Influence of bio-psychosocial factors on work-exacerbated asthma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HANDS-ON ASTHMA (Health AND Social factors and their influence ON ASTHMA symptoms at work): A cross-sectional study to evaluate the influence of bio-psycho-social and cultural factors on the presence of work-exacerbated asthma
IRAS ID
299221
Contact name
Ngamjit Kongsupon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) refers to existing asthma made worse by conditions at work; it is prevalent and affects up to 1 in 4 asthmatics. WEA has significant physical, social and economic consequences, leading to lung function decline, lower quality of life, and income loss. A large minority of workers reporting work-related asthma symptoms are employed in jobs that have a low likelihood of exposure to sensitizing agents or airway irritants. We hypothesize that asthma symptoms may be related to bio-psycho-social and cultural factors (for example job dissatisfaction or negative health beliefs). The impact of these upon asthma exacerbation is unknown. We will conduct a survey of employed asthmatics including those who have work-related symptoms, but work in settings with low-level inhalational exposures. We will recruit 650 asthmatics aged 16-65 from 15 West Midlands primary care practices, and collect data on demographics, diagnosis, asthma control and quality of life, illness perception, anxiety and depression, occupation and work exposures, sick leave, presenteeism (at work but performing sub-optimally because unwell), and job satisfaction. We will use a job-exposure matrix to determine whether given occupations are associated with high/medium or low exposures to inhaled pollutants. Sample size calculation is based on detecting an absolute difference of at least 10% in psychosocial, workplace or other characteristics, among those working in high/medium, compared to low inhaled pollutant exposure occupations. It will also enable us to estimate the proportion of patients with WEA. This diagnosis will be based upon work-relatedness of symptoms and objective measures of exacerbation (sickness absence, treatments). Further analysis of this data and a health economic analysis describing productivity costs will investigate the role of cultural and psycho-social factors on work-related symptoms in those with low-level exposures.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0159
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion