Predictors of health-related quality of life among semi-precious stone mineworkers exposed to silica dust.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to comparatively evaluate HRQOL in miners of semi-precious stones with and without silicosis, and determine the associated factors, as well as the performance of two different questionnaires in measuring HRQOL. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 348 male miners (129 with silicosis) who underwent an interview and spirometry, HRQOL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: Miners with silicosis were older, had less schooling, worked more hours daily, and had longer exposure to silica. They also had worse scores of QoL in both questionnaires. Respiratory symptoms and %FEV1 were contributing factors for the models of total health and all the domains of the SGRQ, and 40% of the variability of the general health domain of WHOQOL-BREF was due to dyspnea, wheezing, %FEV1, and pack-years of cigarette smoking. Respiratory symptoms, lung function, pack-years of cigarette smoking, years of education, and average monthly income were contributing factors for the models of the different domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed impaired HRQOL in semi-precious stone miners evaluated using both questionnaire tools of SGRQ and WHOQOL-BREF, of which SGRQ had superior performance. Respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and pack-years of cigarette smoking were the most important determinants of the workers' general HRQOL.

Vivencias de un trabajador de la gran minería del cobre con silicosis / Experiences of a large copper mining worker with silicosis

Se realizó un estudio de caso para conocer las vivencias de un trabajador minero con silicosis a través del método fenomenológico, en el último trimestre del año 2016. El criterio de inclusión más importante fue el diagnóstico de silicosis categoría 1. Se aplicó entrevista en profundidad basada en una guía de entrevista. El análisis se enfocó en los cuatro existenciales fenomenológicos. En los resultados se encontró que el trabajador describió de forma profunda sus relaciones familiares, sociales y laborales («de mi familia recibí todo el apoyo en cuanto se supo de mi enfermedad»). Percibió el apoyo de su jefatura y de sus compañeros de trabajo. Sobre la reubicación laboral manifestó: «no es solo que te cambien de lugar para trabajar, sino donde tú puedas aportar para el desarrollo de la empresa y donde tú puedas desarrollarte profesionalmente». El trabajador mostró conciencia de su enfermedad, refiriéndose a una buena cobertura de salud otorgada por la Unidad de Salud Ocupacional de la Clínica Río Blanco de la ciudad de Los Andes - Chile. Es importante continuar explorando otros casos de reubicación laboral por silicosis para comprender el fenómeno con mayor profundidad (AU)

In the last quarter of 2016 a case study was conducted to learn the experience of a mining worker with silicosis through the phenomenological method. The most important criterion for inclusion was the silicosis diagnosis of category 1. A deep interview was carried out based on an interview guide. The analysis was focused on the four phenomenological existentialisms. The results showed that the worker described in a profound way his family, social and work relations ('from my family I received all the support as soon as my illness was known'). He sensed the support of his employers and co-workers. About the job relocation he said: 'it is not just about changing the working place, but as well the place where you can contribute to the company´s development and improve professionally.' The worker was aware of his illness, referring to a good health coverage granted by the Occupational Health Unit of the Río Blanco Clinic in the city of Los Andes - Chile. In order to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon it is important to continue exploring other silicosis labor relocation cases (AU)

Physical activity in people with asbestos related pleural disease and dust-related interstitial lung disease: An observational study.

This study aimed to measure the levels of physical activity (PA) in people with dust-related pleural and interstitial lung diseases and to compare these levels of PA to a healthy population. There is limited data on PA in this patient population and no previous studies have compared PA in people with dust-related respiratory diseases to a healthy control group. Participants with a diagnosis of a dust-related respiratory disease including asbestosis and asbestos related pleural disease (ARPD) and a healthy age- and gender-matched population wore the SenseWear(®) Pro3 armband for 9 days. Six-minute walk distance, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were also measured. Fifty participants were recruited and 46 completed the study; 22 with ARPD, 10 with dust-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) and 14 healthy age-matched participants. The mean (standard deviation) steps/day were 6097 (1939) steps/day for dust-related ILD, 9150 (3392) steps/day for ARPD and 10,630 (3465) steps/day for healthy participants. Compared with the healthy participants, dust-related ILD participants were significantly less active as measured by steps/day ((mean difference 4533 steps/day (95% confidence interval (CI): 1888-7178)) and energy expenditure, ((mean difference 512 calories (95% CI: 196-827)) and spent significantly less time engaging in moderate, vigorous or very vigorous activities (i.e. >3 metabolic equivalents; mean difference 1.2 hours/day (95% CI: 0.4-2.0)). There were no differences in levels of PA between healthy participants and those with ARPD. PA was reduced in people with dust-related ILD but not those with ARPD when compared with healthy age and gender-matched individuals.

[Quality of life and influencing factors for patients with silicosis: an analysis of 220 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of life and influencing factors for patients with silicosis and to provide a basis for treatment of silicosis. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty stone workers with silicosis from June 1999 to June 2014 were enrolled into observation group, while healthy stone workers within the same period were used as controls. The quality of life was evaluated using the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-100), and the influencing factors were determined using stepwise multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The scores for psychological function, physiological, independence, spiritual realm, the overall quality of life, and physical condition in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t = 7.1168, P < 0.05; t = 3.8165, P < 0.05; t = 5.9230, P < 0.05; t = 2.7764, P < 0.05; t = 3.0761, P < 0.05). The scores for 11 items including pain, discomfort, energy, fatigue, sleep, and rest in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Negative emotions, silicosis stage, recreation, age, reliance on health care, pain, discomfort, and spiritual beliefs were all influencing factors for the quality of life, which resulted in 68.3% of variation in the quality of life. CONCLUSION: Besides clinical treatment, health and psychological education and recreation are important for patients with silicosis to improve their quality of life.

The influence of the social support on symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients with silicosis.

The improvement of social support promotes the mental health and improves the health status. The study aimed to examine the influence of the social support on symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients with silicosis and provide the scientific basis to further alleviate anxiety and depression and to monitor their whole quality of life. We investigated 324 inpatients with silicosis between April 2011 and September 2011. The HADS (the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale) was the major methodology used to evaluate anxiety and depression, and the MSPSS (the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) to evaluate the social support level. Among patients with silicosis, 99.1% had anxiety symptoms, and 86.1% had depression symptoms. Meanwhile, the social support significantly influenced symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study suggested that patients with silicosis presented more anxiety and depression symptoms, while the social support levels of the patients were relatively low. The influence of social support on symptoms of anxiety and depression among patients with silicosis implied that improving the level of social support and the effective symptomatic treatment might alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms and improve physical and mental status.

The influence of the functional capacity on subjective well-being and quality of life of patients with silicosis.

OBJECTIVES: Silicosis is a fibrosing and irreversible lung disease. In China, 9870 new silicosis cases were reported in 2010. The physical and mental status of patients with silicosis should be paid attention to. The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of the patients' functional capacity on subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL), provide the scientific basis for further intervention measures, and improve their health status. METHODS: We investigated 324 inpatients with silicosis during April 2011 to September 2011. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was the major methodology used to evaluate the functional capacity, the SF-12 (Short Form-12) to evaluate the QOL, and the MUNSH (Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness) scale to evaluate the SWB. RESULTS: The distance of 6MWT suggested a significant and positive correlation with SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis (P < 0.01). In China, patients with silicosis had low SWB and QOL. CONCLUSIONS: The SWB and QOL of patients with silicosis are still relatively low and their health status needs improvement. At the same time, longer distances walked by patients suggest more positive influences on their SWB and QOL. It indicates that when the 6MWT cooperates with SWB and QOL, it may be able to get more accurate evaluation results of patients' survival status.

Quality of life, depression and anxiety in young male patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting.

The aim of this study was to estimate the quality of life, depression and anxiety in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting. This study was conducted on 50 young male patients with silicosis and 30 controls. A socio-demographic data form, Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) were used to determine quality of life, depression and anxiety. The mean scores of SF-36, BDI and BAI were higher in the patients than in the controls. Correlation analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between all scales of SF-36 and BDI scores. Additionally, there was strong negative correlation between five scales of SF-36 and BAI scores. We suggest that silicosis might be detrimental to the quality of life and increase depression and anxiety in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting.

Caregiving burden and quality of life of pneumoconiosis caregivers in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: Silicosis is the most common type of pneumoconiosis in Hong Kong. This study explored the clinical correlates of the caregiving burden and quality of life (QOL) among pneumoconiosis caregivers in Hong Kong. METHODS: The study sample included 112 patients with pneumoconiosis and their caregivers. Caregiving burden was measured using the Caregiving Burden Scale (CBS), and caregivers' QOL was assessed using the physical and mental components (PCS and MCS, respectively) of the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Spearman's ρ were calculated to examine the relationship between CBS, PCS, and MCS scores and caregivers' and patients' sociodemographic variables. Stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the independent correlates of CBS, PCS, and MCS scores. RESULTS: Caregiving burden was correlated with certain patient characteristics (duration of disease, severity of dyspnea, exercise tolerance, depressive symptoms, daily functioning, and community living skills) and with caregivers' variables (depressive symptoms and availability of family support). Regression analysis showed that patients' daily functioning (ß = -.345), caregivers' depressive symptoms (ß = .509), and the availability of family support (ß = .240) were independent correlates of caregiving burden, explaining 45% of the variance. The independent correlates of PCS included patients' severity of coexisting diseases (ß = -.179) and caregivers' depressive symptoms (ß = -.521). Both patients' (ß = -.155) and caregivers' (ß = -.633) depressive symptoms and patients' severity of dyspnea (ß = -.183) were independent correlates of the MCS. CONCLUSION: Caring for pneumoconiosis patients entails a significant caregiving burden for caregivers, and adversely affects their QOL. Caregivers' depressive symptoms are related to both their caregiving burden and QOL.

Depressive symptoms in aged Chinese patients with silicosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with silicosis and its determinants. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was performed. About 121 patients with silicosis randomly selected from a case registry of a non-ferrous metal company and 110 controls completed the questionnaires of sociodemographic variables, Beck depression inventory (BDI) and lung function test. chi(2) test was performed to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms between two groups. The relationship between the variables and depressive symptoms in patients with silicosis was assessed by performing the logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with silicosis was 27.3%, which was higher than the figure 7.3% in controls (chi(2)=15.8, p<001). Severe respiratory symptoms, severe impaired physical function, FEV(1) <50% predicted and (FVC)% predicted less than mean were significantly associated with the depressive symptoms (Odds ratio [OR]=4.6, 5.9, 3.0 and 5.2, respectively). CONCLUSION: High prevalence of depressive symptoms was found in patients with silicosis. Respiratory symptoms, physical function and pulmonary functions were associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings provide evidence for physicians to screen for depressive symptoms in patients with silicosis.