Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 161, Number 5, May 2000, 1508-1512

Individual Characteristics and Quitting in Apprentices Exposed to High-molecular-weight Agents

EDUARD MONSÓ, JEAN-LUC MALO, CLAIRE INFANTE-RIVARD, HEBERTO GHEZZO, MICHÈLE MAGNAN, JOCELYNE L'ARCHEVÈQUE, CAROLE TRUDEAU, and DENYSE GAUTRIN

Department of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, Université de Montréal, Quebec; and Joint Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

To determine whether specific immunological sensitization (SIS) and symptoms of allergy are associated with quitting apprenticeships with exposure to high-molecular-weight (HMW) agents. In a cohort study of 769 apprentices starting career programs in animal health technology (AHT), pastry-making (PM), and dental hygiene technology (DHT), health status was assessed at baseline and yearly for up to 44 mo. Subjects who quit the apprenticeship were contacted and offered a last series of measurements as if they pursued. The effect of various factorsat baseline and during the career programon quitting was examined. Eighty-nine of 769 subjects (11.6%) quit, of whom 74 participated in this study. In multivariate analysis, a history of hay fever (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.0 to 2.75) and attending the pastry-making program (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.11 to 4.91) were significant determinants for quitting. In the subgroup of AHT, SIS to laboratory animals, hay fever, and shortness of breath were significant determinants by univariate analysis; in PM, the only determinant was age; and in DHT, hay fever. Work-related symptoms during training were not associated with quitting. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis in AHT, including characteristics at baseline and at follow-up, baseline SIS (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 0.94 to 8.38) and symptoms of asthma in general during follow-up (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.94 to 5.38) were the main determinants for quitting, though they were of borderline significance. We conclude that health-related self-selection out of an apprenticeship with exposure to HMW agents is likely to occur and to cause an attrition bias.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Le Moual, F. Kauffmann, E. A. Eisen, and S. M. Kennedy The Healthy Worker Effect in Asthma: Work May Cause Asthma, but Asthma May Also Influence Work Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2008; 177(1): 4 - 10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M El-Zein, C Infante-Rivard, J-L Malo, and D Gautrin Is metal fume fever a determinant of welding related respiratory symptoms and/or increased bronchial responsiveness? A longitudinal study Occup. Environ. Med., October 1, 2005; 62(10): 688 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G M Liss, S M Tarlo, J Doherty, J Purdham, J Greene, L McCaskell, and M Kerr Physician diagnosed asthma, respiratory symptoms, and associations with workplace tasks among radiographers in Ontario, Canada Occup. Environ. Med., April 1, 2003; 60(4): 254 - 261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. TOBIN Asthma, Airway Biology, and Allergic Rhinitis in AJRCCM 2000 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 2001; 164(9): 1559 - 1580. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Gautrin, H. Ghezzo, C. Infante-Rivard, and J-L. Malo Natural history of sensitization, symptoms and occupational diseases in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2001; 17(5): 904 - 908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]