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- Angelova, Radostina A., et al.
(författare)
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The response rate in postal epidemiological studies in the context of national cultural behaviour
- 2012
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Ingår i: 10th International Conference on Healthy Buildings 2012. - 9781627480758 ; , s. 1429-1434
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of national cultural differences on the response rate, obtained in questionnaire based epidemiological studies on allergy and asthma, performed in Sweden (DBH) and Bulgaria (ALLHOME). The two studies used one and the same methodology, but the obtained response rate was different: 78.8% in DBH and 34.5% in ALLHOME. The differences in the obtained response rate and the reasons for these differences were analyzed on the basis of the Hofstede's cultural dimensions' indexes, which clearly show the distinction in the national cultural behaviour of people in Sweden and Bulgaria. It was found that national culture could strongly influence the response behaviour of people in epidemiological studies and Hofstede's indexes can be useful tool when designing and performing epidemiological studies, and in particular - questionnaire surveys.
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| 2. |
- Kolarik, Barbara, et al.
(författare)
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The association between phthalates in dust and allergic diseases among Bulgarian children
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Environmental Health Perspectives. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 116:1, s. 98-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified associations between the concentration of phthalates in indoor dust and allergic symptoms in the airways, nose, and skin. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to investigate the associations between allergic symptoms in children and the concentration of phthalate esters in settled dust collected from children's homes in Sofia and Burgas, Bulgaria. METHODS: Dust samples from the child's bedroom were collected. A total of 102 children (2-7 years of age) had symptoms of wheezing, rhinitis, and/or eczema in preceding 12 months (cases), and 82 were nonsymptomatic (controls). The dust samples were analyzed for their content of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). RESULTS: A higher concentration of DEHP was found in homes of case children than in those of controls (1.24 vs. 0.86 mg/g dust). The concentration of DEHP was significantly associated with wheezing in the preceding 12 months (p = 0.035) as reported by parents. We found a dose-response relationship between DEHP concentration and case status and between DEHP concentration and wheezing in the preceding 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an association between concentration of DEHP in indoor dust and wheezing among preschool children in Bulgaria
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