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Occupational health and clinical training
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|May 1, 1987
Summary
Medical training appears to decrease enthusiasm for occupational health, with knowledge gains being inconsistent. Curriculum reform may need enhanced faculty training and clinical rotations for effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Occupational health knowledge and attitudes are crucial for physicians.
- Understanding how these perceptions evolve during medical training is important for curriculum development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess attitudes and knowledge of occupational health among medical students, interns, and clinicians.
- To identify factors influencing these perceptions throughout medical training.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study administered a questionnaire to medical students (N=66), interns (N=94), and clinicians (N=22).
- Data collected included hours of occupational health training, demographic information, and performance on knowledge and attitude assessments.
Main Results:
- Interns reported more occupational health training than students or clinicians, yet nearly a third had none.
- Clinicians showed mixed performance, scoring lower in some areas and rating occupational health as less important.
- Students from "blue collar" families and women scored higher in both knowledge and attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Medical training may lead to a decline in enthusiasm for occupational health.
- Knowledge acquisition in occupational health appears inconsistent during training.
- Curriculum reform should consider faculty development and dedicated clinical rotations.