[Rules for prevention and certification of occupational diseases in workers occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs]. / Zasady postepowania profilaktycznego i orzeczniczego u pracowników zawodowo narazonych na leki cytostatyczne.

The risk of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs is related to cancerogenesis and reproductive dysfunction, including fertility disorders, congenital defects and toxic effects inter alia on the liver, kidneys, skin and bone marrow. The authors review current legal regulations of antineoplastic drug administration, the present state of the patients' care and guidelines for prophylactic examinations in this occupational group.

[Reasons for difficulties encountered in diagnosing and certifying occupational disease reported by some regional centers of occupational medicine]. / Przyczyny trudnosci diagnostyczno-orzeczniczych w patologii zawodowej w opinii wybranych wojewódzkich osrodków medycyny pracy.

Observations about kinds of and reasons for difficulties encountered in diagnosing and certifying occupational diseases, made during the analysis of over 3,000 medical history files, were verified with the opinions of the personnel employed in the 14 selected regional centres of occupational medicine. The evaluation of the body of workers, the diagnostic basis, kinds of diagnostic and certification difficulties and their causes, the data on diagnosed occupational diseases, and appeals against certifications which negate the grounds for diagnosing occupational diseases were surveyed and the results presented. The results obtained indicate convergent causes of incorrect decisions taken by those involved in the Institute, and by directors of regional centres of occupational medicine. This provides the basis for developing measures aimed at eliminating the mistakes made in the process of diagnosing and certifying occupational diseases.

[Cooperation between regional occupational health centers and the clinic of occupational diseases in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in the area of diagnosis and certification of occupational pathology]. / Wspólpraca wojewódzkich osrodków medycyny pracy z Przychodnia Chorób Zawodowych Instytutu Medycyny Pracy w procesie diagnostyczno-orzeczniczym w patologii zawodowej.

Diagnosis and certification of occupational diseases is a statutory responsibility of all regional occupational health centres. An increasing number of certificates issued by these centres has been questioned over last recent years by employees concerned. The Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine co-operates with these centres, particularly if some doubts are reported. Some shortcomings in diagnosis and certification become the subject of thorough analysis and steps are taken to identify the causes of miscertification.

[The effect of specialist supervision on the quality of medical documentation in occupational health services]. / Wplyw nadzoru specjalistycznego na jakosc dokumentacji medycznej w sluzbie medycyny pracy.

The effect if different factors on the quality of documentation on medical prophylactic examinations in occupational health services is presented. Following the binding legal regulations, the tools (forms and application software) for evaluating the quality of documentation by regional specialists has been developed. The medical documentation has been kept by authorized doctors using old and new forms. The results of three successive controls carried out in three voivodships during the third term of 1996 showed improved quality parameters (transparency and input of appropriate data) due to new pattern of medical documentation. Nevertheless, the key role in quality assurance of medical documentation is played by a regional specialists, equipped with suitable tools facilitating assessment of documentation kept by individual doctors.

[Musculo-skeletal system diseases in dentists--an analysis of consultation cases referred to the outpatient department of occupational diseases]. / Choroby narzadu ruchu u stomatologów--analiza przypadków konsultacyjnych kierowanych do przychodni chorób zawodowych.

During 1984-1991, 188 dentists referred for consultation to the Outpatient Department of Occupational Diseases, Institute of Occupational Medicine in connection with suspected occupational disease of musculo-skeletal system were examined. In total, 122 (64.9%) cases of the occupational diseases were diagnosed, among which chronic inflammation of humeral bone epicondyles (61.5%) and periarticular shoulder inflammation (25.4%) dominated. Claims associated with spondylosis and discopathies were decided to be rejected, as those changes are frequent in the general population and according to the legal regulations currently in force, are not included among occupational diseases resulting from the occupational work.