Frequency and affecting factors of sick building syndrome among the workers of Turgut Özal Medical Centre (TÖTM)

Objective: This study was carried out among the workers in the building of Turgut Özal Medical Centre in order to determine the frequency of SBS symptoms and some of its related factors which can occur.Material ? Method: In this study, totally 951 volunteers out of 2500 persons who have been working in the whole departments of TÖTM were included. A questionnaire was conducted to state the socio-demographic parameters, the SBS symptoms, and some other characteristics of the persons and additionally the participants? saturation was measured. During the second step, the heat for evaluating the indoor air quality, CO, CO2, and relative humidity rates were reviewed.Findings: SBS was found in 62.1% of the participants. The relation between the SBS and the assessment of stress, the environmental consideration of work frequently as very hot, and the use of permanent medicine was found statistically meaningful (p<0.05). When the participants in the study were evaluated in terms of being with SBS by using the logistic regression analysis; the existence of chronic disease, the environmental consideration frequently as very hot, or occasionally as very illuminated, consulting a doctor due to the symptoms, and thereafter having a relevant diagnose were all determined as the affecting factors. In consequence of 36 measurements, CO2 was detected to be over the limit value in 69.4% of the work environments. Meanwhile, the quantity of CO was not found to be over the limit value of 9 ppm in any of the work environments. Only the Air Conditioning Department and Kitchen Storeroom were seen as the work places below 20 Cº and the environmental temperature was found over 24 Cº in 72.2% of the work environments. Relative humidity rate was detected to be below the limit value of 30% in 77.8% of the work environments. In this study, the most frequent symptoms were determined as fatigue and prostration (67.1%), headache (59.5%), throat dryness (53.6%), and burning and stinging eyes (52.4%), respectively.Conclusion: Having the knowledge about the health effects of the buildings, where we spend most of our times in a daily life, and taking the required precautions accordingly shall increase the performance of the workers, improve the quality of work life and additionally shall be influential to prevent the unnecessary work losses and health expenditures by revealing the unknown health problems.Key words: Sick Building Syndrome, Indoor Environment Air Quality, TÖTM, Hospital, Temperature, Humidity, CO2.