Prevention of Work-related Asthma: Study Search Results

Study Details

Prevention Level	Secondary
Author	Smith
Study Year	1999
Country	UK
Molecular Weight of Agent	HMW
Category	Baking allergens, Plants
Agent	Grain dust, Fungal amylase
Occupation	Flour milling, baking operators
Outcome/Diagnosis	Occupational asthma
Activity Intervention	Transfer to low exposure area, Health surveillance (1993, 5 years) Health surveillance: employee was screened on appointment and then on annual basis by questionnaire where symptom reporting resulted in physician consultation. Consultation included occupational history and work-related symptoms.
Participation Rate	Employees who could be exposed to dusts from any powdered ingredient were included in the health surveillance programme Limitation: no report of participation rate
Intervention Effectiveness	For subjects with OA who were diagnosed before establishment of program in 1993 (n=17), 10 subjects improved in symptoms, 6 remained unchanged, and one worsened in symptoms. For subjects with OA who were diagnosed after 1993 (n=4), all subjects improved in symptoms. For subjects with OA continuing same job (n=11), 5 improved in symptoms, 5 remain unchanged, and 1 worsened in symptoms. For subjects with OA who worked elsewhere in factory (n=10), 9 improved in symptoms, and 1 remained unchanged.