Open AccessWork-environmental determinants of mass fainting illness among textile factory workers
Author(s) -
Maly Phy,
Twisuk Pungpeng,
Chaweewon Boonshuyar,
Thanu Chartanadh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of health research/warasan wichai witthayasat kanphaet
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.196
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2586-940X
pISSN - 0857-4421
DOI - 10.1108/jhr-04-2019-0081
Subject(s) - logistic regression , fainting , work (physics) , environmental health , factory (object oriented programming) , government (linguistics) , medicine , face validity , operations management , psychology , engineering , psychiatry , clinical psychology , computer science , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , programming language , psychometrics
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a brief screening instrument to identify risk factors of factory workers experiencing mass fainting illness (MFI) due to work-environmental determinants. Design/methodology/approach A factory-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 740 workers in October 2017 and was completed with face-to-face interviews. Data analyses included univariate logistic regression, backward stepwise linear regression and multiple logistic regression. Sum scores on significant items and receiver operator characteristic curves were used to compute potential cut-off points and the sensitivity and specificity rates. Findings Significant work-environmental factors were identified as working at very high speeds, having less influence on the choice of working partners, perceived high temperature at work, having less opportunity to do their best at work, and concern about losing a job in the next six months. In developing a screening instrument, a 6.5 cut-off point that corresponded to 99.6 percent sensitivity and 92.2 percent specificity was identified. Originality/value The study concludes that this MFI-instrument could potentially be used to prevent MFI. By understanding the policy implications, the government body, employers, workers, development partners and stakeholders should work toward preventing MFI. Implementing a preventive measure is therefore warranted due to the health education impact.