Prevalence of the sick building syndrome in hospitals in relation to environmental factors
a systematic literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2019.53.1.850Keywords:
sick building syndrome, health care workers, pollutantsAbstract
Introduction: Environmental factors play an important role in preserving and strengthening health. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the frequency of the sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in hospital staff.
Methods: A descriptive research method was used. A systematic overview of professional and scientific literature was conducted in the following databases: COBIB.SI, Google Scholar, Digital Library Dlib.si, CIHAHL, Cochrane Library and PubMed. An advanced search was conducted with Boolean logic operators AND / IN, in the combination of keywords: 'sindrom bolnih stavb', 'bolnišnice', 'zdravstveni delavci', 'okoljski dejavniki', 'sick building syndrome', 'hospitals', 'health care workers', environmental factors'. From the total of 238 results, 11 articles were included in the final analysis. The PRISMA methodology was used for an overview of databases. A content integrative analysis of research findings was conducted.
Results: The findings of the study were grouped into four content categories: (1) the frequency of SBS symptoms, (2) the variety of SBS symptoms, (3) environmental factors associated with the frequency of symptoms of SBS and (4) environmental factors in relation to other factors for the development of SBS.
Discussion and conclusion: Research shows that the frequency of SBS symptoms among employees in hospitals is high. Environmental factors are associated with the emergence of SBS symptoms among hospital employees. In Slovenia, a survey should be conducted that would study the effect of environmental factors on the frequency of SBS symptoms in employees in hospitals.
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