[Effect of the occupational health practical training course offered by the Occupational Health Training Center]

The Occupational Health Training Center offers the Occupational Health Practical Training Course (PTC) as a part of the postgraduate education of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH). In this study, we evaluated the effect of the PTC on its trainees by signed questionnaires handed out before and after the course. Three PTCs are offered annually, and the curriculum consists of 4 divisions: General Health Management, Health Care and Promotion, Work Conditions and Ergonomics, and Work Environment Control. There was an significant affirmative difference in "General interest in Occupational Health Practice (OHP)" between before and after the PTC, but not in "Interest in OHP related to one's clinical specialty". This result implies that, in some clinical fields, it may be difficult to realize a common subject with OHP. We confirmed the presence of significant affirmative differences between before and after the PTC on all questions categorized in both "Acquisition of Knowledge and Skill Related to OHP" and "Awareness of Occupational Physicians' Mission". The results suggested that the PTC had a positive effect on the subjects.