Evaluation of the quality of the periodic examinations of Yazd industrial units, 1385

Periodic examinations for employees serve as one of the main parts of health surveillance in these persons, and there is a legal obligation to perform it. Although there isnt any quality control criteria and standards for its monitoring. So quality of the examinations may decline, and the main objective of the examinations, maintaining and improving employee's health, may not be achieved. This research has been accomplished to assess the quality of occupational medical examinations.

A questionnaire was designed to evaluate the quality of the examinations according to scientific and legal measures. To fulfill the questionnaire, we used medical files of the employees in each plant. The study is cross-sectional and descriptive, and 333 employees were selected by cluster sampling.

Recording the specifications of the employees and their medical histories was appropriate in 98.6% and 94.6%, respectively. The interval between examinations was inappropriate in 62.5% of cases. Recording of occupational history, recording of the specifications of the occupational exposures, performing and recording physical examinations, spirometry, audiometry, chest X ray, specific occupational and general health paraclinic tests was appropriate in 69%, 36% 26.3%, 30%, 29%, 0%, 15.9%, and 19%, respectively. The final comment of the industrial hygienist was acceptable in 23% of cases. 40% of surveyed files required referring or intervention, but final comment of the examining physician was incorrect in 100% of cases.

In present time, occupational medicine examinations has not an appropriate quality. In order to correct this condition, there is a need for proper training and enacting obvious guidelines and laws in the connection of performing and auditing occupational health examinations.