Occupational medicine
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Occupational medicine · May 2004
An evaluation of occupational health services within the NHS in London.
To establish the nature, extent and organization of occupational health service provision for employees within the National Health Service (NHS) in London and to review the systems for monitoring performance. ⋯ There was a significant variation in the nature and extent of occupational health services in the NHS trusts. As a consequence, there may be differences in the level of occupational health service available to staff across the NHS in London.
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Occupational medicine · May 2004
Factors influencing uptake of influenza vaccination among hospital-based health care workers.
Vaccination of health care workers against influenza has been shown to lower mortality among elderly patients, but uptake of voluntary vaccination among health care workers remains low. ⋯ Our study showed that visual material displayed throughout the workplace strongly influenced the acceptance of influenza vaccination. Future campaigns should also emphasize the positive benefits to patients of health care worker immunization, with readily accessible information regarding side-effects available from all sources.
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Occupational medicine · Mar 2004
Perfectionism and coping strategies as risk factors for the development of non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD).
The incidence of non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) is rising throughout western society. Literature and our own WRULD file (>1200 patients) revealed that both physical and psychosocial work-related factors are major causes of non-specific WRULD. It also appeared that non-specific WRULD was more likely to develop in patients with neurotic-perfectionist personalities. ⋯ Alongside physical and psychosocial work-related factors, psychoneuroticism and neurotic perfectionism appear to be important risk factors for developing non-specific WRULD.
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Occupational medicine · Jan 2004
Continuing professional development of occupational medicine practitioners: a needs assessment.
The aim of this study was to identify elements of occupational medicine practice used on a frequent basis which are considered to be of high priority for continuing professional development (CPD). ⋯ Despite the low return rate for questionnaires, this survey has helped identify themes which are important to physicians practising occupational medicine and has also highlighted those which are less important for inclusion in a CPD programme. Some differences in responses were identified between accredited specialists, specialist registrars and non-specialist practitioners of occupational medicine. The findings from this survey should be useful to providers of continuing medical education in planning courses, study days and electronic or distance learning educational packages.