韩城市青少年近视眼患病率及其相关因素分析

目的 探讨青少年人群近视眼患病率及其相关因素,为青少年近视眼的预防和控制提供思路.方法 采用随机分层整群抽样的方法,对陕西省韩城市城区小学、初中、高中共3所学校6 ～ 19岁的1 514名学生进行问卷调查及眼科相关检查.结果 韩城市城区小学生近视眼患病率为33.5％,初中生为68.3％,高中生为74.1％.随着学龄增长,近视眼患病率呈增长趋势(趋势x2=182.39,P ＜0.001);男生近视眼患病率为51.9％,女生为57.7％,男女生近视眼患病率的差别有统计学意义(x2=4.81,P＜0.05).Logistic回归分析显示:女性(OR=1.21,95％CI:1.33 ～ 1.58,P=0.046),年龄增长(OR =8.68,95％ CI:5.37 ～14.04,P＜0.001),每天课后做作业时间较长(OR=1.40,95％ CI:1.04～1.89,P=0.025),父亲有高度近视眼病史(OR =4.21,95％ CI:1.64 ～ 10.80,P=0.003),母亲有高度近视眼病史(OR =8.38,95％ CI:1.75 ～40.11,P=0.008)是近视眼患病的危险因素,而每天户外活动时间较长则对近视眼患病具有保护作用(OR =0.64,95％ CI:0.46～0.89,P=0.007).结论 从小学到高中,随着学龄的增加,青少年近视眼患病率呈增高的趋势,女生近视眼患病率高于男生.提高学习效率、避免长时间近距离用眼、增加户外活动时间等是预防、控制青少年近视眼发生与发展的有效措施.     

甘肃省回族和东乡族朝觐人群高尿酸血症患病情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解甘肃省朝觐人群血尿酸水平及高尿酸血症患病情况,并研究其相关因素,为防治高尿酸血症提供科学依据.方法 对2010年7月赴麦加朝觐的1 995例朝觐体检者的血尿酸及身高、体重、血压、空腹血糖、丙氨酸转氨酶、天氡氨酸转氨酶、尿素氮、肌酐水平进行统计分析.结果 该朝觐人群血尿酸水平及高尿酸血症检出率为:同族男性(354.00±78.80)μmol/L和19.25％,女性(284.91±72.31)μmol/L和14.88％;东乡族男性(365.39±88.02) μmol/L和26.72％,女性(285.64±86.39) μmol/L和15.17％.回族、东乡族男性血尿酸水平及高尿酸血症患病率均明显高于女性,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).东乡族男性高尿酸血症患病率明显高于回族男性,差异有统计学意义(x2=-6.564,P＜0.05),女性间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).二项分类的非条件logistic回归分析结果显示,民族(OR=1.37,95％CI:1.03～1.82)、体质指数(OR=2.76,95％ CI:1.99～3.82)、血压(OR=1.35,95％CI:1.05～1.73)、丙氨酸转氨酶(OR=1.57,95％CI:1.17～2.10)、尿素氮(OR=1.70,95％CI:1.31～2.20)、肌酐(OR=1 1.26,95％CI:3.00～42.20)均与高尿酸血症相关.结论 甘肃省朝觐穆斯林人群高尿酸血症患病率较高,且民族、体质指数、血压及肝肾功能均与该人群的高尿酸血症患病率相关.     

银川市回族和汉族老年人群空腹血糖异常情况

目的 研究银川市回族和汉族老年人群空腹血糖(FPG)异常的流行情况和影响因素,为老年人糖尿病的防治提供依据.方法 于2011年6月,采用整样随机抽样的方法对宁夏银川市5个社区年龄≥60岁的1 113名老年居民进行问卷调查(一般情况、病史及吸烟、饮酒情况等)、体格检查和生化指标(血脂、血糖)检测.结果 银川市老年人群FPG异常率为27.8％(309/11 13).单因素分析结果显示,汉族(x2=5.343,P=0.021)、非在婚状态(x2=3.890,P=0.049)、饮酒(x2=17.884,P＜0.01)、超重肥胖(x2=12.522,P=0.002)、高血压病史(x2=10.154,P=0.001)、血清总胆固醇水平高(x2=17.692,P＜0.01)和甘油三酯水平高(x2=25.559,P＜0.0)的人群FPG异常率高.多因素非条件logistic回归分析结果显示,民族(OR=0.720,95％CI:0.521～0.995)、饮酒(OR=1.980,95％CI:1.329～2.950)、体质指数(OR=1.241,95％CI:1.026～1.501)、高血压病史(OR=1.358,95％CI:1.031～1.789)、血清总胆固醇(OR=1.301,95％CI:1.053～1.607)和血清甘油三酯(OR =1.308,95％CI:1.109～1.543)为FPG异常的影响因素.结论 银川市老年人群FPG异常率较高,民族、饮酒、体质指数、高血压病史、血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯是FPG异常的影响因素.     

新疆不同民族心脏瓣膜病流行病学调查

目的 了解新疆不同民族心脏瓣膜病(VHD)流行现状.方法 采用整群抽样法,对新疆乌鲁木齐市、克拉玛依市、阜康市、吐鲁番地区、和田地区、阿勒泰地区、伊犁哈萨克自治州汉、维吾尔(维)和哈萨克(哈)族35岁以上人群心血管疾病流行病学调查.结果 共随机抽取汉、维和哈族人群14618名,实际完成调查人数共14 478名.共检出VHD 1397人,总患病率标准化后为7.67％,其中男性为7.31％,女性为8.00％,性别差异无统计学意义(x2=0.005,P=0.943);汉、维、哈族VHD患病率标准化后分别为10.57％、2.36％、12.22％,维族VHD患病率明显低于哈族与汉族(x2=3.90,P=0.000);不同年龄组VHD患病率随年龄增长呈升高趋势(x2=8.932,P=0.000);全部VHD患者中合并高血压达63.20％、糖尿病7.60％、冠心病7.50％、房颤3.20％.结论 新疆成年人VHD患病率随年龄增加呈增多趋势,且存在民族差异.     

徐州市区糖尿病及糖调节受损患病现况调查及危险因素分析

目的 了解徐州市区居民的糖尿病(DM)及糖调节受损(IGR)患病情况,分析相关的危险因素,为制定进一步的防治策略及工作提供相关科学依据.方法 2011年9月至2012年3月,针对徐州市区20岁及以上常住人口,采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,共调查2446人,其中男性1 197例,女性1 249例,对该人群进行问卷调查,并进行空腹血糖测定、口服葡萄糖耐量试验(OGTT),测量身高、体重、腰围、臀围、血压,计算体质指数(BMI)、腰臀比,测定总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和血尿酸(UA)水平.采用1999年世界卫生组织(WHO)制定的DM及IGR诊断标准,计算患病率.对DM相关危险因素进行多因素非条件logistic回归分析.结果 徐州市区居民DM患病率为14.88％,标化率为12.33％,其中男性为12.15％,女性为12.52％,差异无统计学意义(x2=0.467,P＞0.05).IGR患病率为19.91％,标化率为17.59％,其中男性为17.55％,女性为17.68％,差异无统计学意义(x2=0.139,P＞0.05).多因素非条件logistic回归分析结果发现,中心性肥胖(OR=2.036,95％CI:1.525～2.718)、超重和肥胖(OR=1.870,95％CI:1.418～2.465)、年龄(OR=1.718,95％CI:1.267～2.329)、运动量少(OR=1.565,95％CI:1.072～1.395)、高血脂[高TG(OR=1.502,95％CI:1.052～2.144)、高TC(OR =1.289,95％ CI:1.153～1.428)、高LDL-C(OR=1.560,95％ CI:1.283～1.907)]、高血压(OR=1.474,95％CI:1.252～1.778)、DM家族史(OR=1.283,95％CI:1.153～1.428)、主食摄入量大(OR=1.010,95％CI:1.001～1.019)为DM的重要危险因素.结论 徐州市DM及IGR人群患病率明显增高,中心性肥胖、超重和肥胖、年龄增长及血脂水平、血压增高可能是导致DM患病率升高的主要原因.     

公务员人群中脂肪肝患病影响因素的病例对照研究

目的 了解公务员脂肪肝患病情况及其影响因素,探讨预防发病的干预措施.方法 于2008年9～12月,采用整群抽样的方法对天津市某区公务员进行健康状况及影响因素的问卷调查.应用SPSS17.0建立Logistic回归模型,对公务员人群的脂肪肝影响因素进行分析.结果 公务员人群中脂肪肝患病率为17.86％.多因素分析结果显示脂肪肝患病影响因素有:年龄(OR=0.074,95％CI:1.050～1.105)、性别(OR =-1.207,95％CI:0.223～0.402)、体重指数(OR=0.385,95％CI:1.360～1.587)、饮酒(OR=0.990,95％CI:1.459～4.964)、吸烟(OR=0.852,95％CI:1.485～3.707)、睡眠时间(OR=-0.165,95％CI:0.723～0.995)、按时吃饭情况(OR=0.693,95％CI:1.582～2.530)、高血压(OR=1.340,95％CI:3.031～4.817)、高血脂(OR=1.431,95％CI:2.700～6.483)、腰臀比(OR=2.734,95％CI:6.098～18.920)、亚健康分值(OR=-0.048,95％CI:0.936～0.970).结论 公务员人群脂肪肝患病率较高,公务员是各种慢性病发病的高危人群,是今后开展健康管理的重点群体.     

云南省6县（区）常住居民代谢综合征患病率及其影响因素分析

目的 研究云南省6县（区）≥18岁常住居民代谢综合征（MS）流行特征及其影响因素,为当地MS的防治提供科学依据.方法 2010年10-12月,采用多阶段分层整群抽样的方法对云南省6个国家疾病监测点≥18岁常住居民3 600人开展问卷调查、体格检查及生化指标检测.依据2007年《中国成人血脂异常防治指南》制定的MS诊断标准进行诊断,应用多因素非条件logistic回归分析MS的影响因素.结果 共筛查出568例MS患者,患病率为15.8％,标化患病率为14.8％.男性MS患病率为17.5％,明显高于女性（14.2％）,差异有统计学意义（x2=7.38,P=0.007）.18～岁（青年组）、45～岁（中年组）、60岁及以上（老年组）人群MS患病率分别为11.2％、23.0％和21.7％.中年组、老年组患病率相当,均明显高于青年组,差异有统计学意义（x2值分别为73.25和39.17,P＜0.01）.男性中年组MS患病率最高（23.2％）,女性随年龄增长患病率呈上升趋势（趋势x2值为126.14,P＜0.01）.青年组男性MS患病率（16.0％）明显高于女性（6.8％）,差异有统计学意义（x2=45.62,P＜0.01）,老年组女性（29.6％）明显高于男性（13.2％）,差异有统计学意义（x2=20.02,P＜0.01）.MS各组分检出率从高到低依次为低HDL-C（34.4％）、血压升高（29.3％）、高TG（28.7％）、血糖异常（18.0％）、中心性肥胖（14.4％）.多因素非条件logistic回归分析显示,中年组、老年组MS的患病风险高于青年组（OR=2.496,95％ CI：1.979～3.150; OR=2.351,95％CI：1.688～3.274）;吸烟者患病风险高于不吸烟者（OR=1.299,95％CI：1.011～1.668）;过量饮酒者患病风险高于不饮酒者（OR=1.572,95％CI：1.059～2.334）;静态生活方式者患病风险高（OR=1.953,95％CI：1.185～3.219）;有高血压家族史、糖尿病家族史者患病风险高于没有家族史者（OR=1.584,95％CI：1.232～2.038; OR=2.157,95％CI：1.322～3.518）.汉族MS的患病风险高于其他少数民族（OR=0.661,95％CI：0.520～0.840）.结论 云南省居民MS患病率较高,建议根据可改变的危险因素采取综合防控措施,以降低MS相关慢性病带来的健康损失.     

宜昌市夷陵区农村居民胆石症流行状况及影响因素分析

目的 了解宜昌市夷陵区农村居民胆石症的患病情况及影响因素,为胆石症的防治提供科学依据.方法 采用分层整群抽样的方法,于2008年2月对9 871名35岁以上宜昌市夷陵区的农村居民进行问卷调查、体格检查和实验室检查.结果 胆石症患者共1 134人,患病率为11.52％,年龄标化患病率为11.55％.其中男性年龄标化率为9.90％,女性年龄标化率为12.86％,女性患病率明显高于男性,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).移民和非移民的胆石症患病率分别为10.67％和11.73％,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,胆石症的影响因素有女性(OR=1.291,95％CI:1.131～1.475)、年龄(OR=1.772,95％ CI:1.436～2.185)、每周食用乳制品5～7 d(OR=1.603,95％ CI:1.198～2.145)、炒菜全用猪油(OR=1.656,95％CI:1.005～2.728)、糖尿病(OR=1.487,95％ CI:1.103～2.005)、肥胖(OR=1.501,95％ CI:1.183～1.905).结论 宜昌市夷陵区农村居民的胆石症患病率较高,性别、年龄、乳制品、猪油、糖尿病和肥胖是胆石症的主要影响因素.     

乌拉盖管理区高血压流行现状及影响因素分析

目的 了解乌拉盖管理区高血压患病、治疗与控制及相关危险因素,为内蒙古地区高血压社区防治策略的改进提供依据.方法 随机抽样抽取乌拉盖年龄≥10岁的1103名居民进行问卷调查及体格检查,采用多因素logistic回归分析高血压患病、治疗与控制的影响因素.结果 1103人中,高血压患病率为44.8％(标化率43.6％),知晓率为59.7％(标化率48.5％),治疗率为48.6％(标化率38.5％),控制率为14.6％(标化率11.7％).多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,男性(OR=1.67,95％CI:1.25～2.23,P＜0.01)、高年龄(35～＜55岁:OR=3.08,95％CI:2.10～4.52,P＜0.01;≥55岁:OR=5.43,95％CI1:3.55～8.30,P＜0.01)、中心性肥胖(OR =2.57,95％CI:1.92～3.45,P＜0.01)为高血压患病的危险因素,奶制品摄入200～＜300 g/d(OR=0.55,95％CI:0.35～0.85,P＜0.01)为保护因素;高年龄(35～＜55岁:OR=0.13,95％CI:0.05～0.40,P＜0.01;≥55岁:OR=0.08,95％CI:0.03～0.25,P＜0.01)、中心性肥胖(OR=0.61,95％CI:0.39～0.97,P＜0.05)、合并糖尿病(OR=0.37,95％CI:0.17～0.80,P＜0.05)、合并血脂异常(OR=0.38,95％CI:0.22～0.65,P＜0.01)为高血压治疗的保护因素,经常吸烟(OR=3.10,95％CI:1.80～5.33,P＜0.01)为危险因素;经常吸烟(OR=5.35,95％CI:1.88～15.15,P＜0.01)为高血压控制的危险因素,合并糖尿病(OR=0.34,95％CI:0.18～0.66,P＜0.01)为保护因素.结论 内蒙古乌拉盖管理区高血压患病率较高,知晓率、治疗率与控制率仍有待提高.     

合肥市知识分子人群冠心病患病及危险因素分析

目的 分析安徽省合肥市知识分子人群冠心病(CHD)的患病情况及主要危险因素,为冠心病防治提供依据.方法 采用整群抽样方法 ,对合肥市4 726名35岁以上知识分子进行冠心病患病情况调查.比较不同年龄、性别的冠心病患病率,同时进行相关危险因素Logistic回归分析.结果 调查对象中共检出冠心病患者265例,患病率为5.6%;其中男性为5.1%,女性为6.9%,女性高于男性(χ2=6.126,P<0.05);男女性患病率均随年龄增长呈增加趋势,男性χ2=149.056,P<0.001;女性χ2=111.099,P<0.001).多因素分析显示,冠心病的主要危险因素为年龄(OR=3.627,95%CI=2.905～4.529,P=0.000)、性别(OR=0.692,95%CI=0.501～0.955,P=0.025)、冠心病家族史(OR=2.347,95%CI=1.656～3.327,P=0.000)、高血压(OR=1.537,95%CI=1.144～2.064,P=0.004)、腰臀比(OR=1.463,95%CI=1.091～1.961,P=0.011)、食盐摄入(OR=1.236,95%CI=1.009～1.516,P=0.041).结论 合肥市知识分子人群冠心病患病率较高,应作为冠心病高危人群进行干预预防.     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.     

Psychopathological features of a patient population of targets of workplace bullying

BACKGROUND: A strong association between workplace bullying and subsequent anxiety and depression, indicated by empirical research, suggests that bullying is an aetiological factor for mental health problems. AIMS: To evaluate levels of stress and anxiety-depression disorder developed by targets of workplace bullying together with outcome at 12 months and to characterize this population in terms of psychopathology and sociodemographic features. METHODS: Forty-eight patients (36 women and 12 men) meeting Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror criteria for bullying were included in a prospective study. Evaluations were performed at first consultation and at 12 months using a standard clinical interview, a visual analogue scale of stress, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale, the Beech scale of stress in the workplace and a projective test (Picture-Frustration Study). RESULTS: At first consultation, 81% of patients showed high levels of perceived stress at work and 83 and 52% presented with anxiety or depression, respectively. At 12 months, only 19% of working patients expressed a feeling of stress at work. There was a significant change in symptoms of anxiety while there was no change in symptoms of depression. Stress at work and depression influenced significatively capacity to go back to work. At 12-month assessments, workers showed a significantly better score on the HAD scale than non-workers. Over half the targets presented a neuroticism-related predominant personality trait. CONCLUSION: Workplace bullying can have severe mental health repercussions, triggering serious and persistent underlying disorders.     

The rise and fall in incidence of malignant mesothelioma from a British Naval Dockyard, 1979-1999

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Britain is predicted to rise over the next 15-25 years because of past failure to protect the workforce against inhalation of asbestos. In British Naval dockyards, alternative insulation materials and respiratory protection were introduced from the mid-1960s. Aims This study was carried out to investigate the effects of these control measures on mesothelioma deaths in dockyard workers. METHODS: Cases of mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum between 1979 and 1999 in workers from the Devonport Naval Dockyard, south-west England, were sought from coroners' and medico-legal records. RESULTS: Three hundred and one cases were identified, 7% peritoneal. The peak incidence occurred in 1991 with 25 cases per annum (quadratic model fit R(2) = 74.2%, P < 0.001) and we predict that by 2003 the incidence will fall to fewer than five cases per annum. The mean time between first exposure and presentation was 48.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 47.3-49.8], but this was significantly shorter in the more heavily exposed trades, when compared with the less heavily exposed (42 years, 95% CI = 39.0-45.0, versus 49.5 years, 95% CI = 48.2-50.9). Those with higher exposure were also at significantly greater risk of peritoneal disease (P < 0.023, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: The reduction in incidence of mesothelioma is greater than can be accounted for by reduction in numbers of dockyard workers over the last 50 years. Changes in insulation materials and improved industrial hygiene measures introduced into the Devonport Dockyard from the mid-1960s have resulted in an earlier decline in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma than that predicted for the British workforce as a whole.     

Organophosphate toxicity and occupational exposure

The ubiquitous organophosphates present a continuing health hazard in agriculture, public health eradication programmes and as chemical warfare agents. Despite significant progress in understanding the potential mechanisms of toxicity far beyond the commonly accepted mechanism of cholinesterase inhibition in intentional exposures, the precise health effects following occupational exposures are yet to be completely defined. A much greater understanding exists of the clinical features of organophosphate poisoning. These are characterized by a triphasic response involving an initial acute cholinergic phase, an intermediate syndrome (both associated with high mortality) and a disabling but non-lethal delayed polyneuropathy. The delayed polyneuropathy may occur in the absence of the cholinergic or intermediate phases. However, progress is still required in order to improve the quantification and assessment of occupational exposures and the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Finally, evidence-based guidelines for appropriate or optimal therapeutic interventions following poisoning are required urgently and collaborative work with colleagues in developing countries, where the occurrence of organophosphate exposures is more frequent, may provide the answers.     

Miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners

This report documents a case series of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in miners at a deep underground metalliferous mine in tropical arid Australia. During the summer months of February and March 1999, all cases of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs in underground miners seen at the mine's medical centre were clinically examined and administered a questionnaire. Twenty-five patients were seen, an incidence of 56.4 cases per million man-hours. Miliaria rubra was most often located between the ankle and knee (88% of cases). Twenty-four percent had concurrent folliculitis and 20% had concurrent tinea. Thirty-two percent had a personal history of asthma. Walking through ground-water and splashing of the legs was common. Three to 4 weeks of sedentary duties in air conditioning was generally required to achieve resolution of miliaria rubra. The incidence of miliaria rubra of the lower limbs is 38% of the incidence of heat exhaustion at the same mine. The length of disablement is greater, however. Atopics may be at increased risk of miliaria rubra. Control measures are discussed.     

Planning research

The starting point for any research project should be a question.Once this has been defined and the relevant scientific literaturereviewed, a protocol should be drawn up. This will be used notonly as a guide to the conduct of the study and in the preparationof the final report, but also in seeking any financial supportand approvals that are required for the investigation. A protocolis normally arranged in sections covering the background tothe study, the question(s) that it will address, the methodsthat will be used for the collection and analysis of data, thestatistical power of the investigation (where relevant), anyethical considerations, and the financial input that will beneeded. A pilot study is often helpful where aspects of thestudy method are untried or of uncertainvalidity.     

Stress in the Norwegian police service

BACKGROUND: High levels of stress have been attributed to the conditions of police work, but there is little empirical evidence for this. AIMS: To develop a new instrument to measure job stress in the police; to assess the most severe and frequent police stressors; to compare levels of stress according to the demographic and organizational factors; and to study stress in relation to personality traits, work locus of control and coping strategies. METHODS: A comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of 3272 Norwegian police at all hierarchical levels, including the Norwegian Police Stress Survey (NPSS), the Job Stress Survey, the Basic Character Inventory, the Work Locus of Control Scale, and the Coping Strategies Scale. RESULTS: Work injuries were appraised as the most stressful but least frequent stressor and job pressure was reported the least severe but most frequent stressor. Females experienced job stressors less frequently, but appraised them as more severe than men did. Older police officers reported more job pressure severity and fewer work injuries. The police in districts where peer support was planned but not implemented, and who worked in districts with more than 50,000 inhabitants, perceived the lack of support more severely than others. The correlations between stress and personality traits, work locus of control, and coping were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The NPSS captures police-specific stressors that are not adequately measured by global stress instruments. The study of stress in police work should preferably involve a nationwide use of police-specific stress instruments.