Disability and functioning assessment of women with RSI/WRMSDs: the use of the ICF checklist

Adhesive Capsulitis' Patients Report Improvement in Functionality Trough International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Checklist and Dash After Suprascapular Nerve Blocks

Objective  To evaluate the functionality in patients with adhesive capsulitis undergoing suprascapular nerve block (SSNB). Methods  A before-and-after clinical prospective study in a single center was conducted with patients with secondary adhesive capsulitis treated with four nerve blocks based on anatomical limits. The sample was non-probabilistic, and it was obtained after a routine appointment at a specialized outpatient clinic. The instruments used for evaluation were the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, which were applied at baseline (T 0 ), one week after the fourth SSNB (T 4 ), and three months after the first SSNB (T 12 ). The paired t -test was used to compare the means of the ICF checklist items and DASH in the different: T 0 xT 4 ; T 4 xT 12 ; and T 0 xT 12 ). The probability of rejecting the null hypothesis was 5%. Results  The sample was composed of 25 individuals with a mean age of 58.16 years; 16 of them were female. The duration of the pain symptoms ranged from 2 to 16 months, with a mean of 5.92 months. The ICF checklist showed that all domains had already improved in T 4, except for the environmental factors, which only improved at 03 months ( p  = 0.037). The patients reported improvements in shoulder function in T 4 , which increased more in T 12 , at the end of data collection ( p  = 0.019). Conclusion  The SSNB technique is effective in patients with adhesive capsulitis after 4 weeks of application, with improvements in individual's functionality lasting for 12 weeks.

Shedding light on work-related and non-work-related hand injuries from the social work perspective

BACKGROUND

Upper extremity injuries may cause not only physical but also serious social and psychological problems in workers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare demographic and work-related features of persons with hand injuries who sustained a work-related or a non-work-related injury to gain insights into possible predisposing factors for work-related injuries as well as psychosocial consequences of hand injuries from the social work perspective.

METHODS

This case-control study was conducted on 30 work-related and 30 non-work-related hand injury patients. The patients were evaluated using a questionnaire designed by the authors based on the principles of social work involving demographics, work-related features, thought-emotion-behaviour features, family and friend relationships, need for family support and professional psychosocial support. Survey data from both groups were statistically analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher Exact test.

RESULTS

When compared with the non-work-related hand injury group, the majority of the subjects of the work-related hand injury group were blue-collar workers (p = 0.003), had a lower level of education (p < 0.001), worked off-the-clock (p = 0.015), held the employer responsible for the accident (p < 0.001), needed more time to return to work (p = 0.014), were worried about the future (p = 0.045), and expressed loss of joy (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Hand injuries, regardless of their relation to work, lead to important psychosocial problems which need to be evaluated widely and carefully focusing on the patient and patient's environment, work environment in this case.

Occupational health among primary care workers: situational diagnosis

Introduction

The field of workers' health within the scope of the Brazilian Unified Health System needs to revitalize its space in terms of coordinating care in primary health care based on social determinants of health.

Objectives

To contextualize and describe the health-related situational diagnosis of primary care workers from the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil.

Methods

This was a descriptive, quantitative, and exploratory study conducted at a primary care unit in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceará, from January to March 2019. The study population was composed of 38 health care professionals from the primary care unit. The following questionnaires were applied to obtain the situational diagnosis: the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule and the Occupational Health Questionnaire.

Results

Most participants were women (89.47%) and community health agents (18,42%). There were negative impacts on health conditions, such as work-related physical and mental discomfort, which was evidenced by sleep problems, sedentary lifestyle, poor access to health care services, and type of physical activity, which difer in terms of function and hierarchical levels in the field of work.

Conclusions

This study showed that the questionnaires provide useful inputs regarding occupational health through the situational diagnosis and adequately address the health-disease process, as seen in primary care workers. Comprehensive care, comprehensive worker health surveillance, and participatory administration of health services should be optimized.