title: The perceptions of occupational health in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A random sample of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs) in Sheffield and Manchester was recruited into a study to evaluate the perceptions of occupational health (OH) in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data were collected using focus groups with three groups of primary care sector professionals. Quantitative data were collected nationally from 295 GPs using a postal questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GPs and PNs had minimal OH training, and 60% of GPs reported constraints in addressing OH matters with patients. The lack of referral routes (63 and 67%, respectively) was also seen as a barrier. OH was regarded as a speciality, and primary care professionals preferred to refer patients with OH problems to specialist centres because they perceived barriers to their dealing with the issues. A total of 74% of GPs surveyed thought that speedier access to secondary care would help them to address OH problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has identified some of the problems associated with delivering OH through primary care. It also demonstrated a need for greater emphasis on OH education in medical and nurse training, and a need for better advice for GPs, PNs and PMs regarding support services for OH.
authors.affiliation: Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK. Joanne.Elms@hsl.gov.uk
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elms
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pickvance
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fishwick
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazell
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D009817:Office Management; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires