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Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2021The first clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified in an occupational setting, and to date, a significant portion of the cases may result from occupational...
The first clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified in an occupational setting, and to date, a significant portion of the cases may result from occupational exposure; thus, COVID-19 should also be considered a new occupational risk that both directly and indirectly impacts the health of workers. Given the significance of occupational-exposure-related infections and deaths, this study aims to assess the roles and tasks of occupational physicians (OPs) in countering the spread of the infection. Indeed, despite the OP's centrality in risk management in the workplace, its activity in the current epidemic context has rarely been mentioned. Three different databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase) were questioned using the main keywords "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2" that were crossed, according to different needs, with the terms "occupational medicine", "occupational physician", "workplace", and "risk assessment" using, when possible, the MeSH database research. Additionally, a systematic research of the regulatory changes of workplaces health surveillance was performed on reference sites of international, European, and Italian authorities. Fundamental tasks and duties of OPs in the current COVID-19 outbreak are highlighted by examining their clinical activity and technical action. A risk assessment and management workflow is proposed, and medico-legal implications in case of infection at work are also discussed in the light of recent regulatory changes that clearly attribute to OPs an important role in safeguarding public health. The proposed approach can provide new instruments to contrast the spread of the infection as part of a comprehensive system response to the current pandemic, for which OPs are called to assume full responsibility.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Italy; Pandemics; Physicians; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34065845
DOI: 10.3390/medicina57050479 -
La Medicina Del Lavoro Feb 2022In recent years there has been a growth in the role of prevention in controlling the disease burden. Increasing efforts have been conveyed in the screening... (Review)
Review
In recent years there has been a growth in the role of prevention in controlling the disease burden. Increasing efforts have been conveyed in the screening implementation and public health policies, and the spreading knowledge on risk factors reflects on major attention to health checks. Despite this, lifestyle changes are difficult to be adopted and the adherence to current public health services like screening and vaccinations remains suboptimal. Additionally, the prevalence and outcome of different chronic diseases and cancers is burdened by social disparities. P4 [predictive, preventive, personalized, participatory] medicine is the conceptualization of a new health care model, based on multidimensional data and machine-learning algorithms in order to develop public health intervention and monitoring the health status of the population with focus on wellbeing and healthy ageing. Each of the characteristics of P4 medicine is relevant to occupational medicine, and indeed the P4 approach appears to be particularly relevant to this discipline. In this review, we discuss the potential applications of P4 to occupational medicine, showing examples of its introduction on workplaces and hypothesizing its further implementation at the occupational level.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Humans; Neoplasms; Occupational Medicine; Precision Medicine; Preventive Medicine; Public Health
PubMed: 35226650
DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v113i1.12622 -
BMC Medical Education Jun 2022Although person-centered care (PCC) ensures high-quality care for patients, studies have shown that it is unevenly applied in clinical practice. The extent to which...
BACKGROUND
Although person-centered care (PCC) ensures high-quality care for patients, studies have shown that it is unevenly applied in clinical practice. The extent to which future health care providers are currently offered education in PCC at their universities is unclear. We aimed to clarify the PCC content offered to students as a basis for their understanding by exploring the PCC content of Swedish national study programs in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.
METHODS
Using a qualitative document analysis design, we sampled the steering documents from all higher education institutions (n = 48) with accreditation in medicine (n = 7), nursing (n = 25), occupational therapy (n = 8), or physiotherapy (n = 8) at a single time point. All national study programs (n = 4), local program syllabuses (n = 48), and local course syllabuses (n = 799) were reviewed using a 10-item protocol.
RESULTS
We found no content related to PCC in the steering documents at the national level. At the local level, however, signs of PCC were identified in local program syllabuses and local course syllabuses. Seven of the 48 local program syllabuses (15%) included PCC in their intended learning outcomes. Eight of the 799 local course syllabuses (1%) contained course titles that included the phrase 'person-centered care,' and another 101 listed 142 intended learning outcomes referring to PCC. A total of 21 terms connected to PCC were found, and the term 'person-centered care' was most commonly used in the nursing programs and least commonly in the medical programs.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a broad range in how the national study programs in Sweden have incorporated PCC. The implementation has been driven by a bottom-up strategy. A deliberate and standardized strategy is needed to ensure full implementation of PCC into clinical curricula in higher education.
Topics: Curriculum; Humans; Occupational Medicine; Occupational Therapy; Patient-Centered Care; Self Care
PubMed: 35739515
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03502-8 -
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983) Nov 2019
Topics: Career Choice; Employment; France; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine; Professional Autonomy; Work Capacity Evaluation
PubMed: 31812244
DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2019.10.024 -
Medical Journal (Fort Sam Houston, Tex.) 2020In 2019, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Occupational and...
In 2019, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) Residency program. This unique program is among the largest preventive medicine residency programs in the United States. Residents from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, other federal institutions, and the Canadian Forces come to Bethesda, Maryland, to become OEM specialists in a unique training program encompassing both military and civilian OEM settings. This publication describes the historical development and practice of OEM in the military leading to the development of the USU OEM Residency Program, along with the program's past accomplishments and current operation. Finally, the publication explores potential future directions for this relatively small but important preventive medicine specialty in the practice of military medicine, considering the impacts of reorganization of the Military Health System along with the opportunities this reorganization presents for the USU OEM Residency program.
Topics: Environmental Medicine; Internship and Residency; Maryland; Military Medicine; Occupational Medicine; Schools, Medical; United States
PubMed: 33211905
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2021Given the extent of workaholism identified in the literature, it seems essential to consider effective preventive measures. The purpose of this article is to summarize... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Given the extent of workaholism identified in the literature, it seems essential to consider effective preventive measures. The purpose of this article is to summarize literature data on possible collective and individual preventive measures against workaholism, especially in occupational medicine.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic literature review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
RESULTS
155 articles were retrieved in March 2019, but only 15 well-designed studies providing concrete measures to prevent workaholism were included. The various measures were classified using the traditional distinction between three levels of prevention. At the first level of prevention, workaholism can be avoided by implementing a protective organizational culture. The second level of prevention rather focuses on individual training and counselling to address the negative consequences of workaholism. Finally, the third level of prevention combines cognitive and behavioral interventions that enable professional and social reintegration of workaholics.
DISCUSSION
This literature review confirms the multifactorial origin of workaholism and the involvement of organizational factors, supporting the necessary contribution of companies in its prevention. This review also reinforces the growing perception of workaholism as a behavioral addiction. Occupational physicians play a key role in this preventive approach as they can influence both working conditions and individual care. The highlighted preventive measures seem to be not only favorable to workaholics, but also to companies.
CONCLUSION
This review provides field tools that can be used at the various levels of workaholism prevention. Nevertheless, intervention studies are required to confirm the effectiveness of the measures presented.
Topics: Behavior, Addictive; Occupational Medicine; Occupations
PubMed: 34281048
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137109 -
Archivos de Prevencion de Riesgos... Jul 2021
Topics: European Union; Medicine; Occupational Medicine; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 34965334
DOI: 10.12961/aprl.2021.24.03.06 -
Revista Brasileira de Medicina Do... 2021Causality is a transdisciplinary topic with the medical-legal field representing one of its most exciting aspects. Since medicine and law have different roots and...
Causality is a transdisciplinary topic with the medical-legal field representing one of its most exciting aspects. Since medicine and law have different roots and objectives, this article provides references to support occupational physicians and medico-legal experts in the difficult task of establishing occupational causation. In addition to the traditional Bradford Hill criteria and Schilling's Classification, additional standards are provided to enhance critical assessment and contribute to the responsible use of the concept of causation in both the legal and medical-occupational fields.
PubMed: 34603420
DOI: 10.47626/1679-4435-2020-650 -
Swiss Medical Weekly Jun 2022Switzerland's Labour Law and its Ordonnance on Maternity Protection aim to protect the health of pregnant employees and their unborn children while enabling them to...
STUDY AIMS
Switzerland's Labour Law and its Ordonnance on Maternity Protection aim to protect the health of pregnant employees and their unborn children while enabling them to continue to pursue their professional activities. Some companies encounter difficulties implementing the law's provisions. The Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, part of the Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), has provided specialist occupational medicine consultations for pregnant employees since 2015. This study aimed to evaluate how well Swiss' maternity protection legislation is implemented by examining a list of relevant indicators measured during the occupational health consultation. The study also sought to investigate the consultation support provided to the relevant stakeholders and the adjustments made to pregnant employees' working conditions.
METHODS
Descriptive variables and indicators relative to the application of the Swiss maternity protection legislation for 83 pregnant employees were collected during the consultation's pilot phase (between 2015 and 2016). Descriptive statistics and cross-analyses of these indicators were made.
RESULTS
Most pregnant employees faced multiple exposures to occupational risks. Preventive risk analyses were rare. Few adjustments to workstations were proposed. We found a tendency for employees to leave their workstations early on in their pregnancies due to sick leave certificate prescriptions. Specialist consultation and collaboration with occupational health physicians to recommend interventions for pregnant employees can provide significant benefits and help some pregnant women to continue at their workstations with appropriate adjustments.
DISCUSSION
A specialised occupational health consultation is a useful instrument for identifying occupational hazards for both the pregnant woman and her unborn child. It is also an opportunity to explain employers' legal responsibilities and obligations to safeguard the health of their pregnant employees and to give specific advice for their company's situation. This consultation also enables employers to maintain their employees' valuable professional competencies in the workplace for as long as possible. Finally, occupational health consultation helps and supports healthcare providers who must, according to the law, make decisions about whether pregnant employees can continue working safely or not.
Topics: Female; Humans; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine; Pregnancy; Referral and Consultation; Switzerland; Workplace
PubMed: 35704946
DOI: 10.4414/smw.2022.w30160 -
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Sep 2023
Topics: Humans; Public Health; Occupational Medicine; Global Health; Occupational Health
PubMed: 37567765
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2023-108939