Work-related disease in general practice: a systematic review

Abstract

Work-related diseases are common, given the high incidence and prevalence of potentially work-related diseases found in the general practice population and seen by the GP. This review underlines the important role of GPs in identifying and managing work-related diseases. GPs should consider the work factor and pay special attention to the effects of work on health, because patients often link their work with their illness.

What makes men and women with musculoskeletal complaints decide they are too sick to work?

“…This situation may allow them to evade the issue altogether and to offer nonspecific advice. The incidence of potentially work-related ailments is, however, high, and musculoskeletal complaints are the primary reason for work-related visits to a general practitioner (25). Hence the influence of the general practitioner on absenteeism may be fairly high.…”

Public Health in Primary Care

“…particulate induced asthma) are major hazards which can mostly be prevented [Rosenblatt 2005]. Since they are most likely to be the first to encounter patients with these types of problems [Weevers 2005], PCPs are in many ways gatekeepers in recognizing and in some ways preventing environmental and occupational diseases. However, as their focus is on clinical identification and treatment of the disease, PCPs are normally not trained to recognize occupational diseases.…”

Life's work: occupational health — the wealth of the nation

“…Occupation can also be associated with hazards that can produce disease and injury and up to 38% of patients attending for consultations in primary care report an occupational dimension to their condition. 2 Occupational medicine builds on a framework of general medicine and requires awareness of industrial hygiene, epidemiology, toxicology, and health and safety legislation, but paramount is the necessity to elucidate and comprehend the nature of work, exposures, and workplace environment to which their patients belong and promote healthy and safe working practises. Physicians in this field have a dual obligation to employer and to employee.…”