Occupational medicine
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Occupational medicine · Dec 2016
Examining the sources of occupational stress in an emergency department.
Previous work has established that health care staff, in particular emergency department (ED) personnel, experience significant occupational stress but the underlying stressors have not been well quantified. Such data inform interventions that can reduce cases of occupational mental illness, burnout, staff turnover and early retirement associated with cumulative stress. ⋯ Our findings suggest that internal ED interventions to improve workers' job control, increase support from management and involvement in organizational change may reduce work stress. The high levels of effort-reward imbalance and organizational injustice reported by both groups may indicate that wider interventions beyond the ED are also needed to address these issues.
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Occupational medicine · Nov 2016
Patient and physician views of accompanied consultations in occupational health.
Accompanied (triadic) consultations, or consultations where a third person is present, are poorly researched and little research has been carried out in an occupational health (OH) setting. ⋯ Patients who attended OH consultations with a companion felt the companion was beneficial to the consultation and did not have concerns about personal issues. OH physicians felt that further guidance and training on accompanied consultations would be useful. Written information could usefully be provided to patients attending an OH consultation with a companion.
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Occupational medicine · Nov 2016
Occupational physicians' perceptions and experience of appraisals for revalidation.
Formal, structured annual appraisals are now a regulatory requirement for all doctors and must meet the standards stipulated by the General Medical Council (GMC), including connection with a designated body. ⋯ The findings suggest that the time requirements and process of appraisal for occupational physicians could be improved, and clearer, comprehensive and more accessible guidance should be developed.
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Occupational medicine · Oct 2016
Workplace violence against medical staff in healthcare facilities in Barbados.
Anecdotal evidence suggests increasing workplace violence against healthcare workers in the Caribbean, but the prevalence is largely undocumented. ⋯ Over a half of medical staff surveyed reported experiencing some type of violence in the past year, female gender being a significant predictor of abuse. Adequate documentation and implementing clear policies and violence prevention programmes in health institutions are crucial steps towards addressing this issue.