Development of a bar code-based exposure assessment method to evaluate occupational exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products: a pilot study.
Occup Environ Med
; 75(9): 668-674, 2018 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29760172
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Healthcare workers are highly exposed to various types of disinfectants and cleaning products. Assessment of exposure to these products remains a challenge. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a method, based on a smartphone application and bar codes, to improve occupational exposure assessment among hospital/cleaning workers in epidemiological studies.METHODS:
A database of disinfectants and cleaning products used in French hospitals, including their names, bar codes and composition, was developed using several sources ProdHyBase (a database of disinfectants managed by hospital hygiene experts), and specific regulatory agencies and industrial websites. A smartphone application has been created to scan bar codes of products and fill a short questionnaire. The application was tested in a French hospital. The ease of use and the ability to record information through this new approach were estimated.RESULTS:
The method was tested in a French hospital (7 units, 14 participants). Through the application, 126 records (one record referred to one product entered by one participant/unit) were registered, majority of which were liquids (55.5%) or sprays (23.8%); 20.6% were used to clean surfaces and 15.9% to clean toilets. Workers used mostly products with alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds (>90% with weekly use), followed by hypochlorite bleach and hydrogen peroxide (28.6%). For most records, information was available on the name (93.7%) and bar code (77.0%). Information on product compounds was available for all products and recorded in the database.CONCLUSION:
This innovative and easy-to-use method could help to improve the assessment of occupational exposure to disinfectants/cleaning products in epidemiological studies.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Personal de Hospital
/
Procesamiento Automatizado de Datos
/
Exposición Profesional
/
Detergentes
/
Desinfectantes
Tipo de estudio:
Evaluation_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Occup Environ Med
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA OCUPACIONAL
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia