2 research outputs found
COVID-19 cleaning protocol changes, experiences, and respiratory symptom prevalence among cleaning services personnel
IntroductionCleaning protocols were changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with unknown occupational health impacts. There is evidence that COVID-19 transmission risks from contaminated surfaces are low and that exposure to cleaning products can increase risks of work-related asthma. The study objective was to investigate relationships between reported COVID-19-related changes in cleaning protocols and prevalence of asthma-related respiratory symptoms for asthmatic and non-asthmatic janitors and maids. A secondary objective was to characterize experiences of respiratory symptoms associated with cleaning and barriers to personal protective equipment (PPE) use.MethodsEmployees from two Tucson-based maid service companies (approximately 30 personnel in total) and one Phoenix-based school district (>300 janitors/custodians) were invited to participate in a written survey and/or a one-on-one interview in Spanish or English. Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05) were used to test for statistically significant associations between reported respiratory symptoms by self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma status and changes in cleaning protocols. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed by at least two researchers in English or Spanish.ResultsEighty-three percent reported that cleaning protocols had changed during COVID-19, with the two most reported changes including increased cleaning frequency (92%) and change of application type (e.g., fog, spray, wipe) (53%). There was a statistically significant association between multiple respiratory symptoms and self-reported physician diagnosed asthma. Reporting a type of application change (e.g., fog, spray, wipe) and being awakened during the night by attack/episode of cough were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.04). Interviews elucidated respiratory issues related to fogging devices.DiscussionThis study provides preliminary evidence that changes in cleaning and disinfection protocols during COVID-19 (namely, the use of fogging/mechanical spraying devices) may have had negative impacts on the health of workers in the cleaning industry with little benefit to reducing COVID-19 risks. Further research is needed to evaluate the generalizability of our findings across larger geographical areas and to develop guidance for employers and employees on how to protect and promote respiratory health
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¿Y AHORA QUÉ? CREATION OF BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH HEALTH EDUCATION RESOURCES TO PROMOTE HEALTH LITERACY AMONG UNINSURED, UNDERREPRESENTED WOMEN
ClĂnica Amistad is a local clinic that provides primary and specialty care services to uninsured patients throughout the metropolitan area. Although the clinic meets many needs for low-cost primary care in Tucson, its impact could be expanded by providing bilingual English/Spanish educational materials for its large population of Spanish-speaking patients and staff regarding the most important health topics. This would allow patients to be educated on the healthcare issues they face, and help them understand, prevent, and manage their physical condition. This would emphasize preventive medicine, help improve the patients’ quality of life, and reduce the cost of health care for these patients by managing their conditions before they become a serious problem. This project serves as an example of the types of resources that could be made available to patients however, due to the limited resources available, the focus of the bilingual resources will be on women´s health, specifically menstruation, birth control, and sexually transmitted infections or diseases. These topics were selected after discussing the clinic’s needs with the clinic manager, the clinic’s women’s health nurse practitioner, and community health workers. Although there are some bilingual resources available regarding diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, there are few to none available for women’s health. The educational resources will be developed as a flyer or brochure that will provide concise summaries of the topics and will be offered in audio and video formats to increase accessibility for individuals who prefer non-print media