Browsing by Author "Sivayogan, S."

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Laboratory statistics in Clinical Decision marking Sri Lanka
(The Kandy Society of Medicine, 2005) Chandrasena, L.G.; Peiris, H.; Sivayogan, S.
No Abstract Available.
Prevalence and determinants of Low Back Pain (LBP) among nurses in different health care units in four hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2013) Warnakulasuriya, S.S.P.; Peiris-John, R.; Sivayogan, S.; Sathiakumar, N.; Coggan, D.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
Introduction: Hospitals are complex systems that rely on nursing care in diverse care settings where many nursing job tasks are physically and psychologically demanding. In healthcare, the highest prevalence of Low Back Pain (LBP) is reported among nurses. There is little information regarding its prevalence and the determinants. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of LBP among nurses in diverse care settings in hospitals and its association with work-related psychosocial and ergonomic risk factors. Method: This analytical cross sectional study comprised 862 female nurses sampled from two teaching hospitals and two base hospitals in the Colombo district. Information on regular physical activity and work-related ergonomic and psychosocial stress factors were collected using a pre-tested self administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics used to determine the prevalence and associations of risk factors with pain symptoms were assessed by logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, and summarised by odds ratios (ORs) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The response rate was 70% (n=602). The overall prevalence of LBP among nurses during the past 12 months was 38% (n=229), in nurses in teaching hospitals being 40% and in nurses in base hospitals being 31%. Among the patient care units/wards, nurses in ICU had the highest prevalence of LBP (35%); the lowest prevalence was among nurses in pediatric wards (4.4%). Factors significantly associated with LBP were BMI> 25 (overweight) (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.20-2.84), working in the ICU (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.06-2.25), time pressure to complete tasks (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.10-2.19), perception of poor general health (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.12-3.38), and history of an accident (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.17-2.78). Conclusions: Personal, work-related ergonomic and psychosocial factors were significantly associated with LBP among nurses. These need to be taken into consideration when planning strategies to reduce LBP among nurses.
Work-related musculoskeletal Disorders among mail sorting officers in Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study
(College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 2012) Warnakulasuriya, S.S.P.; Peiris-John, R.J.; Sivayogan, S.; Sathiakumar, N.; Coggon, D.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
BACKGROUND: Mail sorting requires repetitive movements of the upper limbs, target oriented tasks, long term standing or sitting, concentration and a good memory. The extent of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among mail sorting officers (MSOs) is not known. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated factors with work-related MSDs among MSOs in Sri Lanka. METHODS: 250 randomly selected MSOs who were attached to the Central Mail Exchange, Colombo, were administered a pre-tested questionnaire after obtaining informed written consent. Information on demographic characteristics, musculoskeletal symptoms of the different body parts, job tasks, work history, job satisfaction, sick leave, feelings of job security, and personal perceptions of musculoskeletal symptoms during the past month were obtained. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16). Descriptive analyses were used to describe variables and chi-square tests were used to determine associations between pain symptoms and associated variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of backache was highest (38.4%), followed by shoulder pain (27.6%), knee pain (21.2%), neck pain (16.4%), wrist and arm pain (11.2%) and elbow pain (10%). 59.6% of MSOs had experienced at least one MSDs sometime during the past 12 months. Mail sorting activities involved repetitive hand and wrist movements for more than four hours a day (n=239), repetitive bending and straightening of elbow more than one hour a day (n=239), keeping the hand above shoulder height for more than one hour a day (n=239) and climbing up and down more than 30 steps (n=218) a day. Height was significantly associated with shoulder pain (OR=1.056, 95% CI=1.069-3.577). Pain in all of the other sites was not associated with known risk factors in other studies. CONCLUSION: The predominant ergonomic problem in mail sorters in Sri Lanka are in the lower back, shoulder and neck areas. Although there is a high prevalence of some musculoskeletal symptoms in MSOs, most of the known risk factors identified in other studies such as age, right or left handedness, years of experience in current job, smoking habit and job satisfaction etc., were not significantly associated with MSDs in this population. Other physical, psychosocial and environmental factors need to be investigated.