Information demands of occupational health physicians and their attitude towards evidence-based medicine

Schaafsma, Frederieke; Hulshof, Carel; Dijk, F. J. H. van; Verbeek, Jos

doi:10.5271/sjweh.802

Cited by 48 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…With regard to training and updating needs, statistically significant differences were observed for 3 different updating methodologies/tools. In particular, OPs who have specialized in the OM showed greater interest in scientific literature, consultation of databases and discussion of case-studies than other subgroups, thus demonstrating a greater aptitude for evidence-based medicine [22]. For the same methodologies/tools, a similar pattern was also observed dividing the sample according to a company size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…In particular, to define the main indicators of the investigation we carried out benchmarking of the relevant studies regarding surveys of physicians in the OM specialty [1,[11][12][13][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], surveys of recent graduates [18,23], observational studies of the OP practice [15,24] and surveys on working conditions [25,26]. a year by OPs).…”

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

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Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey

Persechino

Fontana

Buresti

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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Objectives: Occupational medicine is a discipline continually evolving in response to technological advances, changes in workplaces and production processes, emergence of new occupational risks and diseases and modifications in regulatory framework for occupational health and safety. Therefore, the recurrent revaluation of professional activity, information demands and education and training needs of occupational physicians is essential in order to identify methodologies and tools that may contribute to improvement of their professional knowledge and competency. In this regard, we conducted the first large-scale national survey of Italian occupational medicine physicians to define their demographic and professional activity and to assess their information demands, training and updating needs. Material and Methods: A random sample of occupational physicians, listed in the national register of the Italian Ministry of Health, was selected to complete a voluntary survey. Subjects recruited in this study were asked to complete 3 different sections (personal and professional information, training and updating needs, professional activity and practice characteristics) of a questionnaire for a total of 35 questions. Results: Most of participants were specialized in occupational medicine, worked for a large number of companies and carried out health surveillance on a total number of workers that exceeds 1500. Occupational physicians would like to have a higher training offer towards practical aspects of health surveillance, risks assessment, manual handling of loads, chemical substances and upper limb biomechanical overload. Interestingly, statistically significant differences were observed subdividing the sample into different groups according to the legal requirements to perform the professional activity of occupational physicians in Italy or according to particular aspects of their professional activity. Conclusions: This study has provided interesting findings that may help to guide future discussion on alternative and additional instruments and/or methodologies that may be adopted to implement the quality and effectiveness of occupational medicine practice. and professional certification processes [11], to address learning outcomes for higher specialist training within the framework of the OM [6], to influence the organization and structure of service delivery [16], to inform policy decisions and then, ultimately, to fill the gap between "what the OM is" and "what it should be" [11,16]. In this context, using a self-administered questionnaire, we conducted the first large-scale national survey of Italian OPs to gather data regarding their professional activity, information demands and training and updating needs. The aim of this study, highlighting the current problems of Italian OPs, has been to gain helpful information to define, develop and implement management methodologies, operative procedures and training programs that are useful and timely in improving the quality and effectiveness of the OM practice...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey

Persechino

Fontana

Buresti

et al. 2016

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…After the intervention, access to full-text articles will certainly disappear. Occupational physicians need a well-functioning knowledge infrastructure to access the evidence they need for practicing evidence-based medicine (24,39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, evidence-based medicine has the potential to be a feasible and useful method for occupational medicine that would enable occupational physicians to give more soundly based recommendations and secure their professional positions as providers of quality-assured information. In addition, the attitude of occupational physicians towards evidence-based medicine is positive, although most occupational physicians need substantial instruction and training to increase their searching and critical-appraisal skills (23)(24)(25). As the practice of evidence-based medicine is new for occupational health, no studies have yet been conducted on the effectiveness of training in evidence-based medicine in occupational health practice (26).…”

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confidence: 99%

Occupational physicians’ perceived value of evidence-based medicine intervention in enhancing their professional performance

Hugenholtz¹,

Schaafsma²,

Schreinemakers³

et al. 2008

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…It is hard to find the right sources providing high quality knowledge. Most of the time OH professionals tend to stick to sources they already know, which leave them with some blind spots for other relevant sources 8) . To complicate this all even more, many professionals suffer from information overload, especially since the introduction of the internet, caused by many, often low quality, sources and a poor organisation of the infrastructure 9) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Knowledge Infrastructure Needed for Occupational Healtha

et al. 2007

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Expertise on work and health topics is the foundation for the added value of occupational health (OH) professionals to the health of the working population. Professionals should therefore practice in accordance with high quality standards and latest evidence. As adequate knowledge management and a supportive knowledge infrastructure is needed, OH professionals can discuss opportunities to strengthen both. Occupational health services ought to offer ICT facilities, stimulate organizational conditions and human resource development to implement evidence-based practice. On national level a portal including a virtual library, tailor-made for occupational health, providing access to high quality websites, abstracts and full text articles and books, is a backbone for further developments. Expert groups on various topics can function as

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Information demands of occupational health physicians and their attitude towards evidence-based medicine

Cited by 48 publications

References 16 publications

Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey

Professional activity, information demands, training and updating needs of occupational medicine physicians in Italy: National survey

Occupational physicians’ perceived value of evidence-based medicine intervention in enhancing their professional performance

Knowledge Infrastructure Needed for Occupational Healtha

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