Assessment of sick building syndrome using visual analog scales

doi:10.1111/ina.13024

Authors:

Dutheil, Frédéric, Vilmant, Audrey, Boudet, Gil, Mermillod, Martial, Lesage, François-Xavier, Jalenques, Isabelle, Valet, Guillaume, Schmidt, Jeannot, Bouillon-Minois, Jean-Baptiste, Pereira, Bruno + 6

Contributors:

Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive (LAPSCO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), Service Santé Travail Environnement CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Gabriel Montpied Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Clermont-Ferrand-CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Association Interentreprises en Santé au Travail La Prévention Active, Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition (LPNC ), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (M.E.N.E.S.R.), Dynamique des capacités humaines et des conduites de santé (EPSYLON), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM), CHU Montpellier, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire Montpellier (CHRU Montpellier), Service d'Addictologie et Pathologie Duelles CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Neuro-Psycho Pharmacologie des Systèmes Dopimanégiques sous-corticaux (NPsy-Sydo), CHU Clermont-Ferrand-Université Clermont Auvergne 2017-2020 (UCA 2017-2020 ), Pôle Urgences CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Unité de Biostatistiques CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Direction de la recherche clinique et de l’innovation CHU Clermont-Ferrand (DRCI), ANR-19-P3IA-0003,MIAI,MIAI @ Grenoble Alpes(2019) + 20

Published in:

ISSN: 0905-6947

Publisher:

HAL CCSD, Wiley

Abstract

International audience ; BackgroundDespite there is no recommendations for assessing symptoms of sick building syndrome, the use of visual analog scales (VAS) seems attractive and appropriate. We aimed to demonstrate the benefits of using VAS for evaluating subjective symptoms of sick building syndrome.MethodWe compared an exposed group to a control group with a one-year follow-up. To assess chronology of symptoms, employees were asked to complete four VAS at different times: after vacations (time 1), beginning of the week—beginning of the day (time 2), beginning of the week—end of the day (time 3), and end of the week—end of the day (time 4). Measurements were repeated before and after ventilation work for the exposed group and at the same time in the control group without intervention. Confounding factors were assessed.ResultsWe included 36 employees (21 in the exposed group and 15 in the control group). Both groups were comparable. Prior to ventilation work, the exposed group had more subjective symptoms than the control group with a chronology of symptoms. After ventilation work, symptoms did not differ between groups, and most symptoms decreased within the exposed group.Practical ImplicationThe use of VAS provided reliable data for assessing sick building syndrome and showed a dose-response relationship between occupational exposure and symptoms.