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Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 2015Dysphonia is the main symptom of the disorders of oral communication. However, voice disorders also present with other symptoms such as difficulty in maintaining the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Dysphonia is the main symptom of the disorders of oral communication. However, voice disorders also present with other symptoms such as difficulty in maintaining the voice (asthenia), vocal fatigue, variation in habitual vocal fundamental frequency, hoarseness, lack of vocal volume and projection, loss of vocal efficiency, and weakness when speaking. There are several proposals for the etiologic classification of dysphonia: functional, organofunctional, organic, and work-related voice disorder (WRVD).
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a literature review on WRVD and on the current Brazilian labor legislation.
METHODS
This was a review article with bibliographical research conducted on the PubMed and Bireme databases, using the terms "work-related voice disorder", "occupational dysphonia", "dysphonia and labor legislation", and a review of labor and social security relevant laws.
CONCLUSION
WRVD is a situation that frequently is listed as a reason for work absenteeism, functional rehabilitation, or for prolonged absence from work. Currently, forensic physicians have no comparative parameters to help with the analysis of vocal disorders. In certain situations WRVD may cause, work disability. This disorder may be labor-related, or be an adjuvant factor to work-related diseases.
Topics: Absenteeism; Brazil; Dysphonia; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Medicine; Risk Factors; Voice Quality
PubMed: 25458260
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2014.03.003 -
La Medicina Del Lavoro Dec 2019.
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Topics: Academies and Institutes; History, 20th Century; Humans; Italy; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine; Workplace
PubMed: 31846446
DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v110iS1.9009 -
Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen... May 2012Occupational skin diseases are the most commonly reported notifiable occupational diseases. In Germany, 23 596 out of a total of 71 263 reported occupational diseases in...
Occupational skin diseases are the most commonly reported notifiable occupational diseases. In Germany, 23 596 out of a total of 71 263 reported occupational diseases in 2010 were classified as occupational skin diseases (BK No. 5101: "severe or recurrent skin diseases which have forced the person to discontinue all occupational activities that caused or could cause the development, worsening, or recurrence of the disease"). Contact dermatitis (allergic, irritant) of the hands is the most common skin disease and atopic skin diathesis is often an important co-factor. The number of work-related skin diseases is many times higher than the number of notified occupational dermatoses. This CME article explains the legal framework of occupational diseases, the tasks and obligations of the legal statutory work insurance. Typical allergens and irritants of high risk professions are also presented as are the important steps from diagnosis to compensation. Early prevention of occupational skin diseases is very important to avoid severe chronic hand eczema. Therefore the "dermatologist's report" is crucial. Other occupational dermatoses (outside of BK 5101) are briefly mentioned. In recent years the number of notifications of occupational skin cancer due to occupational UV-irradiation has increased. According to recent epidemiological findings, there is a significant and consistent positive association between occupational UV-irradiation and squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, an important criterion for a new occupational disease is fulfilled.
Topics: Germany; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Medicine; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 22455666
DOI: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2012.07890.x -
Pain Physician 2008In the modern day environment, workers' compensation costs continue to be a challenge, with a need to balance costs, benefits, and quality of medical care. The cost of... (Review)
Review
In the modern day environment, workers' compensation costs continue to be a challenge, with a need to balance costs, benefits, and quality of medical care. The cost of workers' compensation care affects all stakeholders including workers, employers, providers, regulators, legislators, and insurers. Consequently, a continued commitment to quality, accessibility to care, and cost containment will help ensure that workers are afforded accessible, high quality, and cost-effective care. In 2004, workers' compensation programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and federal programs in the United States combined received an income of $87.4 billion while paying out only $56 billion in medical and cash benefits with $31.4 billion or 37% in administrative expenses and profit. Occupational diseases represented only 8% of the workers' compensation claims and 29% of the cost. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has published several guidelines; though widely adopted by WCPs, these guidelines evaluate the practice of medicine of multiple specialties without adequate expertise and expert input from the concerned specialties, including interventional pain management. An assessment of the ACOEM guidelines utilizing Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) criteria, the criteria developed by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and other significantly accepted criteria, consistently showed very low scores (< 30%) in most aspects of the these guidelines. The ACOEM recommendations do not appear to have been based on a careful review of the literature, overall quality of evidence, standard of care, or expert consensus. Based on the evaluation utilizing appropriate and current evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles, the evidence ratings for diagnostic techniques of lumbar discography; cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint nerve blocks and sacroiliac joint nerve blocks; therapeutic cervical and lumbar medial branch blocks and radiofrequency neurolysis; cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections, caudal epidural steroid injections, and lumbar transforaminal epidural injections; caudal percutaneous adhesiolysis; abd spinal cord stimulation were found to be moderate with strong recommendation applying for most patients in most circumstances. The evidence ratings for intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET), an automated percutaneous disc decompression and also deserve further scrutiny and analysis. In conclusion, these ACOEM guidelines for interventional pain management have no applicability in modern patient care due to lack of expertise by the developing organization (ACOEM), lack of utilization of appropriate and current EBM principles, and lack of significant involvement of experts in these techniques resulting in a lack of clinical relevance. Thus, they may result in reduced medical quality of care; may severely hinder access to appropriate, medically needed and essential medical care; and finally, they may increase costs for injured workers, third party payors, and the government by transferring the injured worker into a non-productive disability system.
Topics: Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine; Pain Management; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 18523500
DOI: No ID Found -
Medycyna Pracy Nov 2023Occupational medical research involves the collection and analysis of data to draw conclusions about the causes and prevention of workplace injuries and diseases....
Occupational medical research involves the collection and analysis of data to draw conclusions about the causes and prevention of workplace injuries and diseases. However, there has been criticism that some studies lack rigour in determining causation. This article examines the similarities and differences between occupational medical research and particle physics in terms of their approach to hypothesis testing, statistical methods, and confounder control. The article also explores the use of criteria such as the Bradford Hill criteria to determine causation in occupational medical research. While particle physics is often viewed as a highly rigorous science, occupational medical research also employs rigorous scientific methods to ensure findings are accurate and reliable. However, there is room for improvement in determining causation in occupational medical research, particularly in the use of criteria such as the Bradford Hill criteria to guide the development of more robust studies. It is essential for occupational medical research to adhere to rigorous scientific methods to deliver findings that can help reduce workplace injuries and diseases. The use of criteria such as the Bradford Hill criteria can ensure that the conclusions drawn. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(4):333-9.
Topics: Humans; Occupational Medicine; Causality; Physics; Workplace
PubMed: 37966388
DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.01387 -
Annali Di Igiene : Medicina Preventiva... 2017This short article, which describes the significant contribution Prof. Carmine Melino made to Occupational Medicine, underlines the Professor's great interest in this...
This short article, which describes the significant contribution Prof. Carmine Melino made to Occupational Medicine, underlines the Professor's great interest in this field and his outstanding ability in combining the lessons of the past with the most innovative aspects of this discipline.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Italy; Occupational Medicine; Universities
PubMed: 28715051
DOI: 10.7416/ai.2017.2170 -
BMC Medical Education Sep 2010During the last 5 years a fundamental curriculum reform was realized at the medical school of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University. In contrast to those efforts, the...
BACKGROUND
During the last 5 years a fundamental curriculum reform was realized at the medical school of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University. In contrast to those efforts, the learning objectives were not defined consistently for the curriculum and important questions concerning the curriculum could not be answered. This also applied to Occupational and Environmental Medicine where teachers of both courses were faced with additional problems such as the low number of students attending the lectures.The aims of the study were to develop and analyse a curriculum map for Occupational and Environmental Medicine based on learning objectives using a web-based database.Furthermore we aimed to evaluate student perception about the curricular structure.
METHODS
Using a web-based learning objectives database, a curriculum map for Occupational and Environmental Medicine was developed and analysed. Additionally online evaluations of students for each course were conducted.
RESULTS
The results show a discrepancy between the taught and the assessed curriculum. For both curricula, we identified that several learning objectives were not covered in the curriculum. There were overlaps with other content domains and redundancies within both curricula. 53% of the students in Occupational Medicine and 43% in Environmental Medicine stated that there is a lack of information regarding the learning objectives of the curriculum.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the curriculum mapping and the poor evaluation results for the courses suggest a need for re-structuring both curricula.
Topics: Curriculum; Data Collection; Educational Measurement; Environmental Medicine; Humans; Internet; Learning; Models, Educational; Occupational Medicine; Perception; Students, Medical; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 20840737
DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-10-60 -
Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju Mar 2015Work has numerous health and wellbeing benefits, but it also involves physical hazards and psychological exertion. Today the scale has tipped toward psychosocial... (Review)
Review
Work has numerous health and wellbeing benefits, but it also involves physical hazards and psychological exertion. Today the scale has tipped toward psychosocial factors. Workers' mental health affects their intellectual, emotional, and social growth, as well as work ability, productivity, and ultimately organisational productivity and competitiveness on the market. Even though companies may have an internal hierarchy that lowers stress at work, there are other formal and informal social processes that can affect (positively or negatively) the cohesion within the work unit. Safety culture of an organisation is a product of individual and group values, opinions, competences, and behavioural patterns that determine how occupational health and safety are implemented. Organisations that nurture positive safety culture understand the importance of health and safety and believe in prevention rather than dealing with consequences. Jobs that are stable, autonomous, and reasonably physically and psychologically demanding are far more likely to lower work-related stress and boost worker satisfaction. In fact, employee empowerment is one of the best ways to achieve good psychosocial health at the workplace.
Topics: Humans; Job Satisfaction; Occupational Health; Occupational Medicine; Organizational Culture; Stress, Psychological; Workplace
PubMed: 25781656
DOI: 10.1515/aiht-2015-66-2558 -
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 -
Journal of UOEH 2024This mini review explores the transformative potential of big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) in reforming occupational medicine in Indonesia. Emphasizing... (Review)
Review
This mini review explores the transformative potential of big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) in reforming occupational medicine in Indonesia. Emphasizing the preconditions, case studies, and benefits, it underscores the role of big data in enhancing worker well-being. The review highlights the importance of informative health big data, especially in high-risk industries, with examples of case studies of AI implementation in occupational medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and other relevant scenarios. While acknowledging the challenges of AI implementation, the essay identifies the role of academic and professional organizations as pioneers in big data utilization. Six potential benefits that are identified, including improved patient care and efficient resource allocation, demonstrate the transformative impact of big data analysis. The proposed pathway of preparation underscores the need for awareness, skill enhancement, and collaboration, addressing challenges in data management and stakeholder engagement. The conclusion emphasizes continuous assessment, feasibility studies, and commitment as essential steps in advancing occupational medicine through big data analysis.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Occupational Medicine; Big Data; Indonesia; Pandemics
PubMed: 38479865
DOI: 10.7888/juoeh.46.113