Ann Occup Environ Med.  2018 ;30(1):35. 10.1186/s40557-018-0246-8.

Differences in the performance of health officers at the workplace according to their qualifications

• Kim YK
• Yoon JH
• Lee W
• Kim J
• Lim SS
• Won JU

• KMID: 2428601
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0246-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Health officers are an integral part of the occupational health service, and there have been studies to identify and improve the role of health officers in the workplace in order to improve the level of health care in the workplace. This study aimed to determine the contribution of health officers to the role of a health officer as prescribed by law and the percentage of health management work performed during work according to their qualifications.
METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed to a total of 4584 workplaces where health officers were hired, and a total of 806 copies (17.58%) were returned. Of these, 336 questionnaires were finally analyzed, after excluding questionnaires missing the main variables. Using the data, the difference of role contributions and the percentage of health care work performed during the whole day according to the qualification of the health officer was analyzed.
RESULTS
Nurses were highly rated in the field of medical care, and industrial hygienists and air environmental engineers were highly rated in terms of chemicals and risk factor management. The percentage of health care work performed during the whole day differed according to the size of the workplace and industrial classification, but it was generally the lowest among air environmental engineers.
CONCLUSIONS
Health officers play a very different role in the workplace depending on their qualification, and they need support for areas of other qualification. In order to effectively manage the health of the staff at a workplace, it is necessary to consider the development of a support system for small- and medium-sized enterprises and adjust the conditions of employment of the health officer according to the law.

Keyword

Health officer; Nurse; Industrial hygienist; Air environmental engineer

MeSH Terms

Classification
Delivery of Health Care
Employment
Health Status
Jurisprudence
Occupational Health Services
Risk Factors