Azlan Darus

Salivary Biomarkers of Stress Among Teachers in an Urban Setting

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of job stress among secondary school teachers using Karasek Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the association between salivary cortisol, salivary IgA, and sociodemographic characteristics, and the association between log cortisol, IgA levels, and job strain categories. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using JCQ and salivary cortisol and IgA samples. Cluster sampling was done yielding 302 respondents. The prevalence of stress among all teachers was 20.2%. Being a Malay, teaching experience of 5 to 10 years, and those without a supervisor’s support had higher prevalence of high job strain. Teachers in the 31 to 40 years age bracket, educating handicapped children with the absence of supervisor support exhibited higher stress levels with lower log salivary IgA levels. Further studies must be conducted using salivary biomarkers to study the in-depth relationship of stress, extending into other occupational groups.

The Clinical Features of Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome in a Warm Environment – A Review of the Literature

The Clinical Features of Hand‐arm Vibration Syndrome in a Warm Environment—A Review of the Literature: Anselm Ting SU, et al. Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Malaya, Malaysia—The internationally Accepted limit values and the health effects of hand‐transmitted vibration exposure have been described extensively in the literature from temperate climate countries but not from a tropical climate environment.

Dose-response relationship between hand-transmitted vibration and hand-arm vibration syndrome in a tropical environment

Objectives The dose–response relationship for hand-transmitted vibration has been investigated extensively in temperate environments. Since the clinical features of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) differ between the temperate and tropical environment, we conducted this study to investigate the dose–response relationship of HAVS in a tropical environment. Methods A total of 173 male construction, forestry and automobile manufacturing plant workers in Malaysia were recruited into this study between August 2011 and 2012. The participants were interviewed for history of vibration exposure and HAVS symptoms, followed by hand functions evaluation and vibration measurement. Three types of vibration doses—lifetime vibration dose (LVD), total operating time (TOT) and cumulative exposure index (CEI)—were calculated and its log values were regressed against the symptoms of HAVS. The correlation between each vibration exposure dose and the hand function evaluation results was obtained. Results The adjusted prevalence ratio for finger tingling and numbness was 3.34 (95% CI 1.27 to 8.98) for subjects with lnLVD≥20 ln m2 s−4 against those <16 ln m2 s−4. Similar dose–response pattern was found for CEI but not for TOT. No subject reported white finger. The prevalence of finger coldness did not increase with any of the vibration doses. Vibrotactile perception thresholds correlated moderately with lnLVD and lnCEI. Conclusions The dose–response relationship of HAVS in a tropical environment is valid for finger tingling and numbness. The LVD and CEI are more useful than TOT when evaluating the dose–response pattern of a heterogeneous group of vibratory tools workers.

Predictors of Handgrip Strength Among Adults of a Rural Community in Malaysia

Handgrip strength is useful for screening the nutritional status of adult population as it is strongly associated with physical disabilities and mortality. Therefore, we aimed to determine the predictors of handgrip strength among adults of a rural community in Malaysia using a cross-sectional study design with multistage sampling. All adults aged 30 years and older from 1250 households were invited to our study. Structured questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, occupation history, lifestyle practices, and measurements, including anthropometry and handgrip strength were taken. There were 2199 respondents with 55.2% females and majority were of Malay ethnicity. Their mean (standard deviation) age was 53.4 (13.2) years. The response rate for handgrip strength was 94.2%. Females had significantly lower handgrip strength than males (P < .05). In the multiple linear regression models, significant predictors of handgrip strength for males were age, height, job groups, and diabetes, while for females, the significant predictors were age, weight, height, and diabetes.

Prevalence and associated factors of stress in the Malaysian Police Force.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine the prevalence of stress and the associated socio-demographic and work factors among police personnel in Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in two randomly selected police districts in Kuala Lumpur from 2009 to 2011. A total of 579 police officers from 11 police stations and two headquarters participated in this study. The 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress questionnaire was used. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the effect of socio-demographic and work factors on stress. RESULTS The overall prevalence of stress was 38.8% (95% CI 34.2, 43.6) with 5.9% (3.9, 8.8), 14.9% (11.6, 18.8) and 18.0% (14.5, 22.2) for severe, moderate and mild stress, respectively. Inspectors were more likely to suffer from severe stress (aOR 10.68, 95% CI 3.51, 32.53) compared to junior officers. Those who complained that their salaries were not commensurate with their jobs were more likely to suffer from moderate levels of stress (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.43, 5.22) compared to those who were happy with their salaries. CONCLUSIONS This study strengthens findings that police job is stressful. Special attention needs to be paid to Inspector-level ranks and the remuneration structure of police officers to address this issue.

Noise-Induced hearing loss and associated factors among vector control workers in a Malaysian State

This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among vector control workers in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 181 vector control workers who were working in district health offices in a state in Malaysia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and audiometry. Prevalence of NIHL was 26% among this group of workers. NIHL was significantly associated with the age-group of 40 years and older, length of service of 10 or more years, current occupational noise exposure, listening to loud music, history of firearms use, and history of mumps/measles infection. Following logistic regression, age of more than 40 years and noise exposure in current occupation were associated with NIHL with an odds ratio of 3.45 (95% confidence interval = 1.68-7.07) and 6.87 (95% confidence interval = 1.54-30.69), respectively, among this group of vector control workers.

A Comparison of Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome between Malaysian and Japanese Workers

A Comparison of Hand‐arm Vibration Syndrome between Malaysian and Japanese Workers: Anselm Ting SU, et al. Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia—The evidence on hand‐arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in tropical environments is limited. The legislation for the control of occupational vibration exposure has yet to be established in Malaysia.

Association between night-shift work, sleep quality and metabolic syndrome

Objectives Occupational factors, particularly night-shift work, are attracting growing interest as a possible determinant of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to determine the association between night-shift work and MetS, and assess whether sleep quality is a mediating factor. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malaysian manufacturing workers, aged 40–65 years old. They completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographics, lifestyle and family history, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels were measured. Baron and Kenny’s method, Sobel test and multiple mediation models with bootstrapping were used to determine whether the PSQI global score or its components mediated the association between night-shift work and MetS. Results Of the 494 participants, 177 (36%) worked night shift and 51% were men. The prevalence of MetS was 37%. Night-shift work was independently associated with a twofold increase in the risk of MetS (adjusted OR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.97). However, the association between night-shift work and MetS did not appear to be modified by sex. Night-shift workers also reported significantly poorer sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction. Robust mediation analysis nonetheless showed that neither PSQI global score nor its components mediated the association between night-shift work and MetS. Conclusion Early screening and management of MetS and the development of programmes to improve sleep quality should be carried out among night-shift workers. Future research should investigate other modifiable mediators linking night-shift work and MetS.

1036 Workers’ health and risk for employment injuries – a case control study

Introduction Risks for occupational accidents may be attributed to the work, worker or the workplace. Numerous studies had identified inherent risk of the workers that exposes them to employment Employees’ general health, determined through identifying risk factors of non-communicable diseases is currently an important consideration in workplace safety and health measures. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between employees’ general health and risks for employment injuries. Methodology A case-control study is conducted using a database of employees in Malaysia who underwent a mass general health screening program from the year 2013 to 2016 for social insurance scheme as a sampling frame. Cases were identified from database of employees who were compensated for occupational injury during the same period. Matching controls are selected from the sampling frame based on none-health factors such as geographical location, type of industry and occupation status. General health variable included in the measurements are body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, waist circumference and metabolic syndrome. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression are conducted to identify the relationship between health status and employment injury. Results A total of 4 72 093 employee health screening data were available for analysis. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia were 39%, 34%, 27%,9% and 62% respectively. There were 256, 343 cases of employment injury reported in the social security database within the study period. Initial analysis indicated employment injury to be associated with body mass index and metabolic syndrome. Discussion Non-communicable diseases are now deemed to be an important threat to employees and businesses alike. The findings of this study is important in building the business case for workplace health promotion activities, as health of the employees may directly affect their safety and health performance, and therefore the performance of the businesses.

301 Health and behavioural outcomes associated with stress in malaysian police officers

Introduction Police officers are vulnerable to the stress provoking environment resulting in chronic police stress over time, with increasing susceptibility to diseases. Eventually, on-going stressors will drain energy and enthusiasm taking a toll on the worker’s physical, mental (psychological) and behavioural health (lifestyle). The objective was to study the health and behavioural outcomes associated with stress among police officers in a Metropolitan Federal Territory of Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in two randomly selected police districts in Kuala Lumpur from 2012–2015. A total of 579 police officers from 2 headquarters and 11 police stations participated in this study. The 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress questionnaire was used. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out. Result The study reported that 40.3% police officers (95% CI: 55.0 to 64.3) had some level of stress; 6.4% (95% CI: 4.4 to 9.2) severe, 15.1% (95% CI: 11.9 to 19.0) moderate and 18.8% (95% CI: 15.3 to 22.8) mild. A police officer who reported mental illness had 6 times the odds of being severely stressed (aOR 5.83,95% CI: 1.82 to 18.61) compared to one not mentally sick while a police officer who reported headache had nearly 3 times the odds of experiencing severe stress (aOR 2.91; 95% CI: 1.09 to 7.75) compared to one who reported no headache. A police officer who did not exercise or pray had 3.8 times odds (aOR 3.79, 95% CI: 1.65 to 8.75) and more than 5 times odds (aOR 5.15 (1.58,16.85) of being severely stressed compared to an officer who exercised or prayed respectively. Discussion Headache and mental illness were positively associated with police stress levels. Higher prevalence of stress justifies instituting peer counselling and stress reduction strategies while annual medical screening must be made compulsory for early detection of those with common diseases (hypertension and diabetes), frequent headache and mental diseases.