Álvaro Roberto Crespo Merlo

O trabalho entre prazer, sofrimento e adoecimento: a realidade dos portadores de lesões por esforços repetitivos

In this article we present and discuss the results of investigations that took place at the Ambulatorio de Doencas do Trabalho (Occupational Medicine Ambulatory) in the Hospital de Clinicas of Porto Alegre (University Hospital). The main purpose was to determine the relationship between Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, the work process and the consequences over the mental and physical health of the studied workers. We conclude that mental suffering is associated to physical pain, but not exclusively. Beyond the physiopathological aspects of the illness, we perceive the existence of a complex relationship between physical pain and the subjective experiences and social identity.

Trabalho de grupo com portadores de LER/DORT: relato de experiência

This article presents and discusses the contributions of Psychology to the study of Repetitive Strain Injuries or Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. It privileges the analysis of the work carried out, jointly, by a multidisciplinary team of the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, the Medical School and the Institute of Psychology of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, done with groups presenting that disease. It starts from the assumption that the study of the relationship between health and work is an important area for the psychologist and that research papers are necessary, based on experience reports, which present, systematize and lay the foundation procedures, has allowed the individuals to decrease his/her culpability and reinforce his/her independence and autonomy, thus minimizing the psychological suffering associated to the chronic pain and limitations imposed by the disease.

Trabalhador Contemporâneo e Patologias por Hipersolicitação

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD)- which are also known as Work-Related Musculoeskeletal Disorders (WRMD) and have stood out since an economic system rose based on production restructuring- are faced by workers and express suffering stemming from the relations between workers and work. We look into how CTD/WRMD develop in contemporary workers´ body, taking account of their work history and viewing such syndromes as the subjectivation of the relation between workers and work. We favor an interdisciplinary approach based on both the biomedical knowledge and the social psychology, in search for an interface language among the professions that have the same focus- the worker.

A saúde e os processos de trabalho no capitalismo : reflexões na interface da psicodinâmica do trabalho e da sociologia do trabalho

RESUMO: A organizacao dos processos de trabalho nos quais estao inseridos os trabalhadores produz graves consequencias sobre a saude. Essas tem origem, principalmente, na separacao entre concepcao e execucao, introduzidas pelos modelos de gestao taylorista e fordista. As mudancas promovidas pela implementacao do modelo de gestao japones passaram a demandar um trabalhador aparentemente mais engajado ao seu trabalho, apto a realizar diversas operacoes e mais escolarizado. Porem, observa-se que ao sofrimento daqueles que trabalham em tarefas que nao foram atingidas pela reestruturacao produtiva, acrescenta-se o sofrimento provocado pelas transformacoes em curso no trabalho, exigindo novos atributos ao trabalhador, atingindo a saude fisica e mental. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Processos de trabalhos; sofrimento psiquico no trabalho; saude mental. HEALTH AND LABOR PROCESSES IN CAPITALISM: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE PSYCHODYNAMICS AND SOCIOLOGY OF WORK

Shift work is not associated with high blood pressure or prevalence of hypertension.

Background Working mostly at night has been suggested to be associated with upset of chronobiological rhythms and high blood pressure, but the evidence from epidemiological studies is weak. Methods In a cross-sectional survey, we evaluated the association between shift work and blood pressure, pre-hypertension and hypertension. In total, 493 nurses, nurse technicians and assistants, were selected at random in a large general hospital setting. Hypertension was diagnosed by the mean of four automatic blood pressure readings ≥140/90 mmHg or use of blood pressure lowering agents, and pre-hypertension by systolic blood pressure ≥120–139 or diastolic blood pressure ≥80–89 mmHg. Risk factors for hypertension were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The association between the shift of work and blood pressure, pre-hypertension and hypertension was explored using univariate and multivariate analyses that controlled for risk factors for hypertension by covariance analysis and modified Poisson regression. Results The mean age of the participants was 34.3±9.4 years and 88.2% were women. Night shift workers were older, more frequently married or divorced, and less educated. The prevalence of hypertension in the whole sample was 16%, and 28% had pre-hypertension. Blood pressure (after adjustment for confounding) was not different in day and night shift workers. The prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension by shift work was not different in the univariate analysis and after adjustment for confounding (all risk ratios  = 1.0). Conclusion Night shift work did not increase blood pressure and was not associated with hypertension or pre-hypertension in nursing personnel working in a large general hospital.

Trabalho policial e saúde mental: uma pesquisa junto aos Capitães da Polícia Militar

This article conveys a research report in which the relations between the work of Military Police Captains and their mental health were approached, arising from the aspects of this profession that generate pleasure and suffering. Three procedures were adopted as methodological strategies: Documental research, observation of daily work and interviews. The results show that in spite of the excessive administrative working load and perils inherent to the profession, the pleasure in work is related to management activities, which provide spaces for creating in the workplace. However, the pressures imposed by the disciplinary mechanism of vigilance and control, characteristics of the organization of military police work, constitute in itself a source of suffering. Since they engender the division of workers and impose barriers where bonds of cooperation and confidence are needed, aspects that are of great importance considering the nature of this type of work, permeated by risks.

RELAÇÃO ENTRE TENSÃO NEURAL ADVERSA E ESTUDOS DE CONDUÇÃO NERVOSA EM PACIENTES COM SINTOMAS DA SÍNDROME DO TÚNEL DO CARPO

RESUMO - O proposito deste estudo foi avaliar, atraves de uma serie de casos, a relacao entre tensao neural adversa do nervo mediano (TNAm) e o parâmetro eletrofisiologico em 38 pacientes com sintomas da s i n d rome do tunel do carpo (STC), submetidos a estudos de conducao nervosa (ECN). As principais medidas foram a TNAm obtida no teste de provocacao de tensao neural (TPTN) e parâmetros dos ECN, dividindose os bracos avaliados em tres grupos: normal, com alteracao eletrofisiologica sem gravidade e com alteracao e l e t rofisiologica grave. Correlacao significante entre TNAm e parâmetros dos ECN foram encontrados (p<0,05), bem como entre a TNAm e os tres grupos definidos pela alteracao eletrofisiologica (r s = + 0 . 4 3 7 , p=0,002). Va l o res de TNAm foram significantemente maiores nos bracos com diagnostico eletro f i s i o l o g i c o (p=0,007). Sugere-se que a TNAm tem participacao na fisiopatologia da STC, indicando o uso de procedimentos terapeuticos que diminuam ou previnam a tensao neural. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: sindrome do tunel do carpo, teste de tensao do membro superior, conducao nervosa, terapia manual. Relationship between adverse neural tension and nerve conduction studies in patients with symptoms of the carpal tunnel syndrome

Saúde mental e economia solidária: análise das relações de trabalho em uma cooperativa de confecção de Porto Alegre

Este artigo aborda as vinculacoes entre o prazer, sofrimento e a organizacao do trabalho no cotidiano dos trabalhadores de uma cooperativa inserida no movimento da Economia Solidaria. Como proposta do estudo, articulamos uma interpretacao macro social do contexto socioeconomico, com uma analise micro social baseada na perspectiva da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho. Analisamos, em conjunto com os trabalhadores, as atividades de corte, costura e serigrafia desenvolvidas no empreendimento solidario. Os resultados apontaram para a identificacao dos trabalhadores com o cooperativismo, bem como com a possibilidade das relacoes solidarias e do gerenciamento, transformando o sofrimento em prazer, favorecendo a saude mental atraves da rediscussao constante da organizacao do trabalho e da criacao de novos modos de viver o trabalho.

Cuidadores: seus amores e suas dores

This study researched the implication of work in the psychological health of nursing assistants who work in critical units of a cardiology hospital. The theoretical approach was the psychodynamics of work. The information was obtained through individual interviews, and analyzed qualitatively by the content analysis method. The results indicate that work provides psychic balance, as the professionals find a space of creation and recognition of what they do. However it can be harmful to psychic balance as the worker also suffers with the patients pain and with the physical weariness caused by work.

Trabalho, adoecimento e histórias de vida em trabalhadoras da indústria calçadista

Work, sickness and life histories of workers in the shoe industry. The bearers of Lesions for Repetitive Efforts (LER/DORT), besides the complaints of musculoskeletal pains, they manifest psychic suffering related to the illness. In this investigation, it was looked for, through the methodology of the Histories of Life, to understand as the social relationships were constituted, of work and the processes of ilness of workers bearers of LER/ DORT, originating from of the shoes industry of Rio Grande do Sul, assisted at the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. They took place open individual interviews that were transcribed and analyzed. The appeals and the present singularities in the depositions originated five thematic categories: child work; low education and beginning in the shoes industry; pleasure relationship and suffering with the work; marks of the work in the body and removal of the work and suffering. These workers’ histories appeared for the fault existences, failure and exclusion for no more work.