Journal List > Korean J Phys Anthropol > v.31(1) > 1039259

Jeong, Park, Hur, Koh, Park, and Chang: The Effects of Formaldehyde Exposure on Self-reported Symptoms of Respiratory-eye Mucosa and Integumentary System during Anatomy Practices among Korean Medical Students

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effects of formaldehyde exposure on self-reported symptoms of respiratory-eye mucosa and integumentary system during anatomy practices among Korean medical students. Data were collected using the web-based survey. Study subjects in 1st and 2nd grade medical student, and having anatomy dissection in medical college and medical graduate school. A total of 463 students from the 14 medical college and medical graduate school participated in this study. The results show that 261 (56.4%) of the participants responded feeling discomfort above moderate at anatomy dissection. After anatomy dissection, 104 (43.2%) students responded aggravating the symptom allergic rhinitis, xerophthalmia and so on. 209 (95.0%) of them responded the new symptom's appearance. In the result of multiple logistic regression, women (OR: 2.000, 95% CI: 1.169∼3.421) and the students with feeling discomfort (OR: 3.190, 95% CI: 1.807∼5.632) were more likely to increase the risk of pre-existing respiratory · eye mucosal system symptom's aggravation than the counter parts. For pre-existing integumentary system symptom's aggravation, risk is significantly higher in elder age group (OR: 2.612, 95% CI: 1.187∼5.750) and with disapproval protective equipments (OR: 2.217, 1.006∼4.885). In case of new symptom's appearance, people with feeling discomfort above moderate (OR: 5.097, 95% CI: 1.075∼24.160) in respiratory · eye mucosal system were more likely to increase the risk of new symptom's appearance. And for integumentary system, risk was higher in people with feeling discomfort (OR: 1.921, 95% CI: 1.218∼3.031), in woman (OR: 1.711, 1.090∼2.686) and without enough protective equipments preparation (OR: 1.953, 1.189∼3.210). This study confirms the protective equipments for minimizing exposure from chemicals for cytological fixation (e, g formaldehyde) is not worn enough and students in anatomy dissection experience discomfort and disease after anatomy dissection. Therefore, this study indicates that the safe guideline in anatomy dissection should be enhanced and institutional strategy to protect student's right of health should be provided.

References

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Fig. 1.
The flow of questionnaire.
kjpa-31-9f1.tif
Table 1.
Socio-demographic characteristics N = 463
  Number
SEX  
Male 252 (54.4%)
Female 211 (45.6%)
Type of school  
Medical college 238 (51.4%)
Medical graduate school 225 (48.6%)
Age (years)  
19∼24 205 (44.3%)
25 and over 258 (55.7%)
Period of anatomy dissection 1 semester 396 (85.5%)
2 semester and over 67 (14.5%)
Practice hours per week  
6 hours less 73 (15.8%)
6 hours and over 390 (84.2%)
Table 2.
Distributions of subjective discomfort and protective equipments wearing condition in anatomy dissection N = 463
Subjective discomfort  
No 202 (43.6%)
Yes 261 (56.4%)
Awareness of preparing protective equipments No 135 (29.2%)
Yes 328 (70.8%)
Approval protective equipments  
No 173 (37.4%)
Yes 290 (62.6%)
Protective equipments preparation  
Yes 341 (73.7%)
No 122 (26.3%)

Not wearing at least two of the protective equipments (dress for anatomy dissection, gloves, mask, goggles, etc.)

Table 3.
Distributions of anatomy dissection related symptoms N=463
Past history of respiratory/eye mucosal system
Yes 243 (52.5%)
No 220 (47.5%)
Pre-existing symptom's aggravation?
Yes 106 (56.8%)
No 137 (43.2%)
New symptom's appearance?
Yes 209 (95.0%)
No 11 (5.0%)
Past history of Integumentary system
Yes 127 (27.4%)
No 336 (72.6%)
Pre-existing symptom's aggravation?
Yes 49 (38.6%)
No 78 (61.4%)
New symptom's appearance?
Yes 161 (47.9%)
No 175 (52.1%)
Table 4.
Factors affecting aggravation of pre-existing symptoms
Factors Respiratory· eye mucosal system disease OR (95% CI) Integumentary system disease OR (95% CI)
SEX
Male 1.000 1.000
Female 2.000 (1.169∼3.421) 2.182 (0.996∼4.778)
Age (years)
19∼24 1.000 1.000
25 and over 1.456 (0.834∼2.542) 2.612 (1.187∼5.750)
Period of anatomy dissection
1 semester 1.0000 1.000
2 semester and over 805 (0.363∼1.783) 0.502 (0.141∼1.788)
Practice hours per week
6 hours less 1.000 1.000
6 hours and over 806 (0.348∼1.867) 2.941 (0.885∼9.770)
Approval protective equipments
Yes 1.000 1.000
No 0.970 (0.526∼1.789) 2.217 (1.006∼4.885)
Subjective discomfort
No 1.000 1.000
Yes 3.190 (1.807∼5.632) 1.405 (0.614∼3.215)
Protective equipments preparation
Yes 1.000 1.000
No 1.037 (0.527∼2.040) 1.560 (0.542∼4.491)
Awareness of preparing protective equipments
No 1.000 1.000
Yes 1.387 (0.750∼2.564) 0.760 (0.271∼2.135)
Table 5.
Factors affecting appearance of new symptoms
Factors Respiratory· eye mucosal system disease OR (95% CI) Integumentary system disease OR (95% CI)
SEX
Male 1.000 1.000
Female 3.279 (0.609∼17.650) 1.711 (1.090∼2.686)
Age (years)
19∼24 1.000 1.000
25 and over 0.367 (0.086∼1.573) 1.096 (0.697∼1.723)
Period of anatomy dissection
1 semester 1.000 1.000
2 semester and over 1.671 (0.185∼15.098) 1.203 (0.633∼2.288)
Practice hours per week
6 hours less 1.000 1.000
6 hours and over 1.722 (0.299∼9.930) 0.745 (0.388∼1.430)
Approval protective equipments
Yes 1.000 1.000
No 0.831 (0.224∼3.082) 1.189 (0.728∼1.943)
Subjective discomfort
No 1.000 1.000
Yes 5.097 (1.075∼24.160) 1.921 (1.218∼3.031)
Protective equipments preparation
No 1.000 1.000
No 4.861 (0.541∼43.698) 1.953 (1.189∼3.210)
Awareness of preparing protective equipments
No 1.000 1.000
Yes 0.773 (0.176∼3.405) 1.144 (0.697∼1.879)
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