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Wednesday, March 21, 2012: 16:00
Bacalar 1 (Cancun Center)
INTRO
Training in Occupational Health for nurses or physicians usually focuses on the “real medical” side of Occupational Health: diseases, treatment, patient management, surveillance, fitness-for-work evaluation. Competencies for successful work in a company environment, on the shop-floor or for risk-control (Industrial Hygiene, IH) are usually not taught. However, they are needed in a company and requested by workers. Online programs such as the global UIC "International Certificate in Occupational Health Practice" (IPOHP), an online training program for nurses and doctors in developing countries, can fill this training gap.
Methods: The IPOHP specifically teaches “Industrial Hygiene”-Competencies such as qualitative and semi-quantitative health risk assessments, workplace evaluations, ergonomic assessments, risk reduction & control technologies, control banding in risk control. We evaluated personal learning impact assessments over two years in the IPOHP with 46 participants worldwide from 23 countries.
Results:
The 46 participants worldwide came from 23 countries: Asia 32%, Africa 20%, Latin & Central Americas 34%, USA & Europe 12% with 37% from companies, 32% from government or semi-governmental organizations. Learning impact is highest in typical IH-Competencies such as “Using Assessment Tools”, “Assessing Chemical Risks” or “Assessing Exposures” with an average impact of 4 points difference on a 10-point LIKERT scale for self-assessment. Feedback indicates good acceptance, high impact and technical difficulties. Participants apply new skills after training for workplace inspections, worker education, scientific projects and presentations.
Training in Occupational Health for nurses or physicians usually focuses on the “real medical” side of Occupational Health: diseases, treatment, patient management, surveillance, fitness-for-work evaluation. Competencies for successful work in a company environment, on the shop-floor or for risk-control (Industrial Hygiene, IH) are usually not taught. However, they are needed in a company and requested by workers. Online programs such as the global UIC "International Certificate in Occupational Health Practice" (IPOHP), an online training program for nurses and doctors in developing countries, can fill this training gap.
Methods: The IPOHP specifically teaches “Industrial Hygiene”-Competencies such as qualitative and semi-quantitative health risk assessments, workplace evaluations, ergonomic assessments, risk reduction & control technologies, control banding in risk control. We evaluated personal learning impact assessments over two years in the IPOHP with 46 participants worldwide from 23 countries.
Results:
The 46 participants worldwide came from 23 countries: Asia 32%, Africa 20%, Latin & Central Americas 34%, USA & Europe 12% with 37% from companies, 32% from government or semi-governmental organizations. Learning impact is highest in typical IH-Competencies such as “Using Assessment Tools”, “Assessing Chemical Risks” or “Assessing Exposures” with an average impact of 4 points difference on a 10-point LIKERT scale for self-assessment. Feedback indicates good acceptance, high impact and technical difficulties. Participants apply new skills after training for workplace inspections, worker education, scientific projects and presentations.
Discussion:
Doctors seem to have a specific deficit in Industrial Hygiene competencies that are needed for company work. Here, they show the highest learning impact after training. Feedback shows that doctors appreciate the new IH competencies that improve their practical skills and facilitate collaboration with other OH colleagues. In training programs for medical personnel in OH topics and competencies in IH need to be included to prepare doctors for practical work in companies.