title: [Analysis of tasks of occupational health services accomplished in Poland, 1997-2014. Do we exploit the full potential of prophylactic examinations of workers?]
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mandatory medical reports can be used to evaluate the scope of activity of occupational health services (OHS), including the number and kind of services.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis comprised data for the period 1997-2014, derived from mandatory reports MZ-35A submitted by OHS units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the analyzed period the number of occupational medicine physicians decreased from 8507 to 6741, while the number of OHS units - responsible for prophylactic care - increased from 4967 to 6261. In the years under report 3,961 million mandatory health check-ups were performed, of which 99.3% resulted in issuing fitness for work certificates. Pre-employment examinations made 38.8%, while periodical ones - 52.8% and control ones - 6.7% of all check-ups. Moreover, 336 700 examinations of apprentices, students, vocational courses attendants and Ph.D. students were performed to evaluate any contradictions for vocational training. In 2014, there were 1871 workers provided with preventive care per 1 occupational physician. It was estimated that despite legal obligation, only 22.2% of employers had signed agreements with OHS units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of the number and kind of services provided by OHS units revealed high but not fully exploited potential for efficient prophylaxis of both directly occupational work-related and indirectly work-exacerbated diseases. Med Pr 2017;68(1):105-119.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Zdrowia Środowiskowego, Pracownia Polityki Zdrowotnej / Departament of Occupational Diseases and Environmental Health, Occupational Diseases Outpatient Clinic). andrzej.marcinkiewicz@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcinkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Zdrowia Środowiskowego, Pracownia Polityki Zdrowotnej / Departament of Occupational Diseases and Environmental Health, Occupational Diseases Outpatient Clinic). mariola@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojda
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Zdrowia Środowiskowego, Pracownia Polityki Zdrowotnej / Departament of Occupational Diseases and Environmental Health, Occupational Diseases Outpatient Clinic). jolantaw@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walusiak-Skorupa
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Zakład Epidemiologii Środowiskowej / Department of Environmental Epidemiology). wojt@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Dyrektor Instytutu / Head of the Institute). konrad@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rydzyński
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011044:Poland; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: medical certification; occupational health check; occupational health service; occupational medicine physician; prevention; preventive care