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Table 2 Occupation groups in the AWES-Asthma and Bhutan healthcare workers studies where exposures were re-assigned in step two according to OAsJEM instructions

From: Comparison of agreement in asthmagen exposure assessments between rule-based automatic algorithms and a job exposure matrix in healthcare workers in Australia and Bhutan

ISCO-88 Code

ISCO-88 Description

Agent

Original level of exposure assigned

New exposure level assigned in step two

Number of participants who were assigned a new exposure

Instructions in the OAsJEM for re-assigning exposures in step two*

AWES-Asthma study

Bhutan healthcare workers study

2211

Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals

Fish/shellfish

Medium

No

8

5

If there is no evidence of this person works regularly with fish recode fish = 0

2122

Pharmacologists, pathologists and related professionals

High level disinfectants

Medium

High

1

1

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2, if clear evidence that this person works in highly exposed units such as in histology, pathology, pharmacology, operating room, intensive care unit, endoscopy, dialysis

2221

Medical doctors

Latex

Medium

High

2

12

Recode latex = 2 if surgeon

2230

Nursing and midwifery professionals

Latex

High

No

14

0

Recode latex = 0 for nurses not based in hospitals (e.g. public health nurse, district nurse, nurse in school, occupational health nurse, research nurse, nurse educator etc.)

2230

Nursing and midwifery professionals

High level disinfectants

Medium

High

31

74

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2 if midwife or bronchoscopy, operating room or gastroenterology or geriatric or pediatric nurse or if clear evidence that this worker is using frequently such products (histology, pathology, pharmacology, intensive care unit, endoscopy, dialysis)

2230

Nursing and midwifery professionals

Drugs

No

High

2

10

Recode drugs = 2 only if oncology or geriatric nurse or if clear evidence that this worker is preparing drugs, keep 0 in other cases

3133

Medical equipment operators

High level disinfectants

Medium

High

10

7

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2 if radiography, histology, bronchoscopy, or gastroenterology technician, or if technician working in hospital sterile supply department; otherwise keep 1

3211

Life science technicians

High level disinfectants

No

High

2

19

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in histology, pathology, pharmacology otherwise keep 0

3221

Medical assistants

High level disinfectants

No

High

0

1

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in highly exposed units such as in histology, pathology, pharmacology, operating room, intensive care unit, endoscopy, dialysis

3225

Dental assistants

Acrylates

Medium

No

0

14

If working as a dental hygienist recode acrylate = 0

3228

Pharmaceutical assistants

Latex

Medium

No

1

0

Recode latex = 0 if clear evidence of no use of latex gloves

3228

Pharmaceutical assistants

Drugs

High

Medium

1

0

Recode drugs = 1 if not clear evidence that this worker is preparing drugs, keep 2 in other cases

3228

Pharmaceutical assistants

Amines

No

Medium

0

7

If clear evidence of daily use of drugs, recode amines = 1, otherwise leave as is

3229

Modern health associate professionals (except nursing) not elsewhere classified

High level disinfectants

No

High

0

8

Recode chemical disinfectants = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in in highly exposed units such as in histology, pathology, pharmacology, operating room, intensive care unit, endoscopy, dialysis

3229

Modern health associate professionals (except nursing) not elsewhere classified

Latex

No

High

0

8

Recode latex = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in personal nursing care in an operating room, a dental practice, or a geriatric care facility, otherwise leave as is

3231

Nursing associate professionals

Latex

High

No

1

0

Recode latex = 0 for associate nursing professionals not based in hospitals (e.g. public health, in school, occupational health nurse, research, education etc.)

5132

Institution-based personal care workers

Latex

Medium

High

0

18

Recode latex = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in personal nursing care in an operating room, oncology, a dental practice, or a geriatric care facility or in hospital, otherwise leave as is

5132

Institution-based personal care workers

High level disinfectants

Medium

High

0

18

Recode chemical disinfectant = 2 if clear evidence that this person works in personal nursing care in an operating room, oncology, a dental practice, or a geriatric care facility or in hospital, otherwise leave as is

5133

Home-based personal care workers

House dust mites

Medium

High

16

0

Recode house dust mite = 2 if evidence that a major part of the work is cleaning or sweeping in private home and mites are common in homes in the considered country

9132

Helpers and cleaners in offices, hotels and other establishments

High level disinfectants

Medium

High

9

16

Recode as chemical disinfectant = 2 if work is mainly indoor cleaning or extensive personal care of elderly persons in institution; otherwise leave as it is