Accessibility and utilization of occupational health services.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate employees' utilization of occupational health services in three Dutch companies in which the access to such services (open consultation hour, summoning and periodic health examination) is organized differently. Accessibility to occupational health services is considered to be adequate if workers with work-related health problems are reached.


METHODS
For a random sample (N = 911) utilization figures were determined. For a second, nonrandom sample (N = 313) with an overrepresentation of employees with work and health problems, interviews were conducted with regard to health and work problems and motives for utilizing occupational health services.


RESULTS
Workers with different profiles of work and health problems were reached through different types of access to occupational health services. To a large extent, the utilization of occupational health services is determined by the organization of its access.


CONCLUSIONS
Accessibility of occupational health services is an important prerequisite of effectiveness and therefore a serious object for health policy and evaluation.
Plomp
H N
HN
Institute of Social Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
D004345:Drug Industry; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008669:Metallurgy; D009042:Motivation; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013783:Textile Industry; D013997:Time Factors