Impact of indoor air quality and workplace conditions on sick building syndrome among healthcare workers: a case study in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Abstract

Objective

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a significant health concern among healthcare workers, exacerbated by prolonged exposure to indoor air pollutants and inadequate environmental conditions. Our study aims to explore the prevalence of SBS and its association with indoor air quality and workplace environments among healthcare workers in five hospital departments in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.

Methods

Indoor air quality was assessed over eight days, measuring microbial concentrations (bacteria, fungi), temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. Demographic data and SBS symptoms were also collected from healthcare workers.

Results

The findings revealed that fungal concentrations were highest in the pharmacy (51.95 ± 37.59) colony forming units (CFU) per m³, while bacterial concentrations peaked in the outpatient department (265.06 ± 49.46) CFU/m³. The study identified Staphylococcus hominis and Micrococcus luteus as the dominant microbial species in the air environment. A moderate positive correlation was found between bacterial concentrations and humidity (r = 0.43, P = 0.046). SBS symptoms were prevalent among healthcare workers, with 75.58 % reporting issues like dry eyes and fatigue. The total complaint score for SBS correlated positively with indoor pollutant levels, especially fungi (r = 0.38, P < 0.001). Frequent cleaning reduced SBS complaints significantly (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Hospital departments with more frequent cleaning practices exhibited lower SBS complaints, highlighting the importance of cleaning frequency in reducing SBS-related issues. These findings provide actionable insights for improving workplace safety and indoor air quality in healthcare settings.