title: Good practices in managing work-related indoor air problems: a psychosocial perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Indoor air problems at workplaces are often exceedingly complex. Technical questions are interrelated with the dynamics of the work community, and the cooperation and interaction skills of the parties involved in the problem solving process are also put to the test. The objective of our study was to analyze the process of managing and solving indoor air problems from a psychosocial perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  This collective case study was based on data from questionnaires, interviews and various documentary materials. Technical inspections of the buildings and indoor air measurements were also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following four factors best differentiated successful cases from impeded cases: extensive multiprofessional collaboration and participative action, systematic action and perseverance, investment in information and communication, and process thinking and learning. The study also proposed a theoretical model for the role of the psychosocial work environment in indoor air problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expertise related to social and human aspects of problem solving plays a significant role in solving indoor air problems. Failures to properly handle these aspects may lead to resources being wasted and result in a problematic situation becoming stagnant or worse.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Uusimaa Regional Institute, Helsinki, Finland. marjaana.lahtinen@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Marjaana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huuhtanen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vähämäki
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kähkönen
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mussalo-Rauhamaa
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reijula
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019985:Benchmarking; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D017132:Workplace / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational