Lei Han1, Yan Li2, Weiwen Yan2, Lisheng Xie2, Shuping Wang3, Qiuyun Wu2, Xiaoming Ji2, Baoli Zhu1, Chunhui Ni2. 1. Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210028, China. 2. Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China. 3. Jiangsu Datun Coal and Electricity Company, Xuzhou 221611, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coal industry is one of the national pillar industries in China. A large number of coal miners are exposed to various occupational hazards, which might cause occupational disease. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of coal miners in Xuzhou, China and explore influencing factors to QOL of coal miners. METHODS: Six hundred and twelve underground miners and 354 ground workers in one of coal mines of Xuzhou were enrolled in our study. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were applied to evaluate the QOL of coal miners. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was used to assess the potential impact factors on QOL. RESULTS: The score of role limitations due to physical health problems (RP) dimension in underground miners was significantly lower than that of ground workers (P=0.005). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that longer job tenure for dust exposure significantly lower coal miners' RP score. Comparing with normal populations, our subjects scored lower in both the physical health components (PHC) and the mental health components (MHC), and many factors accounted for it including job tenure for dust exposure, chronic disease, medical insurance, etc. CONCLUSIONS: QOL of coal miners has been affected. Some measures might be taken by enterprise and coal miners themselves to protect the health of coal miners and improve their quality of life.
BACKGROUND: Coal industry is one of the national pillar industries in China. A large number of coal miners are exposed to various occupational hazards, which might cause occupational disease. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of coal miners in Xuzhou, China and explore influencing factors to QOL of coal miners. METHODS: Six hundred and twelve underground miners and 354 ground workers in one of coal mines of Xuzhou were enrolled in our study. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were applied to evaluate the QOL of coal miners. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis was used to assess the potential impact factors on QOL. RESULTS: The score of role limitations due to physical health problems (RP) dimension in underground miners was significantly lower than that of ground workers (P=0.005). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that longer job tenure for dust exposure significantly lower coal miners' RP score. Comparing with normal populations, our subjects scored lower in both the physical health components (PHC) and the mental health components (MHC), and many factors accounted for it including job tenure for dust exposure, chronic disease, medical insurance, etc. CONCLUSIONS: QOL of coal miners has been affected. Some measures might be taken by enterprise and coal miners themselves to protect the health of coal miners and improve their quality of life.
Entities:
Keywords:
36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36); Coal miners; influence factors; quality of life (QOL)
Authors: Nina T Castillo-Carandang; Olivia T Sison; Mary Lenore Grefal; Rody G Sy; Oliver C Alix; Elmer Jasper B Llanes; Paul Ferdinand M Reganit; Allan Wilbert G Gumatay; Felix Eduardo R Punzalan; Felicidad V Velandria; E Shyong Tai; Hwee-Lin Wee Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-12-26 Impact factor: 3.240