The affecting factors and prevalence rate of sick building syndrome in healthcare workers

Abstract

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is defined as symptoms that occur while living or working in a certain building but disappear after moving away from the environment. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of indoor air pollutants on the health of employees, the prevalence of SBS in healthcare workers at the university hospital, its relationship with environmental and personal factors and the respiratory system. A questionnaire was applied to 951 healthcare workers who agreed to participate in the study. Having at least one general, one mucosal and one skin symptom every week in the last 3 months was accepted as SBS. Temperature, CO and CO2 levels and relative humidity were measured in different areas of the hospital. The prevalence of SBS was 62.1%. There was a statistically significant relationship between SBS and having a chronic disease (p [Med-Science 2023; 12(1.000): 87-93]

Keywords

• sick building syndrome
• hospital
• healthcare worker
• indoor air pollution