PURPOSE: Physicians can play an important role in the reporting of occupational diseases (ODs), which are still under-reported in many countries. We aimed to identify physicians' difficulties in recognizing and reporting ODs and to study the characteristics of the physicians that do report ODs. METHODS: We conducted a telephone study in 2006-2007 among general practitioners (GPs), pulmonologists and rheumatologists in south-eastern France, concerning their knowledge, attitudes and practice in occupational health. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed to study factors associated with the issue of medical certificates for the claim process. RESULTS: Three hundred and ninety-one GPs, 95 pulmonologists and 96 rheumatologists participated. GPs reported significantly less often than specialists that they questioned their patients on past occupational exposure. They more frequently reported difficulties in identifying the occupational origin of diseases, and lack of knowledge on the OD reporting system. Issue of medical certificates for OD reporting was significantly more frequent among specialists than among GPs, among physicians considering that ODs are a public health problem, among those acquainted with the forms required to establish certificates, using internet to obtain information, having trade union activities, or having contact with occupational physicians (OPs). CONCLUSION: Initial and continuing training should be developed to encourage physicians, in particular GPs, to question patients on their working conditions and to become better acquainted with claim procedures. Physicians should also be provided with tools for identification of ODs that are suited to their practices, and collaboration with OPs should be fostered.
PURPOSE: Physicians can play an important role in the reporting of occupational diseases (ODs), which are still under-reported in many countries. We aimed to identify physicians' difficulties in recognizing and reporting ODs and to study the characteristics of the physicians that do report ODs. METHODS: We conducted a telephone study in 2006-2007 among general practitioners (GPs), pulmonologists and rheumatologists in south-eastern France, concerning their knowledge, attitudes and practice in occupational health. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were performed to study factors associated with the issue of medical certificates for the claim process. RESULTS: Three hundred and ninety-one GPs, 95 pulmonologists and 96 rheumatologists participated. GPs reported significantly less often than specialists that they questioned their patients on past occupational exposure. They more frequently reported difficulties in identifying the occupational origin of diseases, and lack of knowledge on the OD reporting system. Issue of medical certificates for OD reporting was significantly more frequent among specialists than among GPs, among physicians considering that ODs are a public health problem, among those acquainted with the forms required to establish certificates, using internet to obtain information, having trade union activities, or having contact with occupational physicians (OPs). CONCLUSION: Initial and continuing training should be developed to encourage physicians, in particular GPs, to question patients on their working conditions and to become better acquainted with claim procedures. Physicians should also be provided with tools for identification of ODs that are suited to their practices, and collaboration with OPs should be fostered.
Authors: A Paraponaris; P Verger; B Desquins; P Villani; G Bouvenot; L Rochaix; J C Gourheux; J P Moatti Journal: Health Policy Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Harm-Jan A Weevers; Allard J van der Beek; Johannes R Anema; Gerrit van der Wal; Willem van Mechelen Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2005-02-14 Impact factor: 2.267
Authors: Joanne Elms; Rachel O'Hara; Simon Pickvance; David Fishwick; Michelle Hazell; Tim Frank; Mandy Henson; Peter Marlow; Gareth Evans; Lisa Bradshaw; Paul Harvey; Andrew Curran Journal: Occup Med (Lond) Date: 2005-09-01 Impact factor: 1.611
Authors: D Linn Holness; Shehrina Tabassum; Susan M Tarlo; Gary M Liss; Frances Silverman; Michael Manno Journal: Chest Date: 2007-09-21 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Pierre Verger; Alain Viau; Sandrine Arnaud; Sandrine Cabut; Marie-Laure Saliba; Gwenaëlle Iarmarcovai; Marc Souville Journal: Int J Occup Environ Health Date: 2008 Jul-Sep