A need assessment study of occupational health curriculum for Thai medical students.

OBJECTIVE

To assess and develop an appropriate occupational health curriculum for Thai medical students.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An assessment of existing occupational health curriculum in 12 Thai medical schools, questionnaire survey of occupational medicine experts, questionnaire survey of physicians practiced in industries and primary care hospitals in Pathumthani province, and questionnaire survey and public comments of medical education administration, academician, occupational physician, and medical students were performed

RESULTS

An appropriate occupational health curriculum for Thai medical students included 1) knowledge of occupational health hazards and their illnesses, occupational health hazard evaluation and control, clinical features and investigation of occupational disease, principles of occupational safety, emergency treatment of occupational injury, and principles of health promotion, education, and behavioral modification; 2) experience of occupational health and safety surveillance and occupational disease differential diagnosis; and 3) competence in occupational disease diagnosis, taking clinical history and examination, advise on provision of first aid facilities, physical hazards recognition and control, work related and environmental related disease differential diagnosis, performing a risk assessment, and risk communication.

CONCLUSION

The present study evaluated an occupational health curriculum needed for Thai medical students. Necessary topics for curriculum were developed. However, a future study of learning methods for each topic is needed.