Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare
Objectives: In Japan, as a result of legislation, the role of occupational physicians and the function of occupational health have been strengthened. Employers are now required to provide information to occupational physicians. This study explored what information occupational physicians considere...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Society for Occupational Health
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1818865614136016896 |
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| author | Rina Minohara Yuichi Kobayashi Hitomi Fujise Suo Taira Kota Fukai Haruna Hirosato |
| author_facet | Rina Minohara Yuichi Kobayashi Hitomi Fujise Suo Taira Kota Fukai Haruna Hirosato |
| author_sort | Rina Minohara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: In Japan, as a result of legislation, the role of occupational physicians and the function of occupational
health have been strengthened. Employers are now required to provide information to occupational physicians.
This study explored what information occupational physicians considered should be available to them. Methods:
We conducted a focus group discussion with eight professional occupational physicians and developed a draft list
of the information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers. To assess the validity of the list,
we conducted a questionnaire survey of 777 occupational physicians in the training and certification system of the
Japan Society of Occupational Health. Results: We obtained valid responses from 155 occupational physicians. In
total, over 80% agreed or somewhat agreed that all 24 categories were required, indicating that a consensus had
been reached. In two of the eight categories for which fewer than 80% responded “agree”, more senior or specialized physicians were significantly more likely to respond “agree” than others. Conclusion: The results of the
survey suggest specific experiences and systematic education influence decisions about whether certain types of
information are considered necessary. Finally, based on the opinions in the open-ended section of the questionnaire,
we recommend a list with 26 categories of information collecting from an employer. We believe the key to sharing
information is to have a common understanding with employers and develop a good relationship so that additional
information will be disclosed voluntarily. Occupational physicians need to be mindful of this need to develop relationships with employers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:50:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1245133fcb79477b822184aa61129a6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2434-4931 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:50:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Japan Society for Occupational Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental and Occupational Health Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-1245133fcb79477b822184aa61129a6f2022-12-21T20:25:01ZengJapan Society for Occupational HealthEnvironmental and Occupational Health Practice2434-49312021-06-013111010.1539/eohp.2020-0026-OAConsideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcareRina Minohara0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8059-5072Yuichi Kobayashi1Hitomi Fujise2Suo Taira3Kota Fukai4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8319-8467Haruna Hirosato5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8821-4438Global Headquarters, HOYA Corporation Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, JapanGlobal Headquarters, HOYA Corporation Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, JapanOccupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, JapanHuman Resource Department, Mitsubishi Chemical CorporationDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, JapanDepartment of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, JapanObjectives: In Japan, as a result of legislation, the role of occupational physicians and the function of occupational health have been strengthened. Employers are now required to provide information to occupational physicians. This study explored what information occupational physicians considered should be available to them. Methods: We conducted a focus group discussion with eight professional occupational physicians and developed a draft list of the information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers. To assess the validity of the list, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 777 occupational physicians in the training and certification system of the Japan Society of Occupational Health. Results: We obtained valid responses from 155 occupational physicians. In total, over 80% agreed or somewhat agreed that all 24 categories were required, indicating that a consensus had been reached. In two of the eight categories for which fewer than 80% responded “agree”, more senior or specialized physicians were significantly more likely to respond “agree” than others. Conclusion: The results of the survey suggest specific experiences and systematic education influence decisions about whether certain types of information are considered necessary. Finally, based on the opinions in the open-ended section of the questionnaire, we recommend a list with 26 categories of information collecting from an employer. We believe the key to sharing information is to have a common understanding with employers and develop a good relationship so that additional information will be disclosed voluntarily. Occupational physicians need to be mindful of this need to develop relationships with employers.employees’ healthcareinformationoccupational physician |
| spellingShingle | Rina Minohara Yuichi Kobayashi Hitomi Fujise Suo Taira Kota Fukai Haruna Hirosato Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare Environmental and Occupational Health Practice employees’ healthcare information occupational physician |
| title | Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare |
| title_full | Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare |
| title_fullStr | Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare |
| title_short | Consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees’ healthcare |
| title_sort | consideration of information that occupational physicians should obtain from employers for use in providing employees healthcare |
| topic | employees’ healthcare information occupational physician |
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