Impact of respiratory functions, physical activity levels, quality of life and daily life activities of painters working in auto painting sector

Şahin Par S., Impact of Respiratory Functions, Physical Activity Levels, Quality of Life and Daily Life Activities of Painters Working in Auto Painting Sector, Hacettepe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences Institute Master Thesis in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program, Ankara, 2018. Occupational lung diseases continue to be a major public health problem in the world and in our country. We aimed to assess the impact of respiratory functions, physical activity levels, quality of life and daily life activities of auto painters who are affected by exposure. Our work included 50 auto painters and 50 healthy individuals between 18-45 years of age. Individuals' demographic information and heart rate, blood pressure, and saturation measurements were recorded. Respiratory functions were measured with portable spirometry. Physical activity levels were assessed using the Short Form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Daily living activities and quality of life were assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Quality of Life Scale. Fatigue, sleep quality, hopelessness, depression and anxiety were evaluated using Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Scale. There was no difference in FVC, FEVı, FEVı / FVC, FEF25-75 values between two groups. PEF values were lower than control group (p=0.015). However, FVC (p=0.004) and FEVı (p<0.001) values are lower in painters working 20 years or more compared to their working time. There was no difference in the level of physical activity between the two groups, but the life quality, physical function, vitality, mental health, social functioning, pain, general health status of the workers in the painter group more than 20 years were worse than those who worked 20 years or less (p<0.05). Hopelessness, fatigue, depression and sleep quality were higher than those who worked longer than 20 years (p<0.05). Respiratory functions are impaired in auto painters. Respiratory functions, quality of life, activities of daily living, sleeping states, hopelessness, depression and fatigue are more adversely affected by long-term exposure to auto paints.