Occupational Health Research in Ireland 2014-23: identifying the need for a supported approach

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Evidence-based practice is key in Occupational Medicine.
• Country-specific research is vital for local healthcare policy and service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze Irish Occupational Health (OH) research from 2014-2023.
• To identify research priorities and solutions for OH research practice challenges.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search of medical databases for ROI research (2014-2023).
• Applied inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• Used independent t-tests to compare research output pre- and post-COVID-19 (2014-2019 vs. 2020-2023).

Main Results:

• 101 articles met criteria.
• 60% lacked OH-affiliated authors.
• Ageing was a theme in 3% of articles; cost-effectiveness in only one.

Conclusions:

• OH research requires focus on neglected topics and increased multidisciplinary collaboration.
• A research guide from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland could direct future research.
• This approach can enhance OH policy and service delivery in Ireland and globally.