Attitudes and access to electronic exchange of information on occupational disease

Epidemiological and performance indicators for occupational health services: a feasibility study in Belgium

Background

In many European countries, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) providers report their activities and results annually. Ideally, this report should offer an overview of their activities and of the outcome regarding occupational health and safety. To establish a set of epidemiological and performance indicators for electronic reporting of data that can be used for OHS surveillance and prevention purposes. Consequently, the selected data can serve as indicators for exposure to and prevention of occupational risks (epidemiology), and contribute to the evaluation of the functioning (performance) of OHS providers.

Methods

An extensive literature search in combination with an investigation of existing reporting models was performed. The resulting list of potential indicators was assessed by different stakeholders and divided into indicators for epidemiology and for performance. Then in a feasibility study, the relevance and availability of the indicators were assessed in 17 external, 49 internal (in company) and 10 mixed OHS providers.

Results

From the literature survey, we obtained 1100 indicators. After validation, 257 were taken into account in the feasibility study. An indicator was considered relevant when more than 2/3 of the respondents answered in favour of the indicator. The same criterion was applied for availability. Respectively, 82% and 62% of the performance and epidemiological indicators were considered to be relevant for external OHS providers. All relevant performance indicators were available. Of the epidemiological data, only 53% were available. Remarkably, internal OHS providers assessed fewer indicators as relevant (29% and 27% of performance and epidemiology indicators respectively), but these were mostly all available (90%).

Conclusions

This study shows that it is possible to provide a snapshot of the state of OHS by means of the registration of data. These findings could be used to build a data warehouse to study national health and safety profiles and to develop a uniform report for all European countries.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-410) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Surveillance for work-related audiological disease in the UK: 1998-2006

BACKGROUND

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) from prolonged occupational exposure to noise continues to rank among the top worldwide work-related ill-health problems.

AIMS

To provide an overview of incident cases based on work-related audiological ill-health data collected over a 9-year period from occupational physicians (OPs), audiological physicians (APs), general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists.

METHODS

Analysis of numerator data reported by physicians to surveillance schemes within The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR). The actual cases were multiplied by the sampling ratio to provide estimated numerator numbers, followed by calculation of incidence rates using denominator data derived from the Labour Force Survey and from surveys of participating OPs.

RESULTS

Two thousand five hundred and eighty-two estimated cases (2584 estimated diagnoses) were received from OPs (Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity [OPRA]), and 2192 estimated cases (3208 estimated diagnoses) of work-related audiological ill-health were received from consultant APs [Occupational Surveillance Scheme for Audiological physicians (OSSA)] from 1998 to 2006. Cases where the causal agent was noise exposure (NIHL and tinnitus) made up of 95 and 97% of all cases reported to OPRA and OSSA, respectively. The annual average incidence rate for noise-induced audiological disorders was 7.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.6-11.1] per 100 000 persons employed (OPRA) and 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-1.0) per 100 000 persons employed (OSSA). Workers with the highest incidence were older males employed in public administration and defence and the manufacture of metals.

CONCLUSIONS

THOR data show that diagnoses related to work-related noise exposure (NIHL/tinnitus), as reported to THOR, remain important health problems, despite preventive measures being in place.

The incidence of occupational skin disease as reported to The Health and Occupation Reporting (THOR) network between 2002 and 2005

BACKGROUND

Estimated incidence rates for occupational skin disease in the U.K. are provided by voluntary surveillance schemes involving dermatologists and occupational physicians. These rates allow monitoring of occupational dermatoses, and intervention planning aimed at reducing workplace risks.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize occupational skin disease reported to The Health and Occupation Reporting (THOR) network (2002-2005), and to provide baseline information for comparison with future studies of occupational skin disease in the U.K. and beyond.

METHODS

Incidence rates for occupational dermatoses were calculated using THOR data as numerators, and Labour Force Survey data or information from the most recent U.K. survey on provision of occupational physician services as denominators.

RESULTS

In the U.K. (2002-2005) the average annual incidence rate of work-related skin disease reported to THOR by dermatologists was 91.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 81.8-101.1] per million, and by occupational physicians was 316.6 (95% CI 251.8-381.3) per million. Most reports were of contact dermatitis: dermatologists 68.0 (95% CI 59.8-76.2) per million, occupational physicians 259.7 (95% CI 200.8-318.6) per million.

CONCLUSIONS

Information produced by THOR is an important source for calculating incidence rates of occupational skin disease. A range of reporting groups should also be used when building an overall picture of occupational skin disease incidence in the U.K.

Origine et attente des référents antibiotiques dans les établissements de santé en France. Résultats d'une enquête de la SPILF

The French Infectious Diseases Society (SPILF) conducted a web-based survey of physicians' referent for antimicrobial therapy (ABT). The 106 respondents came mostly from public (95%) big (median 815 beds) hospitals. A referent according to health ministry requirements was identified in 88 hospitals. In, 18 others, a physician performed the job without identification per se. This activity had a specific financing in only 12% of cases. Two thirds of the referents were infectious diseases physicians, the others had for training a university degree in ABT. Expectations about SPILF were mostly implementation of good practices of ABT (73%), organization of CME sessions (61%), a referent dedicated session during the annual SPILF meeting (58%), a SPILF driven certification (58%) and the creation of regional networks of referents (55%). Implementing a training and evaluation program for ABT referents becomes a priority for the SPILF.