TY  - BOOK
AU  - Khosrawi,Ahmad Zobair
AU  - Çakır,Sedef
TI  - PERCEIVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN A  UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN CYPRUS
PY  - 2023///
KW  - Air conditioning
KW  - Dissertations, Academic
KW  -  Health facilities
KW  - Heating
KW  - Indoor air quality
KW  -  Perception
KW  - Ventilation
N1  - Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Environmental Engineering Department; Includes bibliography (sheets 91-99)
N2  - ABSTRACT
Indoor air quality (IAQ) has a profound influence on human health and well-being, 
particularly in hospital settings where patients, medical staff, and visitors are typically 
more vulnerable to impurities. Hence, investigating IAQ in healthcare settings is 
crucial. This study aims to estimate perceived IAQ, prevalent symptoms and 
complaints, perceived heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and 
their association with IAQ in a university hospital in Northern Cyprus. In 2023, this
study was carried out utilizing a modified MM-40 IAQ questionnaire survey to collect
information. The entire 207 medical personnel at Kyrenia University Hospital were 
invited, however, 173 took part. The thesis revealed a mediocre IAQ overall rating 
with a modest awareness. The most prevalent symptoms among medical staff were 
fatigue (89.0%), headaches (86.7%), sneezing (84.4%), skin itching (62.4%), dizziness 
(61.8%), cough (57.2%), stuffy nose (55.5%), sore or dry throat (54.9%), and runny 
nose (52.0%) suggesting a significant possibility of sick building syndrome (SBS) 
symptoms existence (P-value < 0.05). The complaints commonly reported were poor 
ventilation (72.8%), varying temperature (74%), dust or dirt (54.33%), and 
temperature too low (52.60%). HVAC systems were usually thought to be good and 
modernized, however, several problems were discovered, such as inadequate 
ventilation and temperature changes. Using an IAQ questionnaire survey, improving
HVAC systems, constant IAQ monitoring and the installation of air cleaner devices 
are among the recommendations. Implementing these solutions prior to symptoms and 
complaints will improve medical personnel's well-being and productivity, eventually 
benefiting the overall healthcare community. Studies of IAQ in healthcare facilities 
might use the measurement of IAQ parameters for precise conclusions. 
Keywords: Air-Conditioning Systems, Healthcare Facilities, Heating, Indoor Air 
Quality, Perceptions, University Hospital, Ventilation

ER  -