Patient Referral As a Quality Outcome of Occupational Health Practice At The Workplace in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: In the determination of the Workplace Health and Safety management system effectiveness, the rates of the occupational diseases, accidents or work-related diseases are the most commonly used outcome indicators. Occupational physicians (OP) may decide on consultation with various indications including diagnosis of occupational disease. Aims: The content of the referral from the workplace affects the accuracy of the consultation to be done. Methods: This study evaluates the contents of the referral documents of the patients who applied to our clinic and analyzes the approach of the OP to the referral process and health surveillance in the workplace. Results: 412 (32%) cases referred by OP from 1288 patients who applied were evaluated. The most common reasons for the referral were abnormal diagnostic test results (43%) and evaluation for the possible occupational disease diagnosis (35%). The preliminary diagnosis of the occupational disease was present in the 55.3% of the referral documents. Most of the referrals (82.5%) did not contain the information about the complaints, medical and occupational history, physical examination findings and resume of the patients. There was no workplace environment measurements (93.4%) and no explanation regarding the hazards which patients were exposed in the workplace (74%) in most of the referral documents. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that OP have deficiencies in collecting and evaluating data during the health surveillance of the employees, and workplace health and safety management system should improve the function of enhancing its effectiveness.