The Effects of Formaldehyde Exposure on Self-reported Symptoms of Respiratory-eye Mucosa and Integumentary System during Anatomy Practices among Korean Medical Students / 체질인류학회지

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.