Occupational medical history taking: how are today's physicians doing? A cross-sectional investigation of the frequency of occupational history taking by physicians in a major US teaching center.
Occupational illness plays a prominent role in the health of society, yet physicians frequently neglect occupational history-taking both in clinical practice and in medical education. This study sought to examine the trends as well as related factors that influence the taking of occupationally related histories. A total of 2050 charts were reviewed for occupational information as well as several patient demographics. Physicians obtained gender and age histories in approximately 99% of their patients; however; they only completed an occupational history in 27.8%. Characteristics such as smoking, male gender, family cancer history, middle age, and medical (vs. surgical) admission were all correlated with obtaining an occupational history. Physicians continue to do a poor job of occupational history-taking and medical education must correct the situation.
Politi
Barry J
BJ
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Division, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
Arena
Vincent C
VC
Schwerha
Joseph
J
Sussman
Nancy
N
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000592:standards*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking; D014481:United States