Evidence on the effectiveness of occupational health interventions.

作者信息

Ruotsalainen Jani H, Verbeek Jos H, Salmi Jukka A, Jauhiainen Merja, Laamanen Irja, Pasternack Iris, Husman Kaj

机构信息

Cochrane Occupational Health Field, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, Finland.

出版信息

Am J Ind Med. 2006 Oct;49(10):865-72. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20371.

BACKGROUND

At present there exists no overview of the range of evidence currently available regarding the effectiveness of occupational health interventions (OHI).

METHODS

Articles published in 2000 and 2001 in 16 general and specialized biomedical journals were searched for evaluations of OHI studies.

RESULTS

Out of 8,687 articles searched there were 148 OHI studies. In 21% of the studies the study design was a randomized controlled trial, in 28% it was a controlled trial, an interrupted time-series in 7% and a different design in 44%. The occupational health outcome was exposure in 27% of the studies, worker behavior in 12%, disease symptoms in 30%, disability or sickness absence in 24%, injuries in 4%, and quality of care in 3%.

CONCLUSIONS

High quality evaluation studies are conducted in all areas of occupational health. However, it is clear that more are needed and the methodology used could be improved.