The Implementation of Workers’ Health Surveillance by Occupational Physicians

Los, Felicia; Boer, Angela G. E. M. de; Molen, Henk F. van der; Hulshof, Carel

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000001740

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In accordance, OPs were most satisfied with the training part on initiating WHS. This is in line with our findings in an earlier study that lack of opportunities within organizations of employers might be barriers to the implementation of WHS [ 12 ]. This indicates that, besides the capabilities of OPs, opportunities provided by stakeholders on different organizational levels [ 14 , 19 ], such as employers, can also be of influence on the implementation of WHS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…To support OPs in the implementation of WHS, the Netherlands Society of Occupational Medicine (NVAB) has developed a guidance document [ 11 ]. However, a survey among OPs in the Netherlands shows that WHS is not implemented by all OPs [ 12 ], and that OPs feel a need for further development of their knowledge and skills on WHS [ 12 ]. Because education or training to initiate and implement WHS was not available, a WHS online training programme was developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A workers’ health surveillance online training programme for occupational physicians

Los

Hulshof

Boer

et al. 2023

Occupational Medicine

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Background To support occupational physicians (OPs) in the implementation of workers’ health surveillance (WHS), a training programme was developed. Aims (i) To evaluate the effects of a WHS training programme for OPs on knowledge, self-efficacy and skills to implement WHS. (ii) To evaluate to what extent a WHS training programme is acceptable and feasible for implementation in practice. Methods A single-blinded randomized controlled trial with waiting-list control group was used. The WHS training programme consisted of an e-learning and a 4.5-h online training session. OPs completed a knowledge test (0–8), self-efficacy questionnaires on knowledge and skills (6–60), and vignette assignments (0–16) to measure skills. OPs completed the questionnaires, either before and after the WHS training programme (intervention group), or before the training programme (control group) while receiving the training programme after the waiting period. All OPs completed questionnaires about the training’s acceptability, and feasibility for implementation in practice. ANCOVA and Poisson regression analyses were conducted. Results The self-efficacy score (M = 44.1 versus M = 37.2) (P < 0.001) and skills score (M = 9.6 versus M = 8.3) (P < 0.05) of OPs in the training group (N = 16) were higher than the control group (N = 23). No effect was found on knowledge. Evaluation of acceptability and feasibility showed that 21 (58%) OPs were very satisfied with the training part on initiating WHS, and 29 (85%) would recommend the WHS training programme to colleagues. Conclusions This WHS training programme has a positive effect on self-efficacy and skills of OPs to implement WHS, and may be acceptable and feasible to implement in practice.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A workers’ health surveillance online training programme for occupational physicians

Los

Hulshof

Boer

et al. 2023

Occupational Medicine

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“…Here, we focus on “occupational health care” (OHC), which stands for periodical appointments of employees with the occupational health physician (OHP) who gives advice on measures to prevent work-related and occupational diseases or a deterioration of work ability. During OHC, worker health surveillance (WHS) is offered to detect adverse health effects resulting from occupational exposures [ 2 ]. Occupational health care is a part of the first pillar—“occupational health and safety”.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uptake of Voluntary Occupational Health Care—Assessments of German Occupational Health Physicians and Employees

Michaelis

Preiser

Voelter-Mahlknecht

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Workers’ health surveillance is considered essential for employees’ health and protection against hazardous working conditions. It is one part of occupational health care and thus one of four pillars of holistic workplace health management. In Germany, employers are obliged to provide mandatory and voluntary occupational health care (OHC) to employees, dependent on the defined occupational hazards. However, employees are not obliged to make use of voluntary OHC. No empirical information is available about the uptake of voluntary OHC by employees and the influencing factors in Germany. Thus, we carried out an explorative multi-perspective study with qualitative and quantitative elements to get insights from the view of occupational health physicians (OHPs) and employees. We conducted a survey among OHPs based on prior statements from two focus group discussions. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to detect enablers and barriers regarding employee uptake of the offered voluntary OHC. We used extended qualitative methods among employees instead of an analogous survey. In total, 460 OHPs participated in the survey (response rate 29.1%), and 25 employees took part in interviews. Most of the employees had not heard the term voluntary OHC before, and only a few remembered respective occupational health care after explanatory request. In total, 78% of the OHPs assessed that employees always/mostly take up voluntary OHC. The most important attributed reason for non-uptake was that employees see no need for occupational health care when they feel healthy. The most important enabler for the perceived high uptake of voluntary OHC in the regression analysis was a positive attitude of the OHP toward voluntary OHC. While OHPs perceived that voluntary OHC was accepted by a majority of employees, this was not confirmed by the interviews with selected employees. This could indicate that the OHP respondents overestimated the amount of uptake. Since it became clear that employees are often unfamiliar with the terminology itself, we see a need for more and better information regarding the objectives and content of occupational health care to improve this important pillar of workplace health management.

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“…An occupational physician was responsible for confirming diagnoses, determining possible occupational causes, recommending appropriate action, and determining the worker’s suitability for their job [ 5 , 10 ]. The participation of the occupational physician was motivated by the implementation of workers’ health surveillance [ 43 ]. Similar to the previous study, medical surveillance contributed to the early identification of diseases related to work or not.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enterprise-Based Participatory Action Research in the Development of a Basic Occupational Health Service Model in Thailand

Passaranon

Chaiear

Duangjumphol

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Various basic occupational health services (BOHS) are provided, particularly in-plant BOHS; however, it might be necessary to start expanding BOHS. The current study focuses on BOHS model development using participatory action research (PAR) at a large-sized enterprise in northeastern Thailand. The PAR began with a situation analysis using ILO Convention C161, problem and cause analysis, the development of an action plan, observation and action, evaluation, and replanning. The research tools included interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and participant observations. The participants included managers, human resource staff, safety officers, and workers. Both inductive and deductive thematic analyses were undertaken. The results showed that (1) education and learning experience led to the workers detecting work-related diseases early by themselves and the implementation of medical surveillance programs; (2) the workers’ occupational health needs led to return-to-work assessments and first aid room system development; (3) the employer’s experience led to appropriate fit-for-work examinations and emergency preparedness; and (4) the feedback from BOHS providers led to a hospital-to-in-plant return-to-work conversion. The study concluded that the enterprise could develop fit-for-work and return-to-work assessments as per the ILO Convention C161 under the policy; however, medical surveillance and the first aid room system need to be developed through counseling at the hospital’s occupational medicine clinic.

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The Implementation of Workers’ Health Surveillance by Occupational Physicians

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

A workers’ health surveillance online training programme for occupational physicians

A workers’ health surveillance online training programme for occupational physicians

Uptake of Voluntary Occupational Health Care—Assessments of German Occupational Health Physicians and Employees

Enterprise-Based Participatory Action Research in the Development of a Basic Occupational Health Service Model in Thailand

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