalence and associated predictors of MSD discomfort. The 6-month period prevalence of MSD discomfort was 92.8% (95%CI = 90.2-95.2%). Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) analyses was used to compare a range of models and determine a model of best fit. Contributions associated with MSD discomfort in the final model consisted of physical demands (61%), workload (14%), gender (13%), work-home balance (9%) and psychosocial factors (3%). Factors associated with MSD discomfort were similar in developed and developing countries but the relative contribution of factors was different, providing insight into future development of risk management strategies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  17. Workstyle and Musculoskeletal Discomfort (MSD): Exploring the Influence of Work Culture in Malaysia
    Maakip I, Keegel T, Oakman J
    J Occup Rehabil, 2015 Dec;25(4):696-706.
    PMID: 25808991 DOI: 10.1007/s10926-015-9577-2
    PURPOSE: Workstyle can be defined as an individual pattern of cognitions, behaviours and physiological reactivity that can occur while performing job tasks. Workstyle has been associated with the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) amongst office workers in developed countries. However, little is known about the contribution of workstyle on MSDs in developing countries such as Malaysia. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between workstyle and musculoskeletal discomfort in a sample of office workers in Malaysia.

    METHODS: Office workers (N = 417; response rate 65.5 %) from four organisations completed a survey measuring physical and psychosocial hazards, job satisfaction, work-life balance, workstyle, and MSD discomfort levels. Hierarchical regression analyses were undertaken to examine predictors associated with self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort, and more specifically the relationship between workstyle and MSD discomfort.

    RESULTS: Musculoskeletal discomfort was significantly associated with working through pain, mental health, physical demands, gender and work-life balance (R (2) = 50.2, adjusted R (2) = 0.48; F (13, 324) = 25.09, p = 0.001). Working through pain is the strongest risk factor associated with MSD discomfort (ß = 0.49, p = 0.001) compared to other potential risk factors.

    CONCLUSIONS: Working through pain is influenced by work, social culture and religious beliefs. Workplace MSDs interventions that focus on the impact of physical and psychosocial hazards with emphasis on addressing adverse workstyles should take into account aspects related to work and social culture of the target population. Changes are recommended at both employee and management levels such as better communications and understanding concerning workplace problems with regards to minimizing MSDs at work.
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  18. Fulltext Increasing the percentage of appropriate tests conducted in the serology laboratory, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah
    Azlina Yahya, Osama Abdul Nasir
    Q Bulletin, 2019;1(28):36-44.
    MyJurnal
    Wastage due to unnecessary laboratory test requests is a major problem in government hospitals because they have cost implications. Although screening of infectious marker tests such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B antibody (AHBS) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)) before testing have been put in place, inappropriate tests were still being carried out in the Serology laboratory, which resulted in wasted human resources and reagents, increased workload and increased maintenance costs. Based on the verification studies using the Laboratory Information System (LIS), we observed only 70% of the tests followed the ordering guidelines or test specifications. Thus, we aim to increase the standard to more than 95% of the infectious marker test requests which were appropriate according to a few guidelines.
    A cross-sectional study was conducted for all infectious marker tests received at Serology Laboratory from January 2015 to June 2016 to verify the problem. A workplace audit and questionnaire survey on the staff were carried out to gain more information. Low level of knowledge, unavailability of standardised guidelines for quick and easy reference, lack of staff and inefficient work processes were among the main contributing factors. Empowering new staff to screen specimens, developing simple and informative screening guidelines, providing adequate trays and refrigerators for screening purposes and strengthening and developing a more effective process of care were the strategies taken during this study.
    The appropriate tests carried out from July to September 2015, October to December 2015, January to March 2016 and April to June 2016 were 99%, 98.80%, 99.50%, 98.90% respectively. During the same period, 711, 411, 710 and 768 tests were rejected. We monitored the performance and managed to achieve 100% appropriate testing for the period of July 2016 to June 2018 and an estimation of MYR 73,437.50 cost saving was achieve
    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  19. Fulltext Exploratory Study on Occupational Health Hazards among Health Care Workers in the Philippines
    Faller EM, Bin Miskam N, Pereira A
    Ann Glob Health, 2018 08 31;84(3):338-341.
    PMID: 30835385 DOI: 10.29024/aogh.2316
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Healthcare workers are prone to occupational hazards. The study aims to identify the occupational health hazards among healthcare workers in the Philippines and its essential relevant developmental framework. This article evolved on the responses of participants on how they can improve strategies and barriers for healthcare workers to comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OSH).

    METHODS: A qualitative study design in which 15 healthcare workers from nurses (4), pharmacists (3), medical technologies (4) and medical doctors (4) participated: two focus group of three to four participants each and eight in-depth interviews. The thematic sessions were identified, including occupational health and safety policy implementations, hazards experiences, barriers, and strategies for quality improvement for OSH. Focus groups and interviews using transcript-based analysis were identified relating to emerging themes on the challenges they had experienced while accessing provisions of OSH in their workplace.

    RESULTS: Majority of the participants revealed the existence of policy on Occupational Health and Safety (provisions, guidelines and regulations on OHS from the government) and mentioned that there were limited OHS officers to supervise the healthcare workers in their workplace. Some have limited accessibility to the requirements of the implementation of OHS (free facemasks, gloves, disinfectants, machines, OSH staff, etc.) among healthcare workers, while the workload of the staff in the implementation of OHS in the workplace gradually increased. The results indicated that the respondents were knowledgeable in the implementation of OHS in the workplace, and that there was no existing ASEAN framework on the protection and promotion of the rights of healthcare workers in their workplace. Facilities need to improve health assessment, and to ensure constant evaluation of the existing laws for healthcare workers (quality assurance of existing policies) in their working areas. Direct access to OSH officers, occupational hazards education, emergency contact etc. must be improved. Adherence must be strengthened to fully comply with the OHS standards.

    CONCLUSION: The researchers inferred that issues and concerns regarding compliance on provisions of occupational health and safety among health care workers must be properly addressed through immediate monitoring and reevaluation of personnel in terms of their knowledge and practices in OHS. Barriers and challenges have been identified in the study that can lead to improved compliance among healthcare workers in regards to OHS.

    Matched MeSH terms: Workload
  20. Occupational pressure-targeting organisational factors to ameliorate occupational dysfunction
    Loh SY, Than W, Quek KF
    J Occup Rehabil, 2011 Dec;21(4):493-500.
    PMID: 21365305 DOI: 10.1007/s10926-011-9287-3
    INTRODUCTION: Chronic pressure at work has debilitating impact on healthcare employers (e.g. reduced productivity, high costs, poor patient care) and on female healthcare employees (e.g. sickness, dysfunction). This paper highlights relationship at work as the key occupational source of work-stress which is organisational in nature.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study (n = 230) was conducted using the Pressure Management Inventory on several female dominated health professions within a large public hospital. Analysis of variance was used to show relationship between sources and outcome of pressure. Linear regressions were used to predict which sources of pressure (IV) was linked to the outcomes of occupational pressure (DV).

    RESULTS: The number one source of occupational pressure is relationships at work (i.e. with supervisors), and not workload. 'Relationship' is also the key predictor of several negative outcomes of pressure at work. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in two sources of pressures, i.e. Workload (P = 0.04) and Home-work balance (P = 0.03).

    CONCLUSION: This paper provides insights into the occupational pressure of women health professionals by highlighting the organisational sources of pressure and the implications for preventing occupational dysfunction secondary to stress at work.

    Matched MeSH terms: Workload/psychology
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links