Occupational physicians' attitudes and practices in relation to occupational cancer prevention: a qualitative study in southeastern France.
We conducted a qualitative survey of 20 occupational physicians (OPs) in southeastern France in 2008 to study their attitudes and practices regarding the prevention of occupational cancers. Occupational physicians' practices regarding occupational cancers centered mainly on prevention. Numerous difficulties impeded these activities: attitudes that minimized the carcinogenic risks by employers and employees, the absence or inadequacy of mandatory risk assessment to identify health hazards, and difficulties in obtaining individual exposure forms, which employers are supposed to complete to identify employees exposed to carcinogens. Other problems were related to the resources available to OPs and the constraints on their time. Finally, some OPs reported that they lacked self-efficacy. The results of this study suggested the need to strengthen OPs' initial training, draft and adopt good practice guidelines for various aspects of their practices, and improve collaborations between OPs and other professionals specialized in the prevention of occupational risks.
Verger
Pierre
P
Southeastern Health Regional Observatory (Observatoire régional de la santé (ORS-PACA)], Marseilles, France. pierre.verger@inserm.fr
Pardon
Claire
C
Dumesnil
Helene
H
Charrier
Danielle
D
De Labrusse
Benoit
B
Lehucher-Michel
Marie-Pascale
MP
Viau
Alain
A
Arnaud
Sandrine
S
Souville
Marc
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054538:Occupational Health Physicians; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards