Clinical Research Directory

Neck Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Turkish Endodontists

This observational study aims to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of neck musculoskeletal symptoms among Turkish endodontists. Endodontists are exposed to prolonged static postures and repetitive movements during clinical procedures, which may increase the risk of neck-related disorders. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, occupational factors, ergonomic conditions, and neck pain. In addition, physical assessments including cervical range of motion, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and proprioception will be performed using validated measurement tools. The study also aims to identify factors associated with neck pain, such as working conditions, posture, and clinical experience. The findings may help improve preventive strategies, ergonomic recommendations, and rehabilitation approaches for dental professionals.

Confirming the Effects of Acupuncture Treatments to Relieve Symptoms of Gulf War Illness

This unblinded Phase II clinical trial will test the effects of individualized acupuncture treatments offered in extant acupuncture practices in the community; practitioners will have had at least 5 years of experience plus additional training provided by the study. Veterans with diagnosed symptoms of Gulf War Illness will be randomized to either six months of biweekly acupuncture treatments (group 1, n=100) or 2 months of waitlist followed by weekly acupuncture treatments (group 2, n=100). Measurements were taken at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months. The primary outcome is the SF-36 physical component scale score (SF-36P).

Association Between Office Ergonomics, Work Organization, and Musculoskeletal Complaints in Medical Secretaries

Work-related musculoskeletal complaints are among the most common occupational health issues affecting healthcare staff, especially medical secretaries who spend long hours in sedentary positions and repetitive office tasks. This observational, cross-sectional study aims to investigate the relationship between office ergonomics, work organization, and musculoskeletal system complaints among medical secretaries. Participants will complete a structured questionnaire that includes demographic and occupational data, ergonomic and work organization characteristics (such as desk and chair setup, posture, computer use, and daily working hours), and self-reported measures of pain and well-being. Postural alignment will be evaluated using the New York Posture Rating Scale (NYPRS), while pain intensity will be assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). In addition, participants' physical activity level, disability score and stress level will be recorded to examine their potential influence on musculoskeletal symptoms. The study aims to determine whether poor ergonomic conditions, inadequate posture, low physical activity, and high stress are associated with increased musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and lower back regions. This study is observational and does not include any intervention or experimental treatment. All participation will be voluntary, and data will be collected anonymously. The findings are expected to contribute to preventive strategies and ergonomic improvements to enhance occupational health and comfort among medical secretaries working in healthcare institutions.

Active Pauses for Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention in Workers

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if short exercise breaks at work can prevent muscle and joint pain in workers. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do strength exercises help workers move better and feel less pain? Are strength exercises better than stretching exercises for worker health? Researchers will compare a strength exercise program to a mobility (stretching) program to see which one works better to improve physical health and work ability. Participants will: Perform short exercise breaks (5 minutes) at their workplace every day for 8 weeks. Attend one supervised session per week to learn the exercises. Complete simple physical tests (like standing up from a chair) and answer surveys about their health at the start and end of the study.

Development of Multidimensional Screening Tool for WMSDs

The purpose of this study is to develop a multidimensional screening tool for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The study involves a cross-sectional survey of approximately 250 workers in the bio-pharmaceutical industry to assess the tool's structural validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and measurement invariance following COSMIN guidelines.

T2 Biomarkers Predictive Value in Occupational Asthma After Cessation of Exposure.

Occupational exposure is known to cause 15% of asthma cases. The main treatment for occupational asthma is to stop exposure if possible. Although, remission of occupational asthma only occurs in only 30 % of patients after cessation of exposure. There is currently no way of predicting which patients will go into remission after cessation of exposure. In non-occupational asthma, the inflammatory biomarker T2 has allowed the entry into personalized medicine and can predict future exacerbations. The investigators hypothesize that T2 biomarkers could be predictive markers for remission in occupational asthma after exposure cessation. The investigators intend to carry out a follow-up study at the University Hospital of Strasbourg to perform the non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness test to assess remission in patients diagnosed with occupational asthma and to compare baseline T2 biomarkers in remission and non remission patients.

ARPE Training for Manual Handling Workers: A Quasi-Experimental Study on Ergonomic Knowledge and Practice

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether an Augmented Reality-based ergonomic training module (ARPE) can improve ergonomic knowledge, self-prevention, and self-evaluation practices among adult manual material handling (MMH) workers in warehouses. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the ARPE training module improve workers' ergonomic knowledge? Does it enhance their ability to prevent and assess risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)? Researchers will compare an intervention group using the ARPE module with a control group receiving traditional training based on national ergonomic guidelines to see if the AR module leads to better outcomes. Participants will: Attend a briefing and use the ARPE training via the MAKAR XR app Complete self-assessment questionnaires at baseline, week 1, and week 6 Receive reminders and follow-ups through WhatsApp

Nutrition Apps in Occupational Healthcare (Pilot Study of the FOODNUTRI Project)

The aim of this study is to investigate (1) the user experiences and usability of the nutrition apps (the Finnish Nutrition Navigator and the Finnish Nutrition Path) in occupational health care from the perspective of both professionals and customers, (2) the impact on diet, eating behavior, perceived well-being (perceived state of health, quality of life, work and functional ability) and anthropometric indicators compared to treatment as usual, and (3) cost-effectiveness of using the nutrition apps.

The Relationship Between Ergonomic Knowledge of Healthcare Professionals and Musculoskeletal Disorders

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the ergonomic awareness levels of Healthcare Workers and musculoskeletal disorders.

Cost-effectiveness, Impact of a Workplace-based Intervention to Reduce Occupational Sitting Time in Office-based Workers

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact and cost effectiveness of a workplace-based intervention aimed at reducing prolonged occupational sitting among office-based workers. The study will be conducted in three phases. Phase I: is an Integrative review on economic evaluations of workplace-based interventions for reducing occupational sitting time. Phase II: is a secondary analysis of register data within the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC-1966). This is aimed at evaluating the association between prolonged sitting time with societal and/or organization economic perspective across different occupational categories at midlife. Phase III will be a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) of an office-based intervention designed to reduce prolonged occupational sitting time. The sample for the RCT will be 140 office-based workers - 70 participants will be enrolled in the control group whilst 70 participants will be enrolled within the intervention group. The study will be conducted from 2021 to 2025. An article-based dissertation will be completed at the end of the study, this will be mainly based on four articles that will be published in international peer reviewed journals.