00699 - Occupational Medicine

Learning outcomes

The students are expected to have a good knowledge of the main theoretical issues of occupational risk factors and job organization in the health care sector. Students are also expected to be able to apply these principles to promote good practices taking into account workers' safety and health.

Course contents

The course aims at introducing etiology and clinical features of the main occupational diseases, focusing on the health care sector.

Basic concepts of risk assessment and dose response relationship are discussed.

Contents:

Occupational Medicine: general background and evolution of working conditions.

Epidemiology of occupational accidents and diseases.

Reference legislative frame. The professional role of the occupational physician an other professionals involved in prevention.

Mandatory reports and certifications. Legislation for the protection of working mothers and reproduction risks.

Sustainable work ability.

Risk assessment and occupational hygiene: exposure limits to noxious agents, environmental and biological monitoring.

Health effects of occupational exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

Musculoskeletal disorders due to biomechanical overload.

Manual patient handling and the health care sector.

Diseases due to chemical and carcinogen agents: clinical and preventive issues.

Risk from chemicals in the healthcare environment: antineoplastic drugs, volatile anaesthetics, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, latex.

Diseases due to biological agents: major occupational infections. Prevention of percutaneous and airborne (TB) transmissible diseases.

Reproductive hazards in the workplace.

Return to work interventions and health promotion in the workplace.

Readings/Bibliography

Aw TC et al. Poket Consultant: Occupational Health. Fifth Edition, Blckwell Publishing, 2007

Agius RM et al. Practical Occupational Medicine. Second edition. Hodder Arnold Publication, 2006

Levy BS et al. Occupational and Enviromental Health. Sixth Edition, Lippincott William & Wilkins, 2010

Ladou J. Current Occupational & Enviromental Medicine. Fourth Edition, McGraw Hill, 2007

 

Teaching methods

Lectures (PP presentations)

Risk assessment, environmental and biological monitoring results are discussed.

Clinical case reports and fitness for duty in the health care sector are presented.

Assessment methods

The final exam will consist of a written test  (2 or 3 questions); some more details could be requested to the student (oral test) on the same topic.

Teaching tools

Lectures will involve Power Point presentations, videos and images of manual jobs.

Scientific papers analysis.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Bonfiglioli