[Efficacy and appropriateness in updating and validating the activities of the occupational health physician].

BACKGROUND

We reviewed the Italian tools for updating and validating the activities of occupational health physicians (guidelines, consensus documents, technology assessment, good practices, etc.) from the point of view of efficacy and appropriateness.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We examined more than 20 guidelines produced since 2003 by the Italian Society of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene (SIMLII), the procedures issued by the National System of Guidelines in Medicine/SNLG) by the Italian National Health Institute (ISS) and the new law on occupational safety and health "Decreto Legislativo 81/08", which for the first time includes and defines in specific legislation the different possible instruments for guiding the activities of the occupational health physician, not only to improve the effectiveness of interventions but also aimed at constantly adopting rigorous methodologies based on evidence.