Occupational Disease Registries-Characteristics and Experiences

Occupational Disease and Injury in Malaysia: A Thematic Review of Literature from 2016 to 2021

Introduction

Working people are exposed to occupational hazards and are at risk of having occupational disease or injury in a rapidly industrializing country like Malaysia. This study aims to review and summarize the occupational disease and injury in Malaysia from 2016 to 2021.

Methods

This study used PubMed and Scopus databases to conduct a systematic literature search using a set of keywords. The selected records dated from 1 January 2016 to 8 September 2021 were extracted into the Mendeley Desktop and ATLAS.ti 8 software. Systematic screening was conducted by two independent researchers and finalized by the third researcher. Data were coded and grouped according to the themes. The results were presented as the table for descriptive analysis and cross-tabulation between the themes.

Results

A total of 120 records were included in this study. Under the theme of main health problems, the findings showed that mental health, infectious disease, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the top three problems being discussed in the literature for the working people in Malaysia. The findings also showed an increasing trend of mental health problems during pandemic COVID-19 years. In addition, hospital was the highest workplace where the occupational health problems were reported.Discussion/Conclusion. There was substantial work on the mental health problem, infectious diseases, and work-related musculoskeletal disorders as the main health problem among workers in Malaysia in the past five years. The employers must report any occupational health and injury case to the authority and prompt intervention can be initiated.

Atualização 2020 da Lista de Doenças Relacionadas ao Trabalho no Brasil

Resumo Objetivo: apresentar o processo de atualização de 2020 da Lista de Doenças Relacionadas ao Trabalho (LDRT) do Brasil. Métodos: entre 2019 e 2020, foi conduzido plano de trabalho em cinco etapas para produzir versão atualizada da LDRT. Resultados: na Etapa 1, a LDRT de 1999 foi comparada a outras listas internacionais e estrangeiras e foram consultados profissionais que fazem uso da lista brasileira. Na Etapa 2, organizou-se uma oficina de trabalho para discutir sobre a primeira versão da atualização. A Etapa 3 envolveu a análise das discussões da oficina de trabalho, a elaboração da segunda versão da atualização e a disponibilização para consulta pública. Na Etapa 4, após a análise das contribuições da consulta pública, elaborou-se a terceira versão, que foi encaminhada para análise governamental. A Etapa 5 consistiu na publicação da legislação com a atualização de 2020 da LDRT. Conclusão: a atualização da LDRT propiciou o aumento do número de códigos diagnósticos de 182 para 347. O capítulo com maior crescimento foi o relativo aos Transtornos Mentais e Comportamentais. Após intervalo de 21 anos, o processo amplamente participativo utilizado proporcionou a atualização, cumprindo a legislação sanitária nacional e contribuindo para o aprimoramento da integralidade na atenção à saúde dos trabalhadores.

E-health roadmap for COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Iran

BACKGROUND

Vaccination is the effective and long-term pharmacological solution to deal with COVID-19. Information technology (IT) and electronic immunization can be effective in accelerating and improving vaccine coverage. The aim of this paper is to develop multi-dimensional framework of e-health roadmap to response Covod-19 pandemic and examine the role of IT for improving vaccine distribution in Iran.

METHODS

The study methodology was based on a two-stage Delphi method which included literature studies at the beginning. Key steps in creating a roadmap in this study include definition, development and evaluation. The initial conceptual model was developed after literature review. Proposed roadmap was reviewed and evaluated in two stages based on the Delphi method by experts in the fields of E-health.

RESULTS

In the e-health roadmap model, 14 stages of vaccine distribution were presented in three phases of vaccination and then were determined the type of technology in each phase. The 4 conceptual models were approved based on the two stages Delphi approach in a survey of 14 e-health experts. In the second phase of the Delphi process, the selected items were sent back to the specialists to verification. Then e-health roadmap was confirmed by experts and was finalized the approved model.

CONCLUSIONS

The technology-based roadmap is one plan in the form of a transfer strategy that aligns goals with specific technical solutions and helps to meet them. This roadmap empowers decision makers to decide on alternative paths and achieve goals.

Prevention of Occupational Diseases in Turkey: Deriving Lessons From Journey of Surveillance

Introduction

To prevent and manage the societal and economic burden of occupational diseases (ODs), countries should develop strong prevention policies, health surveillance and registry systems. This study aims to contribute to the improvement of OD surveillance at national level as well as to identify priority actions in Turkey.

Methods

The history and current status of occupational health studies were considered from the perspective of OD surveillance. Interpretative research was done through literature review on occupational health at national, regional and international level. Analyses were focused on countries’ experiences in policy development and practice, roles and responsibilities of institutions, multidisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration. OD surveillance models of Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands were examined through exchange visits. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the peculiarities of legislative and institutional structures, the best and worst practices, and approach principles.

Results

Some countries are more focused on exploring OD trends through effective and cost-efficient researches, with particular attention to new and emerging ODs. Other countries try to reach every single case of OD for compensation and rehabilitation. Each practice has advantages and shortcomings, but they are not mutually exclusive, and thus an effective combination is possible.

Conclusion

Effective surveillance and registry approaches play a key role in the prevention of ODs. A well-designed system enables monitoring and assessment of OD prevalence and trends, and adoption of preventive measures while improving the effectiveness of redressing and compensation. A robust surveillance does not only provide protection of workers’ health but also advances prevention of economic losses.

International Comparison of Thalassemia Registries: Challenges and Opportunities

Background:

Patient registries use standardized methods to systematically gather uniform data for specific groups of patients managed in clinical practice to evaluate specified outcomes.

Aim:

The objective of this study was to identify and describe structures of the identified thalassemia registries in worldwide and summarize their key characteristics.

Methods:

We reviewed the literature on thalassemia registries. A search of PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Science Direct databases was conducted in September 2018. We also reviewed the existing thalassemia registry websites in different countries. The keywords used to our search were as follows: Thalassemia, Hemoglobinopathy, Registry, Database, and Registration System. Some features such as the name of registry, funding source, objectives of the registry, minimum data set, and methods of data collection were determined.

Results:

We identified 16 thalassemia registries operating on a multinational, national, or regional level between1984 and 2016. Most of these aimed to improve the diagnosis and management of control programs. Government funding was the most common funding source for registries. Furthermore, the most common method of data submission was Web-based data entry. The data were entered by a member of the clinical team or a nominated data manager.

Conclusion:

Registries provide a positive return on investment; their establishment and maintenance require ongoing support by government, policy makers, research funding bodies, clinicians, thalassemia patients and their caregivers. However, the results of research suggest the establishment of an international network for coordination and collaboration between thalassemia registries.

Silicosis in Turkey: Is it an Endless Nightmare or is There Still Hope?

Silicosis is an ancient but still life-threatening occupational lung disease because of its incurable nature. Although its risks are known in many occupational settings and effective control strategies are well established, new cases, even epidemics, continue to occur in different sectors of Turkey. Before taking action, defining the magnitude of the problem is essential. In this concise review, we aimed to present the current situation of silicosis in Turkey. According to the data available to date, silicosis continues to be a major health problem in different sectors. Sandblasting seems to have the highest risk for the development of silicosis. Disease onset at early age and history of short exposure duration may indicate intense silica exposure. After denim sandblasters, dental technicians seem to be the new and recently recognized high-risk occupation group as per the increasing reports. Because of the lack of a definite treatment of silicosis, prevention of the disease should be the main target. Better occupational disease registry systems would be useful to assess the magnitude of the problem. In addition to implementing the necessary regulations, a close inspection of the workplaces for potential risks is essential. Other social and economic factors related with the occurrence of disease, such as unregistered employment rate and unlicensed and uninsured work, should also be considered. Finally, optimal healthcare and better living conditions for patients with silicosis should be ensured.