Health promotion in the practice of occupational health physicians in Poland – patients’ experiences

Abstract

Introduction Health promotion activities should be an element of occupational health services. While performing prophylactic examinations of workers, a physician has an opportunity not only to implement primary prevention activities, but also detect health disorders at an early stage. Objectives The aim of the study was to obtain information from patients whether during prophylactic examinations of employees, activities were undertaken in the field of health promotion. Material and methods Analysis included a group of 204 people (163 females, 41 males; mean age 43.6 +/- 8.87) who had undergone periodic occupational health examinations in the past. The study was performed in the form of a survey. Results For 74 people (36.3%) in the study group an occupational health physician was the only physician with whom they had contact within the last 3 years. BP, HR, body weight and height were measured in the majority of patients. Glycaemia, lipid profile and peripheral blood smear were performed in a small percentage of patients. Only one-third of respondents were asked about smoking and only two persons about physical activity. Only 13.7% of people received recommendations for further diagnosis/therapy. Advice on health promotion (diet, healthy lifestyle, smoking cessation, physical activity) was received by only five people (2.5%). Conclusions Prophylactic examinations of employees are a unique opportunity to carry out prevention activities for healthy/asymptomatic patients and to promote a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, occupational health physicians do not seize this opportunity often enough. Occupational health services in the current system are usually reduced to the minimum required by regulations.

Keywords

• health promotion
• prophylactic health examinations of employees