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Edvardsson, Berit
Publications (10 of 11) Show all publications
Claeson, A.-S., Edvardsson, B. & Liljelind, I. (2023). Stress and sleep in relation to severity of building related symptoms. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 65(7), 541-545
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Stress and sleep in relation to severity of building related symptoms
2023 (English)In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, ISSN 1076-2752, E-ISSN 1536-5948, Vol. 65, no 7, p. 541-545Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates different aspects of stress and sleep in medically examined individuals with varying severity of building-related symptoms (BRS).

METHODS: Three questionnaires were used to assess acute and long-term stress and sleep (Perceived Stress Scale; Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire, and Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire).

RESULTS: Individuals with BRS, regardless of severity, did not differ in level of perceived stress (indicator of short-term stress). The indicators of long-term stress differed between the groups where an increased severity was associated with higher levels of burnout and sleep problems.

CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests an association between symptom severity and measures of long-term stress and sleep quality. This has implications for the treatment of persons affected by BRS, because not only the environment needs to be treated, but also the concurrent signs of distress, such as burnout or sleep problems.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wolters Kluwer, 2023
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health Applied Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-212226 (URN)10.1097/JOM.0000000000002844 (DOI)36952319 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85164251553 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2014-1229Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-01364
Available from: 2023-07-21 Created: 2023-07-21 Last updated: 2023-07-21Bibliographically approved
Söderholm, A., Liljelind, I., Edvardsson, B. & Nordin, S. (2021). Development and evaluation of a questionnaire instrument for chemical intolerance, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(12), 1756-1763
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Development and evaluation of a questionnaire instrument for chemical intolerance, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
2021 (English)In: Disability and Rehabilitation, ISSN 0963-8288, E-ISSN 1464-5165, Vol. 43, no 12, p. 1756-1763Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose: The purpose was to develop a questionnaire instrument to measure difficulties in activities and participation, and impact of environmental factors in chemical intolerance, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and to assess its validity and reliability.

Method: Development in three steps: (1) choosing items of relevance for chemical intolerance with an expert group, (2) conducting interviews with persons with chemical intolerance, using sampling to redundancy, (3) conducting a survey with 112 respondents at a first assessment and 91 at a second assessment for test-retest.

Results: The final version of the instrument consists of 57 items divided in three parts, which showed good internal consistency in each part, Cronbach alpha: 0.73-0.87. It had good content validity, readability and face validity. Test-retest showed good to very good (≥0.61) Kappa agreement for 37 items, and moderate (0.41-0.60) for 17 items. Three items had poor or fair (<0.41) Kappa agreement.

Conclusion: The instrument was found to be valid and reliable. It can be used as a clinical tool to help persons with chemical intolerance to receive the best suited help and support for each individual, identify key points in rehabilitation, measure rehabilitation outcome and establish priority for treatment. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2021
Keywords
Chemical intolerance, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, multiple chemical sensitivity, reliability, sensory hypereactivity, validity
National Category
Other Medical Sciences not elsewhere specified
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-165800 (URN)10.1080/09638288.2019.1672812 (DOI)000489434100001 ()31591906 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85074619523 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2019-12-04 Created: 2019-12-04 Last updated: 2022-12-21Bibliographically approved
Edvardsson, B. (2015). "Det är inte mig det är fel på, det är huset": en studie av prognosfaktorer och bemötande med fokus på sjuka hus-syndromet. (Doctoral dissertation). Umeå: Umeå universitet
Open this publication in new window or tab >>"Det är inte mig det är fel på, det är huset": en studie av prognosfaktorer och bemötande med fokus på sjuka hus-syndromet
2015 (Swedish)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Alternative title[en]
“Now enough is enough, it's not me that`s wrong it's the house”. : A study of factors for prognosis and encounter focusing on sick building syndrome
Abstract [sv]

Bakgrund: Sick Building Syndrome, SBS, är fortfarande 2015 ett tillstånd som vållar mycket diskussion. Symtomen kan grupperas i slemhinnesymtom, hudsymtom och allmänna symtom. I definitionen ingår att personen/ personerna som fått symtom har exponerats för dålig inomhusluft i en speciell byggnad. När personen inte är i byggnaden så förbättras eller försvinner symtomen. Många olika faktorer kan orsaka eller medverka till uppkomst eller försämringar av SBS-symtom, som t.ex. luftens innehåll av olika ämnen, luftflöden, temperatur, buller, fukt och mögel. Utbredd enighet finns om att fukt och mögel i byggnaderna påverkar eller ger upphov till symtom hos vissa personer som exponeras där. Psykosociala faktorer som arbetets organisation och krav och individuella faktorer som kön och personlighet påverkar också.

Syfte: Hypotesen är att faktorer som tidigare hälsa, åtgärder på arbetet, tid, behandling, personlighet och copingresurser alla kan påverka prognosen för SBS-patienterna. Syftet med avhandlingen är att undersöka hur symtomen påverkar arbetsförmågan och om patienterna återhämtar sig från SBS-symtomen. Ett annat syfte är att undersöka bemötande och de erfarenheter som SBS-symtomen gett en grupp av informanter med SBS. För att förstå om personlighet mätt med självbild och coping hade någon betydelse för progressionen av SBS-symtom och arbetsförmåga gjordes jämförelser av personlighet mellan en patientgrupp med SBS, en patientgrupp med handeksem, en patientgrupp med elkänslighet och en normalpopulation.

Metod:  En uppföljningsenkät skickades till 239 patienter med SBS-symtom som under åren 1986–1998 blivit undersökta och bedömda på Universitets-sjukhuset i Umeå, Sverige. Frågorna innehöll social och medicinsk status, nuvarande symtom, behandlingar, åtgärder på arbetsplatsen, coping och självbild och svarsfrekvensen var 79,1%. Prognos och riskfaktorer för prognos beräknades för SBS-patienterna. Mätningar av personlighetsfaktorer gjordes med instrumentet Structural analysis of Social Behaviour, SASB, och coping mättes med Coping Resources Inventory, CRI. Likadana uppföljningsenkäter skickades till en grupp patienter med handeksem och patienter med upplevd elkänslighet. Svarsfrekvensen var 68% respektive 73% och enkätsvaren har sedan analyserats och jämförts genom beräknngar av prognos med fokus på självbild och coping för SBS-patienterna och handeksempatienterna. Jämförelser gjordes också mellan de tre olika grupperna och en kontrollgrupp vad gäller självbild och coping. För att undersöka erfarenheterna av SBS-symtomen och bemötandet genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer med 10 informanter som hade eller hade haft SBS-symtom. Fem av dem hade diagnostiserats en längre tid tillbaka medan de andra fem hade haft SBS-symtomen en kortare period. Semi-strukturerade intervjuformulär användes vid intervjuerna och anlyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys.

Resultat: Graden och svårigheten av SBS-symtomen minskade över tid trots att nästan hälften av SBS-patienterna beskrev att symtomen var mer eller mindre oförändrade efter 7 år eller mer. Risken att ha symtom vid uppföljningen var större för de patienter som remitterats sent efter symtomdebut men även för de som hade kort uppföljningstid. Risken att inte ha någon arbetsförmåga vid uppföljningen var signifikant ökad om det var mer än ett års skillnad mellan symtomdebut och första läkarbesöket p.g.a. SBS-symtomen eller om patienten vid första undersökningen hade fler än 5 SBS-symtom. Dagliga aktiviteter som t.ex. bussåkning förvärrade också symtomen för patienterna. Informanternas upplevelser av SBS-symtomen från början visar en influensaliknande bild med rinnande näsa och ögon, heshet, hosta och huvudvärk. Informanterna agerar för att klara av situationen när symtomen förvärras. Genom hela processen upplever de en brist på bekräftelse och stöd från arbetsgivare, primärvård, företagshälsovård och fastighetsförvaltare.

Alla tre patientgrupperna hade högre värden i spontan och positiv självbild i jämförelse med en kontrollgrupp. De hade också alla lägre värden i kontroll medan patienterna med handeksem och de med elkänslighet hade högre värden i sin negativa självbild. När det gäller coping skilde sig inte patientgrupperna från kontrollgruppen utom i CRI kognitiv där SBS-patienterna hade hög poäng i motsats till handeksempatienterna som hade låg poäng i samma domän. De elkänsliga patienterna hade i stället höga poäng i domänen andlig/filosofisk. Självbild eller copingförmåga var inte associerade med SBS-symtom eller symtom av handeksem vid uppföljningen och deras personlighet påverkade inte arbetsförmågan. Tidigare atopisk dermatit var en signifikant risk för kvarvarande symtom men inte för arbetsförmågan hos handeksempatienterna.

Slutsats: En grupp av patienter som tidigare diagnostiserats för symtom från inomhusmiljön har kroniska symtom och påverkan på sitt sociala liv. Över tid minskar symtomen. Resultaten pekar på att ett tidigt omhändertagande är av vikt. SBS-symtomen är från början svåra att upptäcka för alla inblandade och kunskap om hur symtomen kan uppstå i dagligt liv kan bidra till bredare förståelse. Erfarenheterna från personer med SBS visar på avsaknad av bekräftelse och stöd från vården, företagshälsan, arbetsgivare och fastighetsförvaltare. Sambandet mellan symtom och inomhusmiljö får inte glömmas bort. Stöd och bekräftelse innebär också kunskap om skyldigheter för arbetsgivare och fastighetsförvaltare.

Skillnad i självbild i jämförelse med en kontrollgrupp ses hos patientgrupperna med symtom som är delvis oförklarade men också hos handeksempatienter med ett väletablerat tillstånd. Det kan innebära att patienter med kroniska tillstånd överlag kan avvika från den allmänna populationen. Patienterna visar som grupp en hög positiv och hög spontan självbild som kan leda till svårigheter att sätta gränser. Detta kan leda till en mental stress och i förlängningen också ge en ökad känslighet/sårbarhet för miljöfaktorer.

 

Abstract [en]

Background: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is still in 2015 a controversial condition. The set of non-specific symptoms occurring in a particular building and not caused by specific illness such as allergy or infection are questioned. The variousSBS symptoms can be grouped as dermal, mucosal and general and there is no universally accepted clinical definition of SBS. Symptoms normally improve or disappear when people are not exposed in a particular building. SBS is a multifactorial disease and described as a syndrome caused or aggravated by many factors related to indoor environment such as dampness and mould, insufficiency of fresh air, but also psychosocial and individual factors like female gender and personality.

Objectives: The hypothesis is that personal factors such as previous health, actions taken, time, treatment, personality and coping resources are factors important in influencing the prognosis for SBS patients. The main purpose of this thesis is to explore more about how the symptoms affect work-capability and if SBS patients recover from their symptoms. Another important aim is to explore the experience of the emergence of symptoms and encounters in a group of people with SBS. To find out more about personality and coping resources and their importance for the progress of SBS symptoms comparisons were made with a selection from the general population, a group of patients having hand eczema and a group of patients with perceived sensitivity to electricity.

Methods: A follow-up questionnaire focusing on current medical and social status, care, treatment, other measures taken, coping and personality traits was sent to 239 patients with non-specific building-related symptoms, assessed during the period between 1986-1998 at the University Hospital in Umeå, Sweden, response rate 79,1%. Prognosis and risk factors for prognosis were calculated for the SBS patients.  Measurement of personality traits like self-image was done using Structural analysis of Social Behaviour, SASB, and coping ability was measured with Coping Resources Inventory, CRI. Similar follow-up questionnaires for patient groups with hand eczema and perceived electrical sensitivity were used and response rates were 68% respectively 73%. Risk factors for prognosis with focus on self-image and coping were calculated for the SBS patients and the group of patients having hand eczema. Comparisons were made between self-image and coping among SBS patients, patients with electrical hypersensitivity, patients with hand eczema and a selection from the general population. To explore the experience of SBS symptoms and encounters a semi-structured interview was performed with 10 informants with symptoms of SBS. Five of them were previously diagnosed and had participated in the earlier follow-up study. The remaining five had had SBS symptoms for a shorter period. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.   

Results: The degree and severity of SBS symptoms decreased over time, although nearly half of the SBS patients claimed that symptoms were more or less unchanged after 7 years or more. The risk of having no work capabilities was significantly increased at follow-up if the time from debut to first visit at the hospital clinic was more than one year and this risk was also significantly higher if the patient at the first visit had 5 or more symptoms. Common daily activities, like going by bus, also aggravated the SBS symptoms according to answers in the questionnaires.

The informants’ experiences of the emerging SBS symptoms are that when they first appear they are often similar to those of flu like runny nose and eyes, hoarseness, cough, and headache. Many of the informants act to change the way they manage the situation as a result of increased symptoms. During this whole process the informants/patients perceived a lack of confirmation and support from e.g. employers, primary health care and occupational health care centres.

Regarding self-image, all three patient groups scored higher on spontaneous and positive self-image than a comparison group. They were all less controlled. The patients with hand-eczema together with the patients with perceived electrical sensitivity also had a high score on negative self-image. CRI- domains did not differ between patients and comparison group except on CRI cognitive, were the hand eczema patients had a lower score than the comparison group contrary to SBS patients who had a higher score than the comparison group. The patients with perceived electrical sensitivity had a higher score on CRI spiritual. Self-image or coping ability was not associated with SBS symptoms or persistent hand eczema symptoms at follow-up and their personality did not affect their work capability. Previous atopic dermatitis was the only consistent predictor of hand eczema at follow-up.

Conclusion: Within this group of SBS patients there are long lasting symptoms aggravated by environmental factors. The results support that early and comprehensive measures for rehabilitation are essential for these patients. In the beginning the symptoms of SBS are diffuse and difficult to recognise for all involved. Patients with SBS symptoms experience a lack of confirmation and support. It is important that healthcare personnel confirm the patient and are aware of the possible connection between symptoms and the indoor environment. For employers and facility managers knowledge of their obligations in terms of working environment is important. Differences in personality traits were seen in a well-established condition and not only in patients with medically unexplained symptoms. This can imply that patients with general chronic symptoms can deviate from the general population with respect to self-image and coping ability. Certain personality traits may be potential risk factors that increase the probability of encountering and experiencing stressful work situations.  

 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå universitet, 2015. p. 72
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 1764
Keywords
SBS, byggnadsrelaterad ohälsa, uppföljning, prognos, självbild, coping, personlighet, intervjuer, bemötande
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health General Practice
Research subject
Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Epidemiology; Public health
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-111269 (URN)978-91-7601-374-8 (ISBN)
Public defence
2015-12-04, Vårdvetarhusets aula, Lasarettsbacken 7, Umeå, 09:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2015-11-13 Created: 2015-11-11 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Edvardsson, B., Bergdahl, J., Eriksson, N. & Stenberg, B. (2013). Coping and Self-image in Patients With Symptoms Attributed to Indoor Environment. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 68(3), 145-152
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Coping and Self-image in Patients With Symptoms Attributed to Indoor Environment
2013 (English)In: Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, ISSN 1933-8244, E-ISSN 2154-4700, Vol. 68, no 3, p. 145-152Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study investigated self-image and coping ability in a group of patients with symptoms from indoor environment. A follow-up questionnaire was sent to 239 patients previously referred with nonspecific building-related symptoms at University Hospital in Umeå, Sweden. One hundred seventy-four women and 14 men answered and the patient group rated their self-image as more spontaneous, more positive, and less negative than a control group. The patient group rated higher on the cognitive scale in the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) than the control group. The female patients had an increased risk of not being able to work associated with a low score on negative self-image. The authors conclude that certain personality traits may be potential risk factors that increase the probability of encountering and experiencing stressful work situations. The resulting stress may increase workers' susceptibility to indoor environment exposure.

Keywords
personality trait, sick building syndrome, stress, work capability
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-71039 (URN)10.1080/19338244.2012.676102 (DOI)000317300600003 ()23566321 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84876228557 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2013-05-16 Created: 2013-05-16 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
Edvardsson, B. & Stenberg, B. (2012). Coping and self-image in two subgroups of patients with symptoms attributed to indoor environment compared with patients having non-allergic hand eczema. In: 10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012: . Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012, Brisbane, Australia, July 8-12, 2012 (pp. 1435-1436). International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Coping and self-image in two subgroups of patients with symptoms attributed to indoor environment compared with patients having non-allergic hand eczema
2012 (English)In: 10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012, International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate , 2012, p. 1435-1436Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2012
Keywords
Follow-up questionnaire, IEI/EMF, Personality trait, Prognosis, Sick building syndrome
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-206378 (URN)2-s2.0-84883371983 (Scopus ID)9781627480758 (ISBN)
Conference
10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012, Brisbane, Australia, July 8-12, 2012
Available from: 2023-04-05 Created: 2023-04-05 Last updated: 2023-04-05Bibliographically approved
Stenberg, B. & Edvardsson, B. (2012). Sjuka hus-syndromet och kroniska hälsoproblem: en studie i varför vissa blir långvarigt sjuka och arbetsoförmögna av dålig inomhusluft. In: Martina Österberg (Ed.), Byggnadsrelaterad ohälsa i Kvarkenregionen: nio delprojekt om miljökänslighet, luftkvalitet och sjuka hus ur ett tvärvetenskapligt perspektiv : slutrapport för projektet Kompetenscentrum Byggnad - Luftkvalitet - Hälsa 2 (KLUCK 2) (pp. 45-51). Vasa: Yrkeshögskolan Novia
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sjuka hus-syndromet och kroniska hälsoproblem: en studie i varför vissa blir långvarigt sjuka och arbetsoförmögna av dålig inomhusluft
2012 (Swedish)In: Byggnadsrelaterad ohälsa i Kvarkenregionen: nio delprojekt om miljökänslighet, luftkvalitet och sjuka hus ur ett tvärvetenskapligt perspektiv : slutrapport för projektet Kompetenscentrum Byggnad - Luftkvalitet - Hälsa 2 (KLUCK 2) / [ed] Martina Österberg, Vasa: Yrkeshögskolan Novia , 2012, p. 45-51Chapter in book (Other academic)
Abstract [sv]

I västvärlden vistas människor inomhus eller inne i olika transportfordon under större delen av dygnet, vilket innebär att inomhusmiljön kan ha en betydande inverkan på människors hälsa, välbefinnande och arbetsförmåga. Ett hälsoproblem som kan uppkomma i miljöer med dålig luftkvalitet brukar benämnas sjuka hus-syndromet eller SBS efter det engelska uttrycket Sick Building Syndrome. Vår undersökning inom KLUCK 2 fokuserade på patienter som remitterats till Norrlands Universitetssjukhus på grund av symptom som har samband med sjuka hus. Vi ville veta hur det går för patienterna i ett längre perspektiv och förstå varför vissa patienter utvecklar kroniska besvär.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Vasa: Yrkeshögskolan Novia, 2012
Series
Serie R: Rapporter, ISSN 1799-4179 ; 2/2012
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-121736 (URN)978-952-5839-36-4 (ISBN)
Available from: 2016-06-08 Created: 2016-06-08 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Edvardsson, B., Stenberg, B., Bergdahl, J., Eriksson, N., Lindén, G. & Widman, L. (2008). Medical and social prognoses of non-specific building-related symptoms (Sick Building Syndrome): a follow-up study of patients previously referred to hospital. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 81(7), 805-812
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Medical and social prognoses of non-specific building-related symptoms (Sick Building Syndrome): a follow-up study of patients previously referred to hospital
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2008 (English)In: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, ISSN 0340-0131, E-ISSN 1432-1246, Vol. 81, no 7, p. 805-812Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe and analysethe medical and social prognoses of patients with nonspeciWcbuilding-related symptoms.Methods A follow-up questionnaire focusing on current medical and social status, care, treatment, other actions taken and personality traits was sent to 239 patients with non-speciWc building-related symptoms assessed during theperiod between1986 and 1998 at University Hospital in Umeå, Sweden. The response rate was 79%.Results Fatigue, irritation of the eyes, and facial erythemawere the most common weekly symptoms reported atfollow-up. As females constituted 92% of the respondents,statistical analyses were restricted to women. The level andseverity of symptoms decreased over time, although nearlyhalf of the patients claimed that symptoms were more or lessunchanged after 7 years or more, despite actions taken.Twenty-Wve percent of the patients were on the sick-list, and20% drew disability pension due to persistent symptoms atfollow-up. The risk of having no work capabilities at followupwas signiWcantly increased if the time from onset to Wrstvisit at the hospital clinic was more than 1 year. This riskwas also signiWcantly higher if the patient at the Wrst visithad Wve or more symptoms. All risk assessments wereadjusted for length of follow-up. Symptoms were oftenaggravated by diVerent situations in everyday life.Conclusions Long-lasting symptoms aggravated by environmentalfactors exist within this group of patients. Theresults support that early and comprehensive measures forrehabilitation are essential for the patients.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer-Verlag New York, 2008
Keywords
Disability pension, Gender, Symptoms, Triggering factors, Work capability
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-23027 (URN)10.1007/s00420-007-0267-z (DOI)000255113400002 ()17924130 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-42549088808 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2009-05-26 Created: 2009-05-26 Last updated: 2023-03-23Bibliographically approved
Feder, G., Rohde, J. E., San Sebastian, M., Janlert, U., Jimba, M., Materia, E., . . . Pastore, J. O. (2005). Reed Elsevier and the international arms trade.. Lancet, 366(9489), 889; discussion 889-90
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Reed Elsevier and the international arms trade.
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2005 (English)In: Lancet, ISSN 1474-547X, Vol. 366, no 9489, p. 889; discussion 889-90Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Keywords
Exhibits, Great Britain, Periodicals/*ethics, Publishing/*ethics, War
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-13836 (URN)16154003 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-24644499581 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2007-05-16 Created: 2007-05-16 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
Edvardsson, B., Stenberg, B., Bergdahl, J., Eriksson, N., Linden, G. & Widman, L. (2005). The medical and social prognosis of Sick Building Syndrome: a follow-up study focusing on female patients. In: Yang, X; Zhao, B; Zhao, R (Ed.), Indoor air 2005: proceedings of the 10th international conference on indoor air quality and climate, vols 1-5. Paper presented at 10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Indoor Air 2005), SEP 04-09, 2005, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China (pp. 3706-3710). Beijing: Tsinghua university press
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The medical and social prognosis of Sick Building Syndrome: a follow-up study focusing on female patients
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2005 (English)In: Indoor air 2005: proceedings of the 10th international conference on indoor air quality and climate, vols 1-5 / [ed] Yang, X; Zhao, B; Zhao, R, Beijing: Tsinghua university press , 2005, p. 3706-3710Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

A follow-up questionnaire focusing medical and social status, actions taken and personality traits was sent to 239 patients with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) registered at the University Hospital in Umea, Sweden. The response rate was 79 percent. As females constituted 92 percent of the respondents all statistical analyses were restricted to women. Almost half of the respondents had been exposed to environments with visible water damages. Fatigue, irritated eyes and facial erythema were the most common symptoms. Nearly half of the patients claimed that the symptoms were more or less unchanged after 7 years or more. Twenty-five percent of the patients were on the sick-list and twenty percent drew disability pension due to SBS-symptoms at follow-up. Symptoms were often aggravated in different situations in everyday life. No important deviations concerning personality factors were found. The results support that early and comprehensive measures for rehabilitation are essential for these patients.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Beijing: Tsinghua university press, 2005
Keywords
sick building syndrome, follow-up, triggering factors, questionnaire
National Category
Environmental Analysis and Construction Information Technology Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-120453 (URN)000233831206037 ()
Conference
10th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Indoor Air 2005), SEP 04-09, 2005, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
Available from: 2016-05-17 Created: 2016-05-16 Last updated: 2018-06-07Bibliographically approved
Stenberg, B., Bergdahl, J., Edvardsson, B., Eriksson, N., Lindén, G. & Widman, L. (2002). Medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived hypersensitivity to electricity and skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals.. Scand J Work Environ Health, 28(5), 349-57
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived hypersensitivity to electricity and skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals.
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2002 (English)In: Scand J Work Environ Health, ISSN 0355-3140, Vol. 28, no 5, p. 349-57Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Keywords
Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Computer Terminals, Electricity/*adverse effects, Environmental Illness/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology/rehabilitation, Facial Dermatoses/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology/rehabilitation, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects, Prevalence, Prognosis, Statistics; Nonparametric, Sweden/epidemiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-7095 (URN)12432989 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-0036803033 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2008-01-04 Created: 2008-01-04 Last updated: 2023-03-23Bibliographically approved
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