Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39440680›Full record

ArticleWorkplace health & safety2025

A Qualitative Assessment of Changes in Occupational Exposures Among Healthcare Facility Workers.

David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, Jenil Patel, Sadie Conway, Lisa Pompeii, Laura E Mitchell, Arch Carson, Lawrence W Whitehead, Inkyu Han, Jan-Paul Zock, Paul K Henneberger and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Workplace health & safety, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

David Gimeno Ruiz de PorrasDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, UT School of Public Health San Antonio, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), San Antonio, TX, USA.
Jenil PatelSouthwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4875-7390
Sadie ConwaySmith Scientific LLC, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3643-3476
Lisa PompeiiResearch in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5017-6483
Laura E MitchellDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston ), Houston, TX, USA.
Arch CarsonSouthwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA.
Lawrence W WhiteheadSouthwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA.
Inkyu HanDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Jan-Paul ZockCenter for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-2941-6259
Paul K HennebergerRespiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Preventio, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Riddhi PatelDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston ), Houston, TX, USA.
Joy De Los ReyesDepartment of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), Houston, TX, USA.
George L DelclosCenter for Research in Occupational Health, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

Translational Research Support CoreP30ES013508 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Rebecca A Simmons · 2006 to 2026
$35.3M
Intramural CDC HHS CC999999NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES013508NIOSH CDC HHS R01 OH010648NIOSH CDC HHS T42 OH008421
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Adult-onset asthma, notably prevalent among healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is often attributed to occupational factors such as exposure to cleaning agents. Studies consistently underscore the substantial role of such exposure in work-related asthma among hospital staff. We aimed to (a) identify and characterize current practices in cleaning and aerosolized medication administration; (b) assess changes in practices since a similar 2003 study of Texas healthcare workers; and (c) identify factors contributing to diverse exposures within healthcare job categories. We conducted focus groups with 38 participants in 6 healthcare settings, analyzing current practices, changes since 2003, and factors contributing to exposure diversity. We used a three-step approach for data analysis, including sociodemographic characterization, a scissor-and-sort technique for exposure description, and qualitative content analysis. Participants were primarily healthcare providers (76%) and housekeepers/cleaners (11%) who reported exposure to aerosolized medications, cleaning products, adhesives, and solvents. Participants reported transitioning from cleaning practices to new formulas with reduced odors and shifting from spray cleansers to wipes. Personal protective equipment (PPE) used during cleaning tasks varied, with training differing among job categories. Aerosolized medication administration varied among facilities, with reported medication types and protocol changes over time. The results emphasized the significance of maintaining uniform protection, disseminating knowledge, and consistently adhering to PPE protocols in the healthcare environment. Addressing the identified gaps in comprehension and potential sources of exposure variability requires additional focus on occupational health and safety initiatives.

Indexed as

Health FacilitiesHealth PersonnelOccupational ExposureAdultAsthmaFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPersonal Protective EquipmentQualitative ResearchTexasemployee healthoccupational healthqualitative research methodsrespiratory conditions/asthmaworkplace hazards

Identifiers

PMID39440680
PMCPMC11774666

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.