Shao Lin1,2, Wayne R Lawrence2, Ziqiang Lin1,3, Melissa Francois4, Iulia A Neamtiu5,6, Qiaoxuan Lin1,7, Eva Csobod8, Eugen S Gurzau9,10. 1. Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA. 3. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA. 4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA. 5. Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, Cluj Napoca, Romania. 6. Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj Napoca, Romania. 7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of Jinan, 510632, Guangzhou, China. 8. Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000, Szentendre, Hungary. 9. Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, Cluj Napoca, Romania. egurzau@ehc.ro. 10. Cluj School of Public Health-College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania. egurzau@ehc.ro.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated teachers' respiratory health, especially its relationship with school/home environment, and school policies. This study assessed asthma and smoking prevalence among teachers in Romania, teacher's perception and knowledge of the school environment, policies and asthma management, and how school and home environment affected asthma, allergy, and respiratory infection symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained information from 104 Romanian teachers utilizing teacher questionnaire data for Romania only, as part of the Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE) study, a multicenter European research project conducted between 2010 and 2012. The SINPHONIE questionnaire collected comprehensive information on school and home environment, respiratory symptoms, smoking, and school policies. We used unconditional logistic regression analysis to examine environment-outcome relationships while controlling for socio-demographics and co-exposures. RESULTS: Our results showed the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and smoking among teachers in Romania was higher than in other SINPHONIE schools and among US teachers. Factors statistically associated with asthma, allergy, and respiratory infection (all p < 0.05) include perception of health related to poor air quality in school, inappropriate cleaning of ventilation systems, dwelling proximity to busy traffic, and multiple school/home exposures. We also found lack of asthma management and environmental policies in the investigated Romanian schools. CONCLUSION: We concluded that multiple school and home environmental factors were related to respiratory and allergic symptoms. High asthma burden and smoking are important public health problems in Romania. Future studies including larger sample size and exposure measurements are needed to confirm our findings.
PURPOSE: Few studies have evaluated teachers' respiratory health, especially its relationship with school/home environment, and school policies. This study assessed asthma and smoking prevalence among teachers in Romania, teacher's perception and knowledge of the school environment, policies and asthma management, and how school and home environment affected asthma, allergy, and respiratory infection symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained information from 104 Romanian teachers utilizing teacher questionnaire data for Romania only, as part of the Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE) study, a multicenter European research project conducted between 2010 and 2012. The SINPHONIE questionnaire collected comprehensive information on school and home environment, respiratory symptoms, smoking, and school policies. We used unconditional logistic regression analysis to examine environment-outcome relationships while controlling for socio-demographics and co-exposures. RESULTS: Our results showed the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and smoking among teachers in Romania was higher than in other SINPHONIE schools and among US teachers. Factors statistically associated with asthma, allergy, and respiratory infection (all p < 0.05) include perception of health related to poor air quality in school, inappropriate cleaning of ventilation systems, dwelling proximity to busy traffic, and multiple school/home exposures. We also found lack of asthma management and environmental policies in the investigated Romanian schools. CONCLUSION: We concluded that multiple school and home environmental factors were related to respiratory and allergic symptoms. High asthma burden and smoking are important public health problems in Romania. Future studies including larger sample size and exposure measurements are needed to confirm our findings.
Entities:
Keywords:
Home environment; Policies, respiratory health; Romania; School environment; Teacher
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