Occupational physician and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: needs and training and information tools

Abstract

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The etiology and pathogenesis of ALS are currently largely unknown and the correlation between occupational and environmental exposures and ALS is not clear. The aim of this article is to create an information/training tools not only for workers but also for employers and occupational physicians. Materials and methods: within the project "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: contributory causes of occupational origin, risk assessment, early diagnosis and information-education" funded by IN-AIL, starting from the first year of the research, in parallel with the acquisition of the literature related to the research performed on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, contributing factors regarding work origin, it was decided to search for informative-educational material produced by the main international agencies and the main associations national and international patients members of the International Alliance ALS/MND Associations. All work tools are designed using the power point without animations for argument gravity. Results: brochures for occupational physician, employers and workers are created in order to understand the problems of the person with ALS and to maximize the potential workforce. Discussion: occupational physicians have to know all aspects of ALS in order to improve make a judgment of suitability appropriate for the employee/patient. Employers must know the aspects of the disease, especially from the organizational point of view in order to be prepared in this situation. Workers, intended as patients, have to know the disease and know how to deal with it in all possible situations. The psychological aspect has great importance and affects anyone who happens to live new and difficult situations such as ALS.