Factors affecting the work productivity of Oraon agricultural laborers of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal

Non-invasive hemoglobin screening device: a promising digital method for reducing anemia prevalence through routine screening and timely intervention

BACKGROUND

Several non-invasive technologies are nowadays available in the market which claim to determine the hemoglobin levels instantly without the requirement of the blood sample. But no study has shown the significance of such non-invasive devices on a routine basis for determining their impact on anemia reduction programs. This study is conducted to determine the impact of regular hemoglobin screening on the women population to determine its potential in reducing anemia, using a digitalized non-invasive device.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 women of reproductive age group, residing in the Moradabad district. Repetitive readings were taken after a time interval of a minimum of 1 month for determining the impact of regular screening. The entire data collection process was carried out using the EzeCheck mobile app.

RESULTS

It was observed that the prevalence of anemia was reduced upon the second time screening and was accepted by the women population. Repetitive testing has a significant impact on reducing anemia prevalence. Also, the simplified non-invasive technology for estimating the hemoglobin values, makes the user more comfortable to take the test.

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive devices should be used regularly to keep track of hemoglobin levels which will help in the effective treatment of anemia. The mobile app-based testing could help to easily evaluate the reports of the patients from any remote location with instant result interpretation and health assistance.

Why Soft Skills Matter: Analyzing the Relationship between Soft Skills and Productivity in Workplace of Academic Library Professionals

This study aimed to analyze the effects of soft skills on the work productivity of academic library professionals in Pakistan. The study employed quantitative survey method. The data was collected through a self-compiled online questionnaire from academic library professionals, yielding a response rate was 83%. Findings of this study reveal that library professionals’ level of different soft skills, interpersonal, emotional intelligence, leadership, motivation, and communication is high, which indicates that they are proficient in soft skills. Results of correlation test used to examine the relationship between the variables, soft skills, and work productivity of library professionals disclose a significant relationship between variables across the study. Moreover, soft skills have profound effects on the work productivity of library professionals, and no difference is found in library professionals’ perceptions based on their demographic characteristics. Soft skills help librarians to manage and perform different jobs effectively. Based on the outcomes of the study, it is suggested that LIS schools, professional associations, and other organizations offering professional development programs should endeavor to develop soft skills among LIS students and professionals by incorporating necessary contents in LIS curricula and offering training sessions. The research paper is the first attempt to explore the relationship between soft skills and work productivity from the perspective of librarianship in Pakistan; it will make a unique contribution to the literature.

Determinants of work capacity (predicted VO2max) in non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in rural India

BACKGROUND

The negative impact of anemia on work capacity has been studied extensively in male and female workers; however, the simultaneous contributions of confounding variables such as physical activity, as well as other behavioral and sociodemographic characteristics have not been considered. The purpose of this study was to examine cross-sectionally the multivariable correlates of work capacity in non-pregnant women (n = 330) living in rural India.

METHODS

The Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project is a norms-based, clustered randomized controlled trial to reduce anemia among women (15-49 years) living in Odisha, India between 2018 and 2021. For the larger trial, 89 clusters of villages were randomized into treatment and control groups on a 1:1 basis. Women (2055/group) living in 15 selected clusters (40-41 villages) were then randomly selected for data collection. The sampling design also randomly-generated a subset (n = 375) of non-pregnant participants who performed a modified Queen's College Step Test (QCST) and who wore an activity monitor for 3 days. Predicted work capacity (VO_2max) was determined using the QCST. Levels (h/day) of daily reclining, sitting, standing, walking (steps/day), and energy expenditure (MET∙h/day) were determined using an ActivPAL accelerometer. Hemoglobin concentrations (g/dL) were determined using a HemoCue photometer. Predetermined hierarchical (non-multilevel) regression models tested the independent associations between the primary study variables of interest (physical activity, hemoglobin concentrations) and predicted VO_2max, while adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI: kg/m²), education, parity, and dietary diversity score.

RESULTS

Approximately 61% of the participants had anemia (Hb < 12 g/dL). Age² (β = - 0.01; 95% CI: - 0.01, 0.00), BMI (β = - 0.19; 95% CI:-0.28, - 0.09), educational attainment (β = - 1.35; 95% CI: - 2.34, - 0.36), and MET∙h/day (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.38) were significant and independent determinants of work capacity. Hemoglobin concentration was marginally associated with work capacity in the presence of the other covariables (β = 0.22; 95% CI:-0.02, 0.47).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that factors other than anemia are important correlates of work capacity and should be considered when promoting the health and economic capacity of rural Indian women.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Registry- India (CTRI) http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=26285&EncHid=&userName=CTRI/2018/10/016186 on 29 October 2018.

Assessment of nutritional status using anthropometric variables by multivariate analysis

BACKGROUND

Undernutrition is a serious health problem and highly prevalent in developing countries. There is no as such confirmatory test to measure undernutrition. The objective of the present study is to determine a new Composite Score using anthropometric measurements. Composite Score was then compared with other methods like body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) classification, to test the significance of the method.

METHODS

Anthropometric data were collected from 780 adult Oraon (Male = 387, Female = 393) labourers of Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India, following standard instruments, and protocols. Nutritional status of the study participants were assessed by conventional methods, BMI and MUAC. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to reduce 12 anthropometric variables into a single Composite Score (C) and classification of nutritional status was done on the basis of the score. Furthermore, all the methods (BMI, MUAC and C) were compared and discriminant function analysis was adopted to find out the percentage of correctly classified individuals by each of the three methods.

RESULT

The frequency of undernutrition was 45.9% according to BMI category, 56.7% according to MUAC category and 51.8% according to newly computed Composite Score. Further analysis showed that Composite Score has a higher strength of correct classification (98.7%), compared to BMI (95.9%) and MUAC (96.2%).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, anthropometric measurements can be used to identify nutritional status in the population more correctly by calculating Composite Score of the measurements and it is a non-invasive and relatively correct way of identification.

Validation of the Health-Related Productivity Questionnaire Diary (HRPQ-D) on a sample of patients with infectious mononucleosis: results from a phase 1 multicenter clinical trial

The objective of this work was to assess the performance of the newly developed Health-Related Productivity Questionniare-Diary (HRPQ-D). Patients completed the HRPQ-D daily for 1-week periods during weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 of a clinical trial for infectious mononucleosis. Productivity data were collected on a daily basis in terms of absenteeism, presenteeism, and combined lost productivity for three work venues (work outside home, housework, and classes/homework). These were then correlated with patient symptom scores. Symptom scores were positively correlated with lost work hours because of absenteeism and combined lost productivity scores. However, negative correlations were observed between symptom scores and the lost work hours due to presenteeism. The HRPQ-D demonstrated good construct validity, making it a useful tool for determining productivity levels across different work venues within clinical trial or survey research applications.