ABSTRACT
Background: Physicians and dentists are the health personnel that need high investment and long production process. The life expectancy of medical doctors was varied between 61.1 and 86.5 years old and dentists was varied between 51.3 and 75.4 years old. Health related behavior might play an important role to health status and life expectancy. Objective: To study health related behavior of physicians and dentists who are the member of the medical organization, and work at Srinagarind hospital. Study design: A cross-sectional descriptive studySetting: Srinagarind hospitalMethod: The physicians and dentists who are the members of the medical organization, and work at Srinagarind hospital were given a self-administrated questionnaire during June 31st- Oct 30th, 2004. The questionnaire had 5 compartments as follows: general information, occupational history, health status data, life style pattern and occupation-related hazards.Result: Two hundred and six out of 519 numbers (39.7%) Completed the questionaires. The male: female ratio was nearly 1:1. The mean age of responder was 38.1 + 8.6 years old. Sixty five percent were highly pleased with their own occupation. The mean monthly income of physicians was 72,483.00 baht (median 30,000 Baht). The average working hour was 42.5 + 24.8 hours per week. Most of the cases slept 6-8 hours per day. The four most common diseases were allergy (19.6%), hypertension (5.4%), heart disease (1.6%) and Diabetes Millitus(1.1%), respectively. 8.2% of the respondents noticed history of doze during driving while 7.1% experienced traffic accident. Regarding personal behaviors; 20.0% had history of alcohol drinking, 2.7% presented cigarette smoking and 10.2% had ever played government raffle. Most of the cases (80.6%) took care themselves while having ill. However, only 52.2% of respondents attended annual health check-up program. In addition, half of cases 48.9% exercised less than 2 days per week. In cases of stress management, 36% watched television, while 30% read books. Subgroup analysis of 22 dentists revealed that 72.7% of them were highly pleased with their own occupation. The mean monthly income of dentists was 58,500.00 Baht. The average working hour was 34.9 + 5.7 hours per week. Most of the cases slept 6-8 hours per day. The three most common diseases were allergic disease (13.6%), hypertension (4.5%), and diabetes mellitus (4.5%), respectively. 9.1% of the respondents noticed history of doze during driving while 4.5% experienced traffic accidents. Regarding personal behaviors, 13.6% had history of alcohol drinking, 9.1% presented cigarette smoking. Most of the cases (40.9%) took care themselves in terms of illness. However, 3 in 4 of responders attended annual health check-up program. In addition, one-third of cases (36.4%) exercised less than 2 days per week. In cases of stress management, 40.9% watched television, while 27.3% read books. Conclusion: The physicians and dentists who are the members of the medical organization and work at Srinagarind hospital were highly satisfied with their own profession. The average earning was good. The health statuses were similar to the physicians and the dentists in the other part of Thailand. However, the attitude in health promotion was low.
ABSTRACT
Background: Occupational medicine and occupational health were taught in 20 hours through out our whole 6 years curriculum. From a survey done in the year 2001, our 6th year medical students had low confidence when diagnosing occupational diseases. Since the year 2002, a teaching session at a factory setting was added for the 5th year medical students.Objective: To assess the knowledge and understanding of occupational medicine among 6th medical school students in the year 2004.Study design: Descriptive studyMethod: The 6th year medical students were given a self-administrated questionnaire. The data collected were general information and specific knowledge and understanding about occupational medicine.Result: There was 62% response rate. 86% of the respondents understood the role of doctor toward occupational medicine at an average level. 63% were not confident about the diagnosis of occupational disease. 70% emphasized on history taking for the diagnosis of occupational disease. 52% do not know the correct funding source for the workers’ compensation however they knew better than the study done in 2002. 84% knew that doctors were required to write a sick leave certificate only. 53% of the students knew the correct procedure for writing a medical opinion for the claim form. Nevertheless, some thought that doctor should evaluate the workplace as well. In addition the students are aware of the occupational health and safety principles while working at hospitals.Conclusion: When compare with the previous study, our students’ understanding about the doctors’ role in occupational medicine remain the same as compared with the earlier study. However, the student had more ability to emphasize on the history taking for the diagnosis.