Frequency of occupational health concerns in general clinics

Studies have suggested that occupational disease and injury are under-recog nized by clinicians. To estimate the frequency of occupational factors in d isease and injury, 108 patients in a general (not occupational) health care facility were interviewed about the frequency and types of workplace-healt h interactions. Thirty-nine percent reported possible causation by work, an d 66% reported a possible increase in symptoms by work, even if not caused by work. Twenty-seven percent reported changing jobs and/or tasks because o f work-health interactions. The majority of men and women reported that wor ksite changes could improve their functional ability at work. This study: t herefore indicates that (1) occupational health concerns are common in prim ary care clinics, even if not addressed by clinicians; (2) the definition o f occupational health concerns should be broadened to include disease cause d by work, disease symptoms worsened by work, and the need for occupational accommodation even if the disease itself is not caused by work; and (3) in quiring about patient concerns about workplace-health interactions can prov ide clinicians with significant opportunities for primary, secondary, and t ertiary prevention.