Medical staff's exposure to solid particles and health impact survey

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the current situation of exposure of solid particles in medical staff and the occurrence of related diseases, and to understand the distribution characteristics of occupational exposure and the influencing factors. Methods: In August 2016, the stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select three tertiary general hospitals with different regions, different administrative levels and departments in Shandong Province. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted on the basic situation of the staff of the hospital, the status of exposure to occupational hazards and the health effects. Two-class logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between medical staff's solid particle contact and occupational health effects. In August 2016, the stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select three tertiary general hospitals with different regions, different administrative levels and departments in Shandong Province, which were in contact with the basic conditions and occupational hazards of the staff of the hospital. Current situation and health impacts were conducted face-to-face questionnaires. Two-class logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between medical staff's solid particle contact and occupational health effects. Results: The overall contact rate of solid particles of medical staff was 41.5% (1843/4 446) , and the solid particles with the highest contact rate were 28.2% (1254/4 446) of talc dust. There was a statistically significant difference in the contact rate of solid particles between medical staff of different occupations, current working age, education and hospital type (χ(2)=76.30, 41.26, 26.16, 188.97, P<0.05) . There were significant differences in the conditions and types of solid particles in different departments (χ(2)=740.23, P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the incidence of allergic asthma, chronic tracheobronchitis and dermatitis was higher in the contact group medical staff (P<0.05) . Contact with zirconia dust, talc dust, cotton dust is a risk factor for dermatitis in medical staff (OR=2.09, 1.45, 1.34) ; exposure to zirconia dust and cotton dust is a risk factor for chronic tracheobronchitis in medical staff (OR=2.38, 1.66) ; exposure to zirconia dust, gypsum dust is a risk factor for allergic asthma in medical staff (OR=3.90, 1.52) . Conclusion: The contact rate of solid particles in medical staff is high, and there are many types of contact. Frequent contacted with solid particles is a dangerous cause of related diseases. The working environment of medical staff should be further monitored and be strengthen the targeted protective measures and regulatory systems for the exposure of medical personnel to solid particles.