title: What Should Be the Content and Frequency of Performing a Medical Evaluation to Determine Fitness to Wear a Respirator?
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the standard of care among occupational medicine practioners for determining medical fitness to wear a respirator.
  
  
  
  A 15-item email/telephone survey was conducted of members of the Michigan Occupational and Environmental Medical Association.
  
  
  
  Sixty-seven percent of occupational medicine practioners who responded performed respirator evaluations; 75% did more than just the required Occupational Safety Health Administration questionnaire. Cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms and problems wearing a respirator (87% to 95%) were the most common reasons for additional testing and denying medical clearance (58% to 82%). Sixty percent of practioners required workers to have an annual evaluation.
  
  
  
  The frequency of medical evaluation, which specific tests were performed, and the criteria used to determine fitness to wear a respirator varied markedly between practioners. Further research is needed to determine whether the widespread variation is a sign of too little or too much testing by different practioners.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit (Ms Desautels); and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing (Mr Singh, Ms Burrell, Dr Rosenman).
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Desautels
authors.forename: Joginder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burrell
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Rosenman
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation