Clinical Case Complexity in Occupational Health: Contributing Factors and a Proposed Conceptual Framework Model

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Clinical Practice
• Health Systems Research

Background:

• Clinical case complexity is a significant but poorly defined aspect of occupational health (OH).
• Lack of a structured understanding hinders effective OH clinical practice and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sources of complexity in clinical occupational health.
• To propose a conceptual framework model for assessing complexity in OH practice.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of literature.
• Expert panel consensus building.
• Content analysis of occupational health clinical case reports.

Main Results:

• Identification and validation of complexity-contributing factors (CCFs) specific to OH.
• Development of a conceptual model with three primary domains: health, workplace, and biopsychosocial factors.
• Definition of 27 distinct CCFs within the proposed framework.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework enhances understanding and assessment of OH case complexity.
• This is crucial for maintaining high clinical standards, identifying training needs, and optimizing resource allocation in occupational health services.