Physicians' knowledge on the work-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Main Authors: Aneta Kleniewska (Author), Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa (Author), Wojciech Piotrowski (Author), Andrzej Marcinkiewicz (Author), Kamila Szcześniak (Author), Marta Wiszniewska (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 2016-06-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.13075/mp.5893.00377; 0465-5893; 2353-1339
• Keywords: occupational disease; COPD; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; medical certification; dusts; irritant gases; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Medycyna Pracy, Vol 67, Iss 3, Pp 375-384 (2016)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be induced by the work environment conditions. According to the estimates, 10-20% of all COPD cases are associated with occupational exposure to dusts and irritant gases. However, in 2014, only 11 cases of work-related COPD were recognized in Poland. The aim of the study was to analyze the reasons for the low incidence of work-related COPD in the context of pulmonologists' knowledge about occupational risk factors and procedures on reporting suspected occupational diseases. Material and Methods: A survey included 94 pulmonologists randomly selected out of 225 specialists registered at the Local Physicians Chamber in Łódź. The study was performed anonymously with the use of original questionnaire. Results: More than a half of the surveyed pulmonologists identified environmental risk factors for COPD correctly, while only 23.4% properly identified the main occupational risk factors as the cause of COPD. Only 58.5% of the pulmonologists always asked their patients suffering from COPD about their job/profession and 60.6% of them did not have any knowledge about procedures on reporting suspected occupational diseases. Conclusions: The physicians rarely ask patients suffering from COPD about their job/profession and the relationship between their ailments and occupational exposure. What is more, they do not know legal regulations on proper referral of a patient with a suspected case of occupational disease. The results of the study clearly indicate that there is an urgent need for increasing pulmonologists' knowledge on work-related COPD. Med Pr 2016;67(3):375-384