The cough frequency among call center workers: "call center cough"

Abstract

Introduction: Call centers are places where numerous people work together always speaking in a closed environment, and the most common complaint about admission to a doctor by call center employees is a cough and other respiratory system symptoms. Materials and Methods: In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the relationship of call center employees between work and cough complaints and cough incidence with a questionnaire that consists of eleven questions and evaluates epidemiologic features, cough complaints of call center employees. Results: 132 people were accrued to this study and the female/male ratio was 102/30. Mean age was 26.4 +/- 2.7 (min-max; 21- 39) years, mean working time at the call center was 2.6 +/- 1.2 (min-max; 0.1- 8) year and mean daily working hours was 8.1 +/- 1.1 hour. 40 (30.3%) participants had cough complaint before beginning, 89 (67.4%) participants had cough complaint after to work at a call center work (p=0.004). Conclusion: Cough is more prevalent in call center employees. Pulmonary medicine specialist and occupational medicine practioner keep their mind unexplaned cough with infections or other reasons might be a warning and early symptoms of sick building syndrome or other building related diseases or voice abusing on call center operators.