Specialist competencies in occupational medicine: appraisal of the peer-reviewed literature.
BACKGROUND
A re-assessment of competencies and therefore learning outcomes for higher specialist training in occupational medicine (OM) is being undertaken. Although peer-reviewed literature on the subject exists, it is limited and needs appraisal.


OBJECTIVE
To search, and critically appraise the peer-reviewed literature on specialist competencies in OM.


METHODS
Systematic search of a range of databases of peer-reviewed literature, followed by criterion based appraisal and categorization of the findings.


RESULTS
Two hundred and thirty five papers were found of which only 20 were left after application of the grading and exclusion criteria. These addressed competencies from four perspectives: peer consensus, client, educational and legal.


CONCLUSIONS
Limited evidence can be obtained from the peer-reviewed literature on specialist competencies in OM. However, it suggests the main paradigms for deriving these competencies as well as indicating gaps and the manner in which these might be filled.
Gallagher
Frank
F
Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. frankgallagher3@btinternet.com
Pilkington
Adele
A
Wynn
Philip
P
Johnson
Raymond
R
Moore
Jayne
J
Agius
Raymond
R
D003162:Competency-Based Education; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education*; D017712:Peer Review, Research