[Identification of risk factors for work-related stress in a hospital: a qualitative and quantitative approach].

Background: Italian legislation establishes the obligation for the employer to assess any risks to the safety and health of workers, including those relating to work-related stress (WRS). Several studies have proved the existence of a link between WRS and both individual diseases and organizational results.

Objective: The research aimed at detecting WRS risk factors in a hospital consisting of 53 departments employing 2334 workers.

[Alcohol consumption risk among health care workers of the Santa Croce e Carle Hospital of Cuneo: index of prevalence, predictors and enforcement actions to dissuade alcohol consumption].

Objectives: 1691 workers of a hospital in Northern Italy underwent medical examinations in order to identij the prevalence index of alcohol consumption posing a risk, to assess the ability of some bio-anthropometric variables to predict the condition of a risk drinker, and to assess the results of a programme designed to reduce alcohol intake.

Methods: Certain blood parameters were examined and two basic alcohol consumption questionnaires were administered to identify drinkers at risk. Subjects showing a high CDT ratio were given an in-depth interview to assess alcohol intake.

[Prevalence of job fitness restrictions in the period 2007-2009 and analysis of predictors of restrictions among hospital health care workers].

Background: Little is known about the prevalence rates of job fitness restrictions (JFR) and the impact of demographics on JFR among Italian health care workers (HCW).

Objective: To examine the prevalence rates of JFR among HCW of an Italian hospital in the years 2007-2009 and to estimate ability of demographic variables to predict JFR.

Methods: The number of HCW with JFR was divided by the number of HCW in service at the end of each year from 2007 to 2009 to calculate prevalence of JFR.

[Association between demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors of job stress in a sample of health care workers employed in two Italian hospitals].

Background: Job stress has negative effects on both health care work ers' (HCW) health and on work organization.

Objectives: To assess whether the presence of stressful conditions, individually considered, or combined in the iso-strain model, is significantly associated with specific socio-demographic characteristics, also with the aim of providing organizational tools for management to reduce stress in the working environment according to Italian law 81/2008.

Methods: The extended version of the Job Content Questionnaire was administered to 265 healthy HCW in seven paired wards of two hospitals.

[Relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and work-related awkward postures among a group of health care workers in a hospital].

Background: There are few studies in the Italian literature on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among health care workers (HCW) keeping and holding awkward postures during their job.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of low-back, neck and upper limb complaints and the association between risk factors and MSD in HCW working in 15 wards of the Hospital of Cuneo.

Methods: A questionnaire was submitted to 113 HCW.

[Results and significance of a baseline tuberculin skin test programme among health care workers in a hospital setting].

Background: Due to the resurgence of tuberculosis (Tb), health care workers (HCW) are considered at increased risk for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTI). According to the national guidelines health care facilities are required both to perform tuberculin skin tests (TsT) on all employees with potential occupational exposure to Tb and to analyze the results obtained. However, only a limited number of studies can be found in the literature reporting data of Tb prevalence in Italian hospitals.

[Implementation and application of an index method for assessment of occupational biological risk in a hospital setting].

Background: Over the last years several mathematical methods have been proposed by The Italian Society for Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (SIMLII) with the aim of assessing exposure to occupational risks. The current way of assessing biological risk is based on the widely used but poorly accurate formula R = P x D. Use of more complex methods of assessment of exposure involves many problems due to: complexity and poor standardisation of micro-organisms concentration, ubiquitary diffusion of biological agents in the working environment, lack of dose-response curves, uncertainty about the existence of an effective infection threshold for many micro-organisms, etc.