Hazard information needs and information seeking in French workers.
BACKGROUND
Data about perceived needs of workers for information on occupational hazards or diseases (OHDs) are scarce and the behaviour of workers seeking information on these matters is not well known.


OBJECTIVE
To describe workers' needs and behaviour in seeking information about OHDs.


METHODS
All workers attending for consultation at an occupational health service in Upper Normandy within 1 week were invited to fill in an anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
Of the 2640 workers responding 58% declared a need for information about OHD, but only 37% actually sought that information. Whereas 82% of workers mentioned the internet and their general physician (GP) as sources of information on OHD, only 43% mentioned their occupational physician (OP). Furthermore, information received from OPs was not considered more reliable than that from GPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Workers report a need for information about OHDs. Although most of them trust information given by OPs, they do not use OPs to obtain OHD information, but instead use less reliable sources such as the internet or their GPs.
Institute of Occupational Health, Rouen University Hospital and University of Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France.
L
L
Rollin
J
J
Ladner
A
A
Gislard
F
F
Monfrin
J-Y
JY
Larchevesque
P
P
Deslandes
J-F
JF
Gehanno
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D058005:General Practitioners; D057220:Health Literacy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
Hazard information; information research; occupational diseases; occupational hazards.