scholarly journals Potential of a Small Indoor Plant on the Desk for Reducing Office Workers’ Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63
Author(s):  
Masahiro Toyoda ◽  
Yuko Yokota ◽  
Marni Barnes ◽  
Midori Kaneko
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Rate ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Indoor Plants ◽  
Before And After

In modern society, stress reduction in the workplace is a pressing issue. Although many studies have been done on the psychological and physiological effects of indoor plants, the majority of them have been conducted in laboratory or quasi-office settings. The objective of this study was to verify the stress reduction effects of the presence of small indoor plants on employees in a real office setting. We investigated the changes in psychological and physiological stress before and after placing a plant on a worker’s desk. Sixty-three office workers at an electric company in Japan were the participants of this study. The participants were directed to take a 3-minute rest while sitting at their desk when they felt fatigue. There were two phases of the study: a control period without plants and an intervention period when the participants were able to see and care for a small plant. We measured psychological stress in the participants using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). As an index of physiological stress, the participants measured their own pulse rate throughout the study. STAI scores decreased significantly after the intervention period (P < 0.05). The ratio of the participants whose pulse rate lowered significantly after a 3-minute rest increased significantly during the intervention period (P < 0.05). Our study indicates that having opportunities to gaze intentionally at nearby plants on a daily basis in the work environment can reduce the psychological and physiological stress of office workers.

Improving Antimicrobial Use in the Hospital Setting by Providing Usage Feedback to Prescribing Physicians

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Forest W. Arnold ◽  
L. Clifford McDonald ◽  
R. Scott Smith ◽  
David Newman ◽  
Julio A. Ramirez
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Local Hospital ◽  
Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽  
Physician Compliance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Antimicrobial Management

Objective.To determine whether feedback on antimicrobial use improves physician compliance with local hospital guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing.Design.In this time series analysis, in which a historical control period was compared with an intervention period, all orders for antimicrobials (except those for surgical prophylaxis) placed from November 1, 2002, through April 30, 2004, were prospectively evaluated by an antimicrobial management team (AMT) for compliance with local hospital guidelines. During the control period, orders were evaluated to determine compliance with hospital guidelines before and after recommendations by the AMT were provided to physicians. Feedback was given for the second 9-month period in the form of a weekly report to prescribing physicians, a monthly hospital newsletter, and a quarterly report to various hospital committees. During the intervention period, orders were evaluated to determine compliance with hospital guidelines before and after recommendations by the AMT were provided to physicians.Setting.The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a 110-bed facility, in Louisville, Kentucky.Participants.Internal medicine physicians and general surgeons.Results.A total of 2,807 antimicrobial courses were evaluated. Compliance with hospital guidelines before AMT recommendations was 70% during the control period and 74% during the intervention period (P = .02). Compliance after AMT recommendations was 90% during the control period and 93% during the intervention period (P ≤ .01).Conclusion.The use of feedback had a significantly favorable impact on physician compliance with the hospital's guidelines on antimicrobial prescribing. Use of feedback should be added to the list of interventions that promote appropriate antimicrobial use in the hospital setting.

Telemedicine in the emergency department to decrease personal protective equipment use: a before-and-after study

2020 ◽  
pp. emermed-2020-210292
Author(s):  
Bart G J Candel ◽  
Selma M M Vaes ◽  
Egid M van Bree ◽  
Sophie M A Groenen ◽  
Floor Derkx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Patient Anxiety ◽  
Contact Isolation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Before And After Study

BackgroundPersonal protective equipment (PPE) used by healthcare workers was scarce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess whether telemedicine (using iPads) reduced PPE use in emergency department (ED) patients who were treated in contact isolation, and whether telemedicine had a positive effect on patient anxiety and satisfaction.MethodsWe conducted a prospective single centre before-and-after study including ED patients ≥18 years who were treated in contact isolation. PPE use, the Hospital Anxiety Scale and the 15-item Picker Patient Experience Questionnaire were compared between the control period (8 April to 14 April 2020) and intervention period (15 April to 24 April 2020).ResultsWe included 25 patients in each period. PPE use per patient was higher for physicians in the control period (mean 1.7; 95% CI 1.5 to 1.9) compared with the intervention period (mean 1.2; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3, p<0.01). Total PPE use per patient contact for ED physicians decreased from 42 out of 42 patient contacts in the control period, to 29 out of 66 patient contacts in the intervention period (difference 54.3%; 95% CI 50.1% to 58.6%, p<0.01). Reported anxiety and satisfaction were not significantly different.ConclusionPPE use by physicians can successfully be reduced by using telemedicine in the ED without increasing anxiety or dissatisfaction. This study was a first step to gain experience with telemedicine in the ED which has the potential to reduce PPE use in future pandemics or other patients with an indication for contact isolation.

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Brief Outings on the Welfare of Dogs Living in US Shelters

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 548
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Gunter ◽  
Rachel J. Gilchrist ◽  
Emily M. Blade ◽  
Rebecca T. Barber ◽  
Erica N. Feuerbacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Urinary Cortisol ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Activity Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Activity

Social isolation likely contributes to reduced welfare for shelter-living dogs. Several studies have established that time out of the kennel with a person can improve dogs’ behavior and reduce physiological measures of stress. This study assessed the effects of two-and-a-half-hour outings on the urinary cortisol levels and activity of dogs as they awaited adoption at four animal shelters. Dogs’ urine was collected before and after outings for cortisol:creatinine analysis, and accelerometer devices were used to measure dogs’ physical activity. In total, 164 dogs participated in this study, with 793 cortisol values and 3750 activity measures used in the statistical analyses. We found that dogs’ cortisol:creatinine ratios were significantly higher during the afternoon of the intervention but returned to pre-field trip levels the following day. Dogs’ minutes of low activity were significantly reduced, and high activity significantly increased during the outing. Although dogs’ cortisol and activity returned to baseline after the intervention, our findings suggest that short-term outings do not confer the same stress reduction benefits as previously shown with temporary fostering. Nevertheless, it is possible that these types of outing programs are beneficial to adoptions by increasing the visibility of dogs and should be further investigated to elucidate these effects.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a low-value financial-incentive program for increasing vegetable-rich restaurant meal selection and reducing socioeconomic inequality: a cluster crossover trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wataru Nagatomo ◽  
Junko Saito ◽  
Naoki Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Program ◽  
Crossover Trial ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Marginal Value ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Proxy Measure

Abstract Background In light of recent theories in behavioural economics, an intervention program with monetary incentives could be effective for helping patrons order healthy food, even if the incentive is small and less than one’s perceived marginal value. Methods In this single-arm cluster crossover trial at 26 local restaurants, a 1-week campaign offered a 50-yen (approximately 0.5 US dollars) cash-back payment to customers ordering vegetable-rich meals, while no pre-order incentives were offered during the control period. Results In total, 511 respondents out of 7537 customers (6.8%), and 704 respondents out of 7826 customers (9.0%), ordered vegetable-rich meals during the control and intervention periods, respectively. During the intervention period, the covariate-adjusted proportion of vegetable-rich meal orders was 1.50 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29 to 1.75), which increased daily sales by 1.77 times (95% CI: 1.11 to 2.83), even when subtracting the cost of cash-back payments. Respondents who reported spending the least amount of money on eating out (used as a proxy measure for income) were the least likely to order vegetable-rich meals during the control period. However, these individuals increased their proportion of purchasing such meals during the intervention period (a 3.8 percentage point increase (95% CI: 2.82 to 4.76) among those spending the least vs a 2.1 percentage point increase (95% CI: 1.66 to 2.62) among those spending the most; P for interaction = 0.001). Similarly, irregular employees exhibited a larger increase (+ 5.2 percentage points, 95% CI: 4.54 to 5.76) than did regular workers (− 1.4, 95% CI: − 1.66 to − 1.05, P for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions A program with an immediate low-value monetary incentive could be a public health measure for reducing inequalities in making healthy food choices. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000022396. Registered 21 May 2016.

Method for the simultaneous quantification of n-hexane metabolites: application to n-hexane metabolism determination

1996 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 497-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Soriano ◽  
M. Menéndez ◽  
P. Sanz ◽  
M. Repetto
Keyword(s):  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Analytical Procedure ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Simultaneous Quantification ◽  
Exposed Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Time Requirements ◽  
The Difference

1 The described analytical procedure permits the simultaneous determination of the main n-hexane meta bolites in urine. 2-Hexanone, 2-hexanol, 2, 5-hexanediol and 2, 5-hexanedione, were chosen to dose the rats used in this study. All urine samples were collected and analysed on a daily basis, before and after acidic hydrolysis (pH 0.1) by GC/MS. 2-Hexanone, 2, 5-dimethylfurane, γ-valerolac tone and 2, 5-hexanedione were determined before hydro lysis ; 2-hexanol and 2, 5-hexanediol, after hydrolysis; and 5-hydroxy-2-hexanone and 4, 5-dihydroxy-2-hexanone were calculated by the difference between γ-valerolactone and 2, 5-hexanedione with and without hydrolysis, respectively. 2 A metabolic scheme was proposed reflecting the biotransformations undergone by the four compounds assayed. We consider 2, 5-dimethylfurane as a 'true metabolite' because the quantities detected were always greater before hydrolysis. 3 It has been reported that human and rat n-hexane metabolism follow a similar pattern. Therefore, as a practical application and without increasing either sample or time requirements, the simultaneous quantifi cation of the different metabolites and their excretion profile could provide better information about the metabolic situation of exposed workers than the determi nation of 2, 5-hexanedione alone. According to our experimental results, 4, 5-dihydroxy-2-hexanone itself would be a good toxicity indicator.

Estrogen effects on lymph flow as a function of outflow pressure in ewes

1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (5) ◽  
pp. H1317-H1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Valenzuela ◽  
S. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Lymph Flow ◽  
Thoracic Duct Lymph ◽  
Acute Administration ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Estrogen Effects ◽  
Estrogen Administration

The purpose of the present study was to assess whether acute estrogen administration decreased the lymphatic vessel's "pumping" ability. An additional goal was to assess whether estrogen affected the capillary filtration (used here as the total transfer of fluid and protein across the capillaries evidenced by the thoracic duct lymph flow rate). We reasoned that if estrogen administration decreases the lymph pumping ability against outflow pressure, then this phenomenon could help to explain the interstitial fluid retention seen during chronic estrogen. In six nonpregnant ewes we studied the thoracic lymph flow rate measured at different outflow pressures, before and after the acute administration of 50 mg of Premarin (conjugated estrogenic hormones). We also continuously determined arterial and venous pressures and heart rate. The arterial pressure declined from a mean of 99 +/- 0.33 (SE) mmHg to 95.4 +/- 0.2 mmHg (P less than 0.05) after the administration of estrogen. Heart rate increased from 88.5 +/- 0.8 to 111.3 +/- 1.2 beats/min (P less than 0.01). Venous pressure, plasma and lymph protein concentrations, and hematocrit did not change significantly (P greater than 0.1). Lymph flow rate declined progressively when measured against positive outflow pressure, whereas it remained stable when measured against negative pressure. Lymph flow rate during negative outflow pressure was higher after the administration of estrogen 0.044 +/- 0.002 vs. 0.032 +/- 0.002 ml.min-1.kg-1 for the control period (P less than 0.05). The calculated outflow pressure at which lymph flow rate became zero was similar for the period before or after the estrogen administration (P greater than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

scholarly journals Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Zulkifli ◽  
Y. M. Goh ◽  
B. Norbaiyah ◽  
A. Q. Sazili ◽  
M. Lotfi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Blood Parameters ◽  
Percentage Change ◽  
Jugular Veins ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
Physiological Stress Response ◽  
Noradrenaline Concentration ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Acth Concentration

The present study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the effects of penetrative stunning, non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on biochemical parameters and electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with stress in heifers and steers. Ten animals were assigned to each of the following four treatment groups: (1) animals were subjected to conventional halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures on the ventral neck at the approximate level of vertebrae C2–C3 – the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10–20 s of the halal cut (U); (2) high-power non-penetrating mechanical stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (HPNP); (3) low-power non-penetrating mechanical percussive stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (LPNP); and (4) penetrative stunning using a captive-bolt pistol humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (P). For each animal, blood samples and electroencephalogram recordings were taken before stunning, post-stunning (if applicable) and post-slaughter, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, noradrenaline and β-endorphin were determined. Irrespective of the stunning method, except for percentage change in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, the values of blood parameters attained before and after stunning were not significantly different. The plasma noradrenaline concentration of the HPNP animals was significantly elevated following stunning. Following slaughter, the percentage change of plasma ACTH concentration in the P animals was significantly elevated. Neither stunning method nor sampling time had a significant effect on plasma β-endorphin concentration. On the basis of the EEG results, penetrative stunning seemed to be better in maximising the possibility of post-stunning insensibility, whereas U animals appeared to demonstrate an evident increase in EEG activity which is consistent with the presence of post-slaughter noxious stimuli associated with tissue cut and injury. The U animals had consistently higher, if not the highest, RMS values than did other stunned animals. This indicates a degree of EEG changes associated with stress and pain. On the basis of EEG data, our results suggested that penetrative stunning would be the most reliable method of ensuring insensibility and minimising pain. However, at slaughter, the P animals showed a dramatic elevation in the percentage change of circulating ACTH, suggesting physiological stress response. On a cautionary note, the results are not unequivocal, and it may be that the range of analyses available to researchers at this point of time are not sufficiently specific to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn.

scholarly journals Impact of cleaning regimes on dental water unit contamination

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soad A. Abdallah ◽  
Ahmed I. Khalil
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Dental Chair ◽  
Dental Clinics ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hand Piece ◽  
Viable Bacteria ◽  
Dental Unit Waterlines

Microorganisms that have been identified in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) are of concern because they can cause infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to assess the incidence of microbial contamination in DUWLs before and after intervention to reduce contamination, and to investigate the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Water samples were collected aseptically from the waterlines. The high-speed hand-piece and dental chair units were served by one distillation apparatus, which was fed by the potable tap water of four dental clinics. Different interventions were used: chlorination, flushing before clinics and between patients, draining at the end of the day, and freshly distilled water on a daily basis. There was a significant difference between the level of contamination in the high-speed hand-piece (1.5–2.7 log CFU/ml) and dental chair unit water (2.0–3.5 log CFU/ml). Coliforms (0.9%) E. coli (0.9%) and Pseudomonas (1.8%) were detected during 2008. This study indicates the need to monitor water quality regularly and prevent stagnation in DUWLs to reduce the number of viable bacteria to &lt;100 CFU/ml. We recommend flushing the DUWL for 2 min before the first patient and for 10–20 s between patients, flushing the dental unit at the end of the day and draining it overnight to reduce the development of biofilms, and chlorination of the DUWLs.

Limitations to prediction of maximal oxygen intake

1964 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 919-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loring B. Rowell ◽  
Henry L. Taylor ◽  
Yang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Pulse Rate ◽  
Oxygen Intake ◽  
Physical Conditioning ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Intake ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Normal Men ◽  
Accuracy Of Prediction ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The predictability of maximal O2 intake (max Vo2) was studied in four groups of normal men, 18–24 years of age. Prediction of max Vo2 was made from pulse rate and Vo2 at a single submaximal workload at an ambient temperature of 78 F by use of the nomogram of Åstrand and Ryhming (1954) and underestimated actual max Vo2 by 27 ± 7% and 14 ± 7% in a sedentary group, before and after 2frac12–3 months of physical training, and by 5.6 ȁ 4% in a group of ten endurance athletes. Accuracy of prediction in all groups varied with approximation of pulse rate to 128 beats/min at 50% of max Vo2. Nonspecific stresses increased predictive errors in all groups. Constants b (slope) and A (intercept) in the regression equation Vo2 = bP – A (where P is pulse rate), were determined from Vo2 and pulse measured at four submaximal workloads requiring 13–28 ml O2/kg min. Prediction of max Vo2 by extrapolation of the slope to maximal pulse rate resulted in underestimation of 700–800 ml O2/min. Removal of 14% of circulating hemoglobin decreased max Vo2 by 4% but there was no change in pulse rates or predicted max Vo2. The relationship of RQ to V22 during work provided no reliable basis for prediction of max Vo2. exercise pulse rate, oxygen intake, relationship; pulse rate, oxygen intake relationship in exercise; metabolic rate, maximal aerobic prediction of; aerobic metabolic rate, maximal, prediction of; phlebotomy, effect on maximal oxygen intake, pulse rate; blood loss, effect on maximal oxygen intake, pulse rate; training, effect on maximal oxygen intake, pulse rates; physical conditioning, effect on maximal oxygen intake, pulse rates Submitted on October 4, 1963

scholarly journals Impact of mindfulness for people with arthritis

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinead Brophy ◽  
Roxanne Cooksey ◽  
Jonathan Kennedy ◽  
Helen Davies
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Data Linkage ◽  
Comparison Group ◽  
Effectiveness Analysis ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ◽  
Gp Visits ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo examine the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods193 People with AS were invited to take part in an MBSR 8 week course. The data linkage component of this study examined number of visits to the general practitioner before and after the course in participants and non-participants of the course (500 people taking part in a cohort study but not invited to the course). ResultsOf 193 people invited, 43 (22%) consented and took part in the course, GP records were available for 41 (95%) of MBSR participants and 457 (91%) of the 500 comparison group. There was a mean of 7.6 (median 3) visits to the GP in the 12 month period before the course for those undertaking MBSR and 4.6 (median 0) visits in the 12 month period after the course. This compared with 5.5 (median 0) visits (12 months before a random date) and 4.1 (median 0) visits (12 months after a random date) in the comparison group. Using Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test showed a significant reduction in GP visits in the MBSR group after the course compared to the comparison group. ConclusionsThose who chose to attend an MBSR course had a higher number of visits to the GP before attending the course, than the comparison group. However, after attending the stress reduction course the number of visits to the GP reduced to levels equivalent to the comparison group. This study suggests that mindfulness based stress reduction could be effective in reducing the number of visits to the GP for people with arthritis who regularly see their GP. The findings from this study suggest a full RCT and cost effectiveness analysis is warranted.

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