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.

I. General contents

Occupational Medicine: general background and evolution of working conditions.

Work, health and well-being.

Epidemiology of occupational accidents and diseases. Global burden of disease.

Gender and work.

New forms of employment: new formal employment relationships or work patterns (linked to aspects such as place of work, working time or use of ICT).

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

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

Sustainable work ability. Return to work and health promotion programs.

 

II. Health and safety in the health care sector:

• Musculoskeletal disorders due to biomechanical overload. Manual patient handling and the health care sector.
• Diseases due to biological agents: major occupational infections. Prevention of percutaneous and airborne (TB) transmissible diseases.
• Diseases due to chemical and carcinogen agents: clinical and preventive issues. Risk from chemicals in the healthcare environment: antineoplastic drugs, anaesthetics, aldehydes.

 

III. Reproductive hazards in the workplace.

Readings/Bibliography

Link to public websites 

Scientific papers

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