Prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms and its associated factors among bank employees in Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal

Abstract

A cross‐sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of sick building syndrome symptoms and its associated factors among bank employees. Data were collected through a self‐administered MM040NA questionnaire among 234 employees of commercial banks in Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal. The prevalence of general, ocular, respiratory, and dermal sick building syndrome symptoms was 47.6%, 11.9%, 11.9%, and 8.1%, respectively. The perceived indoor physical environment was a significant predictor of sick building syndrome symptoms. Besides this, age, disturbance from temperature and work pressure were significantly associated with general symptoms. Ocular symptoms were significantly associated with disturbance from noise at their workplaces and support from fellow workers. Respiratory symptoms were significantly associated with the time spent working with a photocopy machine. Proper maintenance of room temperature, noise control, good ventilation system, and promotion of supportive psychosocial working environment at banks is important to prevent and control the suffering of employees from SBS symptoms.

Assessment of sick building syndrome using visual analog scales

“…Carbon dioxide and poor ventilation seem to be the main causes of SBS 6,36 . In line with the literature, we demonstrated the impact of insufficient ventilation on symptoms 37 . However, other possible reasons remain unclear.…”

“…6,36 In line with the literature, we demonstrated the impact of insufficient ventilation on symptoms. 37 38,39 The dose-response relationship is typically evaluated to investigate the causes of the onset of SBS symptoms.…”

Eczema, facial erythema, and seborrheic dermatitis symptoms among young adults in China in relation to ambient air pollution, climate, and home environment

“…24 Studies with focus on sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms have reported a 3%-9% prevalence of facial skin symptoms (dry or flushed facial skin, facial rash, facial itching, or facial skin irritation) in Sweden. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Studies from other countries, including Ethiopia, 32 Japan, 33 and Nepal, 34 reported a lower prevalence of dry or flushed facial skin, from 1% to 4%. Seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp as well as face, retro-auricular area, and the upper chest, causing flaking, scaling, inflammation, and pruritus, and can have marked erythema.…”

COVİD-19, HASTA BİNA SENDROMU ve STRES

“…Algılanan iç mekân fiziksel çevre ise, hasta bina sendromu semptomlarının önemli bir öngörücüsü olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra yaş, sıcaklıktan rahatsızlık ve iş basıncı, genel semptomlarla önemli ölçüde ilişkilendirilmiş ve çalışanların hasta bina sendomu semptomlarından muzdarip olmasını önlemek ve kontrol etmek için oda sıcaklığının, gürültü kontrolünün, iyi havalandırma sisteminin uygun şekilde korunması ve bankalarda destekleyici psikososyal çalışma ortamının teşvik edilmesinin önemli olduğu değerlendirilmiştir (Dhungana, Chalise, 2020). Amerikan Çevre Koruma Ajansı (EPA) verilerine göre ilk 10 sağlık sorunu arasında Hasta Bina Sendromunun, 4. sırada yer aldığı ve mutlaka mücadele edilmesi gerektiği belirtilmektedir (Agca, 2005).…”