Occupational Health and Safety Research Group

Overview of the Research Group’s Main Activities: 

The research group focuses on occupational health, ergonomics, and employee well-being. The group analyzes the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints related to physiological risk factors, such as lifting heavy loads and forced postures. It also investigates connections between job satisfaction and emotional well-being, including causes of burnout and work stress. Additionally, it examines the impact of compassion of fatigue and satisfaction, which affect motivation, service quality, and patient safety among healthcare and social sector workers. The research group’s goal is to provide a scientific contribution to better understanding and solving these problems, including in the healthcare sector.

Ongoing Research and Projects

1. 2021-2027.1.01.24-0611 “Physiotherapists’ Job Satisfaction and Mental Health” (01.09.2024–31.08.2028). Responsible executor: M. Mõttus; Tartu Applied Health Sciences University (coordinator); Funder: European Regional Development Fund; allocated amount: 124,703 EUR. The project’s aim is to develop the physiotherapist curriculum at Tartu Applied Health Sciences University. Applied studies conducted during the project enable curriculum changes, as factors influencing physiotherapists’ job satisfaction, mental health indicators, and aspects related to compassion fatigue have been identified. This analysis allows the university to better prepare students for the labor market and ensure the availability of necessary specialists in the healthcare sector.7 
2. “Estonian Physiotherapists’ Job Satisfaction and Mental Health (including emotional well-being, burnout, compassion satisfaction and fatigue)”. The study’s aim is to assess Estonian physiotherapists’ job satisfaction and mental health indicators, including emotional well-being, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and fatigue (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 398/T-22, 17.02.2025). Responsible researcher: M. Mõttus; co-researchers: E. Indermitte, A.-L. Tamm, E. Mengel, Ü. Parm, K. Kastepõld-Tõrs. 
3. “Associations of Estonian Physiotherapists’ Health Behavior (physical activity, sleep quality, and eating habits) with Quality of Life Indicators” (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 402/T-10, 16.06.2025). The study’s aim is to clarify the associations between Estonian physiotherapists’ health behavior (physical activity, sleep quality, eating habits) and quality of life indicators. Responsible researcher: M. Mõttus; co-researchers: E. Mengel, J. Reinmann. 
4. “SA Ida-Viru Central Hospital (IVKH) Staff’s Perception of Physiotherapist Activities and Role in an Interdisciplinary Team” (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 402/T-9, 16.06.2025). The study’s aim is to clarify IVKH staff’s understanding of physiotherapists’ activities and their role in an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Responsible researcher: A.-L. Tamm; co-researchers: A. Mihhailova, K. Kuld, Ü. Parm. 
5. “Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Complaints and Work Ability Before and After Intervention Activities Among Medical Laboratory Workers” (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 333/T-24; 18.01.2021). The study’s aim is to clarify the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) among medical laboratory workers and the impact of ergonomic interventions on the functional state of the musculoskeletal system of the subjects. Responsible researcher: K. Vahur; co-researchers: E. Merisalu, Ü. Parm. 

Completed studies and projects:

• “Needlestick injuries (NSI) and subsequent actions among nurses” (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 390/T-4, 20.05.2024). The aim of the study is to determine the frequency and causes of NSIs among Estonian nurses, as well as subsequent actions taken and awareness of infection risk. Principal investigator: Ü. Parm; co-investigators: A.-L. Tamm, T. Põiklik. 
• “Motivations for establishing private practices, emerging problems, and expectations of support from the Estonian Physiotherapists’ Association and higher education institutions among Estonian physiotherapists” (University of Tartu Human Studies Ethics Committee approval 384/T-1, 20.11.2023). The aim of the study is to identify problems arising when establishing private practices, the motivations for setting up private practices, and expectations of support from the professional association and higher education institutions. Principal investigator: A.-L. Tamm; co-investigators: A.E. Lelle, P. Pärnapuu. 

Articles/publications

• Parm, Ü., Põiklik, T., Tamm, A.-L. (2025). Understanding needlestick injuries among Estonian nurses: Prevalence, contributing conditions, and safety awareness. Nursing Reports, 15(5): 169. DOI: 10.3390/nursrep15050169. 
• Tamm, A.-L., Lelle, A.E., Parm, Ü., Pajuste, P. (2025). Motivations, main challenges and needs of physiotherapists for setting up a private physiotherapy practice in Estonia: A mixed methods study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 16: 439–46. DOI: 10.2147/AMEP.S506222. 
• Vahur, K., Parm, Ü., Merisalu, E. (2024). Exposure to job related risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory workers. Agronomy Research, 22(3): 1351–61. DOI: 10.15159/AR.24.059. 
• Tamm, A.-L., Parm, Ü., Ploomipuu, I., Vahur, K. (2024). Tervisekaitse spetsialisti õppekava vilistlaste hinnang oma erialase arengu toetusele. Terves Kehas Terve Teadmine, 1: 84–91. 
• A.-L., Parm, Ü., Aluoja, A., Tomingas, T. (2022). Changes in the mental health indicators and training opportunities for Estonian elite athletes compared to the COVID-19 isolation period. Sports, 10(5): 76. DOI: 10.3390/sports10050076. 
• Parm, Ü., Aluoja, A., Tomingas, T., Tamm, A.-L. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Estonian elite athletes: Survey on mental health characteristics, training conditions, competition possibilities and perception of supportiveness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084317. 

Science Popularization

• Vahur, K. (2025). Presentation at Riga Stradiņš University (Riga, Latvia) conference: “Risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders amongst Estonian medical laboratory workers.” 
• Vahur, K. (2024). Presentation at the Estonian University of Life Sciences BSE2024 conference: “Exposure to job related risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory workers.” 
• Vahur, K., Salus, M., Valgepea, M. (2024). Presentation at the Ülemiste City Health Conference: “Musculoskeletal complaints among physiotherapists.” 
• Vahur, K., Salus, M., Valgepea, M. (2022). Musculoskeletal complaints among physiotherapists. Tartu Applied Health Sciences University Research Papers Collection XVI. 
• Vahur, K., Ilm, M. (2022). Hand and wrist complaints among laboratory workers. Tartu Applied Health Sciences University Research Papers Collection XVI. 
• Tamm, A.-L., Seerman, S., Parm, Ü. (2020). Emotional well-being and fears of graduates in connection with entering the labour market. Tartu Applied Health Sciences University Research Papers Collection XIV: 116–126. Paar OÜ. 

Student Thesis Related to the Research Group

• Reinmann, J. (Master’s thesis). Supervisors: Mõttus, M. and Mengel, E. 
• Mihhailova, A. and Kuld, K. (Master’s thesis). Supervisors: Tamm, A.-L. and Parm, Ü. 
• Põiklik, T. (2025). Needlestick injuries and subsequent actions among nurses. Supervisors: Parm, Ü. and Tamm, A.-L. 
• Jääger, J. (2024). Methods for preventing musculoskeletal complaints in the work of radiology technologists. Supervisors: Vahur, K. and Sokk, J. 
• Tomingas, T. (2024). Emotional well-being of Estonian elite athletes during and after the COVID-19 state of emergency. Supervisors: Parm, Ü. and Tamm, A.-L. 
• Oras, K. (2023). Work-related musculoskeletal complaints among dental clinic employees. Supervisor: Vahur, K. 
• Ilves, K. (2023). Impact of medical laboratory workers’ working postures on musculoskeletal complaints and the effectiveness of ergonomic intervention. Master’s thesis, Estonian University of Life Sciences. Supervisors: Vahur, K. and Merisalu, E. 
• Ilm, M. (2022). Hand and wrist complaints among laboratory workers. Supervisor: Vahur, K. 
• Valgepea, M. (2022). Musculoskeletal complaints among physiotherapists. Supervisors: Vahur, K. and Salus, M.