Abstract

TORRES-REY, Carlos H et al. Occupational medicine services in Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.4, pp.598-606. ISSN 0124-0064.

ObjectiveCharacterizing the technical quality of occupational medicine services being provided by occupational health supply providing institutions (OHSPI) in Colombia’s main cities. Materials and MethodsThis was a national descriptive cross-sectional study (2009- 2010) in which a diagnostic survey was used for obtaining data regarding 192 OHSPI. ResultsThe study demonstrated that 76 % of the OHSPI had a license for offering occupational medicine services. Institutions provide services by subcontracting professionals and the necessary equipment. It also revealed infrequent use of integral attention for evidence-based occupational health guidelines (EBOHG). ConclusionDeficiencies affecting the quality of occupational medicine services were identified. Such deficiencies hampered in-depth studies about the effects of the risk factors on workers’ health, meaning that monitoring and controlling occupational health care services offered by the OHSPI must be reinforced to assure the availability of resources and the execution of disease prevention programs to maintain and improve workers’ state of health.

Keywords : Occupational health; health service; occupational medicine.

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