ROLE OF CHEST PHYSICIANS IN DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPIRATORY-DISEASE - A PRACTICE SURVEY

A survey of American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) members was co nducted to determine their degree of involvement in the diagnosis and prevention of occupational and environmental respiratory disease (OERD ). Although the response rate was relatively low, the results are like ly to be representative, Calculations based on the data estimate that in the prior year, chest physicians on the average saw 15 patients wit h OERD caused by work, 13 worsened by work, and 28 affected by the hom e environment, Asthma appears to be a more common occupational or envi ronmental concern than pulmonary fibrosis, Chest physicians clearly pe rceived a need for more education in OERD. The survey also demonstrate d that although many chest physicians perform routine industrial surve illance testing, it is often done without using standardized methods, Furthermore, chest physicians are actively involved with medical/legal aspects of OERD. Overall, the survey documents the role of chest phys icians in the area of OERD and emphasizes significant educational need s.