Social welfare of workers affected by a chronic lung disease

Abstract

We try to verify if there are variables of social welfare able to differentiate chronically ill patients affected by asbestos poisoning from healthy people. We used the scale of Hahn, Cella, Bode and Hanharan, developed to measure the social welfare. After reviewing the literature we intend to verify first the psychometric properties of the previously mentioned scale by using a sample of patients affected, 110, as well as a comparison group of 70 people matched by age and gender blocks, who have been employees of the largest Spanish naval organization. The results indicate a very high reliability of the instrument, and a high concurrent validity of the questionnaire SCL-90. Next an Anova is performed obtaining that, contrary to expectations from the literature, only a variation occurs in three variables: negative social companionship, limitations, and satisfaction. This research opens the possibility for future research studying the age variable as a mediator of social welfare. Finally, the limitations of the study and possible future projects are discussed.

Keywords

• asbestos
• chronic diseases
• lung cancer
• occupational health
• quality of life