Interventions to increase the reporting of occupational diseases by physicians.

Background: Under-reporting of occupational diseases is an important issue worldwide. The collection of reliable data is essential for public health officials to plan intervention programmes to prevent occupational diseases. Little is known about the effects of interventions for increasing the reporting of occupational diseases.

Registration of work-related diseases, injuries, and complaints in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of work-related diseases, injuries, and complaints in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao and to identify some next steps in the prevention process.

Methods: All of the three countries' 18 occupational health specialists were asked to participate; 100% agreed to report all work-related diseases, injuries, and complaints in 2004-2008. A standard online notification form was used to register cases in a database maintained by the Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases (NCOD).

Annual incidence of occupational diseases in economic sectors in The Netherlands.

Objective: To report the annual incidence of occupational diseases (ODs) in economic sectors in The Netherlands.

Methods: In a 5-year prospective cohort study (2009-2013), occupational physicians were asked to participate in a sentinel surveillance system for OD notification. The inclusion criteria for participation were (1) covering a population of employees, (2) reporting the economic sectors and the size of their employee population and (3) willingness to report all diagnosed ODs.

Review on the validity of self-report to assess work-related diseases.

Purpose: Self-report is an efficient and accepted means of assessing population characteristics, risk factors, and diseases. Little is known on the validity of self-reported work-related illness as an indicator of the presence of a work-related disease. This study reviews the evidence on (1) the validity of workers' self-reported illness and (2) on the validity of workers' self-assessed work relatedness of an illness.

Workplace interventions for treatment of occupational asthma.

Background: The impact of workplace interventions on the outcome of occupational asthma is not well-understood.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions on the outcome of occupational asthma.

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; NIOSHTIC-2; CISDOC and HSELINE up to February 2011.

Work-related upper extremity disorders: one-year follow-up in an occupational diseases registry.

Purpose: To study the course and consequences of work-related upper extremity disorders in the registry of the Netherlands Centre for Occupational Diseases (NCvB).

Methods: A follow-up study was performed in a sample of consecutive cases of work-related upper extremity disorders notified to the NCvB. Perceived severity was measured with VAS (0-100), quality of life with VAS (0-100) and SF-36, functional impairment with DASH and sickness absence with a questionnaire.

Evaluation of occupational disease surveillance in six EU countries.

Background: Registries of occupational diseases in various European countries differ considerably in criteria for notification and recognition, statistical data provided and the legal and social security context. Therefore, figures on occupational diseases are not comparable between countries and are often regarded as not reliable even within a country. Still, registries of occupational diseases are an important source for policy on occupational safety and health.

Characteristics of national registries for occupational diseases: international development and validation of an audit tool (ODIT).

Background: The aim of the study was to develop quality indicators that can be used for quality assessment of registries of occupational diseases in relation to preventive policy on a national level. The research questions were: 1. Which indicators determine the quality of national registries of occupational diseases with respect to their ability to provide appropriate information for preventive policy? 2.

Information and feedback to improve occupational physicians' reporting of occupational diseases: a randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of supplying occupational physicians (OPs) with targeted and stage-matched information or with feedback on reporting occupational diseases to the national registry in the Netherlands.

Methods: In a randomized controlled design, 1076 OPs were divided into three groups based on previous reporting behaviour: precontemplators not considering reporting, contemplators considering reporting and actioners reporting occupational diseases. Precontemplators and contemplators were randomly assigned to receive stage-matched, stage-mismatched or general information.

Sentinel surveillance of occupational diseases: a quality improvement project.

Background: Occupational diseases are generally underreported. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a sentinel surveillance project comprising motivated and guided occupational physicians would provide higher quality information than a national registry for a policy to prevent occupational diseases.

Methods: A group of 45 occupational physicians participated in a sentinel surveillance project for two years.

The effectiveness of an educational programme on occupational disease reporting.

Background: Occupational diseases are under reported. Targeted education of occupational physicians (OPs) may improve their rate of reporting occupational diseases.

Aim: To study the effectiveness of an active multifaceted workshop aimed at improving OPs' reporting of occupational diseases.

Diagnosing and reporting of occupational diseases: a quality improvement study.

Aim: To assess the need for quality improvement of diagnosing and reporting of noise-induced occupational hearing loss and occupational adjustment disorder.

Methods: Performance indicators and criteria for the quality of diagnosing and reporting were developed. Self-assessment questionnaires were sent to all occupational physicians recorded on the Netherlands Centre for Occupational Diseases database.