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International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences (IJPHCS)
Open Access e-journal ISSN : 2289-7577
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HEALTH EFFECTS OF SURGICAL SMOKE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PERIOPERATIVE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN HOSPITAL SERDANG

Titi Rahmawati H, Mohd Fikri R.

Abstract


https://doi.org/10.32827/ijphcs.6.1.131

Background: Surgical smoke is recognized as occupational hazard which may lead to acute and chronic health effects to those who work in operation theatre. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of health effects from surgical smoke exposure and its associated factors among perioperative healthcare workers in Hospital Serdang. 

 

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 137 perioperative healthcare workers from 3 departments in Hospital Serdang who were selected using a stratified proportionate random sampling. Respondents who work in the operation theatre for more than four weeks of employment were included in the study. Data was collected using validated, pre-tested, and self-administered by using both online web-based and hardcopy questionnaires. It consists of 5 sections; sociodemographic data, employment characteristics, roles in surgery, control measure factors and health effects. Data was statistically analysed to determine the prevalence of health effects, associated factors and predictors of health effects using SPSS version 25 with a significant level set at p <0.05.

Result: The prevalence of acute health effects of surgical smoke among respondents was 58.4%. The most common symptoms reported were upper airway irritation (40.0%), headache (27.4%), eye irritation (20.6%) and asthma like symptoms (12.0%). Four significant factors were associated (p < 0.05) with at least one acute health effects, namely employment factors (department, role in surgery, period of working in hospital) and surgical factors (number of surgeries conducted or assisted per week). Assisting role in surgery was a significant predictor of having at least one acute health effects of surgical smoke (AOR=2.7, 95%, CI=1.1, 7.0).

Conclusion: Almost 60% of respondents in this study experienced acute health effects due to exposure to surgical smoke. The significant predictor of acute health effects of surgical smoke is assisting role in surgery. This finding can be used in designing prevention and controls program to reduce the health effects of surgical smoke. 

Keywords: surgical smoke, health effects, perioperative healthcare workers

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