Table 3

Point estimates of effect (B) and SE, ORs, 95% CIs of OR from binary logistic regression models for hearing-related symptom outcomes (binary dependent variables) among personnel in an obstetrics ward

Dependent variablesExplanatory variablesB (SE)OR (95% CI)p Value
Sound-induced auditory fatigue
 Model 1Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.00 to 1.07)0.031
 Model 3Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.00 to 1.08)0.027
Work-related stress0.96 (0.42)2.62 (1.15 to 5.98)0.022
 Model 4Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.01 to 1.08)0.026
Noise annoyance at work1.73 (0.47)5.67 (2.25 to 14.27)<0.001
 Model 5Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.01 to 1.08)0.025
Work-related stress0.87 (0.45)2.39 (0.99 to 5.79)0.053
Noise annoyance at work1.66 (0.48)5.25 (2.05 to 13.42)0.001
Tinnitus
 Model 1Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.00 to 1.09)0.049
 Model 3Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.04 (1.00 to 1.09)0.046
Work-related stress−0.43 (0.60)0.65 (0.20 to 2.10)0.470
 Model 4Occupational noise index0.04 (0.02)1.05 (1.00 to 1.09)0.038
Noise annoyance at work0.56 (0.58)1.85 (0.56 to 5.46)0.335
Sound sensitivityOccupational noise index0.01 (0.02)1.03 (0.97 to 1.06)0.570
Poor hearingOccupational noise index0.00 (0.02)1.00 (0.96 to 1.04)0.985
Hearing lossOccupational noise index0.00 (0.03)1.00 (0.95 to 1.06)0.995
Difficulty perceiving speechOccupational noise index0.01 (0.02)1.01 (0.98 to 1.05)0.461
Any symptom*Occupational noise index0.02 (0.02)1.02 (0.99 to 1.05)0.273
  • All dependent variables were analysed in separate models. Manual sequential analysis was adopted, adding work-related stress and noise annoyance at work, and adding an interaction term if the initial model was statistically significant (p<0.05).

  • *Any symptom was constructed as a binary variable including all those who reported either sound-induced auditory fatigue, tinnitus, sound sensitivity, poor hearing, hearing loss or difficulty perceiving speech. Bold typeface indicates statistical significance at p<0.05.