Physician-based surveillance of occupational disease: experience with a broader range of diagnoses and physicians

Article Abstract:

This is the second part of a study being done to determine the feasibility of using physicians and hospital medical records to monitor occupational disease. The system is based upon a classification of an occupational health event as either preventable disease, disability, or untimely death that is occupationally related. A list of 50 medical conditions was developed to help physicians recognize occupational disease. The purpose of the second phase of this study is to further evaluate this system of surveillance based upon physician input, and to evaluate the possibility of using this system to trigger work place evaluations. The physicians recruited for phase II represented two additional specialties that were not represented in phase I. The authors found that the physician's type of practice rather than specialty influenced the number of occupationally-related events he identified. It was found that both patients and physicians were reluctant to request work site monitoring for occupational diseases. Despite reassurances that these monitoring requests are kept confidential, the underlying fear was that word would still get around. Phase III of this study will develop a method of identifying the best physicians to be sentinel or lookout physicians. The authors believe these physicians are necessary for effective implementation of this surveillance program.

Methods, Demographic aspects, Health risk assessment

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Occupational risks for brain cancer: a New Zealand cancer registry- based study

Article Abstract:

The New Zealand Cancer Registry database contains a virtually complete listing of all cancer deaths within the population. All male brain cancer deaths from the period of 1980 to 1984 were analyzed for patterns of risk that were associated with specific occupational groups. This study demonstrates an increased level of risk of brain cancer in agricultural workers, particularly livestock farmers, and other very small groups such as rubber, textile, and shoe and leather workers. Many of these occupations have also been associated with increased risk of brain cancer in other studies. The paper suggests that environmental materials such as solvents or insecticides may be involved. Although no direct evidence for such an association is presented, some of the conclusions of this research are in agreement with previous studies.

Analysis, Risk factors, Farmers, Brain cancer

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Resident training in international occupational health: toward a new perspective

Article Abstract:

Increased world-wide industrialization and the emergence of multi-national companies are demanding that occupational medicine obtain a global perspective. The occupational medicine residency program at the University of Arizona now includes a foreign-based rotation for its residents. This element of the residency program focuses on occupational safety and health in a developing country, Mexico. The residents receive experience not only in occupational medicine, but also in public health. They are able to assist a developing nation and interact with other physicians in occupational medicine to exchange ideas and solve common problems.

Health aspects, International aspects, Training, Curricula, Mexico, Residents (Medicine), Graduate medical education, Arizona, University of. College of Medicine

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