Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2015, 6(2):267-272 | DOI: 10.15452/CEJNM.2015.06.0014

Prevention of hearing loss at work

Mária Šupínová1,*, Jana Virgulová1, Mária Kožuchová2, Monika Babincová1
1 Faculty of Health SMU in Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
2 Nursing home care agency (NHCA-SRDCE s.r.o) in Jaklovce, Slovak Republic

Aim: The purpose of the current contribution was to present the results of a study on the occurrence of hearing loss in people exposed to loud noise in working environments.

Design: A cross-sectional, observation study.

Methods: The research method used was audiometric examination, expressed as percentage of hearing loss (HL) according to Fowler.

Results: The study results were analysed using absolute and relative frequencies. The association between variables was evaluated using a Chi-Quadrat Test at the significance level of p = 0.05. Cramer's V was used to measure strength of association. The set included 300 respondents up to 55 years of age, working in hazardous working environments and exposed to noise for at least five years, in six companies situated in the Banska Bystrica self-governing region. The results indicate that the association between the degree of hearing loss and workplace risk category was not proven (p = 0.932). Similarly, the association between hearing loss occurrence and the sex of respondents was not proven (p = 0.128). The association between the period of noise exposure (in hours) and HL value ≥ 5%, taking into account the workplace risk category, was proven (p < 0.001). Cramer's V of 0.576 indicates a medium strength association. In addition, the association between the degree of total hearing loss and the number of years spent in a noisy environment, regardless of the workplace risk category, was proven (p < 0.001). Cramer's V of 0.386 indicates a medium strength association.

Conclusion: The results of the current research confirmed the existence of the danger of hearing loss due to long-term exposure to noise in working environments. They also verified the effectiveness of measures to prevent its negative impact on employees' health.

Keywords: noise, exposure to noise, hearing loss, health at work, audiometry

Received: March 5, 2015; Accepted: May 5, 2015; Published: September 30, 2015  Show citation

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Šupínová M, Virgulová J, Kožuchová M, Babincová M. Prevention of hearing loss at work. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery. 2015;6(2):267-272. doi: 10.15452/CEJNM.2015.06.0014.
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