Fate of abstracts presented at an International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) congress--followed by publication in peer-reviewed journals?

OBJECTIVES: Presentations at international meetings offer an excellent way to disseminate current research findings. One measure of the quality of research is its subsequent publication. Our study aimed to determine the publication rate of abstracts presented at a congress of the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH), and to identify predictive factors of publication and differences between presented abstracts and -subsequently published papers. METHODS: We identified a random sample of 318 abstracts presented at the 2000 ICOH meeting from the book of abstracts. Using Medline and Embase, we assessed their publication rate in the period ranging from 1998 to 2006 and investigated the factors associated with publication rate. RESULTS: Of 318 abstracts originating from 51 countries, 105 articles [33%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 27-38)] were subsequently published in 67 journals indexed in Medline or Embase. Mean time to publication was 17 months (95% CI 13-21). Multivariate analysis revealed that abstracts with quantitative data and written by authors originating from developed countries were significantly more published. From the time of abstract presentation to publication in a peer-reviewed journal, both the study sample size and the first author frequently changed (respectively 25% and 29%), but the overall conclusions remained stable, except in one case. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the abstracts presented at the 2000 ICOH congress were not subsequently published as full research reports. If this is the case for most abstracts submitted to conferences, this may limit the ability of a reader to judge the validity, reliability, and generalizability of the research presented. Caution is advised when referencing or generalizing from abstracts that have not been subsequently published in full.

Evaluation of urinary mutagenicity in azo dye manufacture workers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate urinary mutagenicity in workers employed in a major chemical plant located near Rouen (France) that produces dichlorobenzidine and azo dyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were obtained from 47 male workers aged 38.9+/-11.3 years (range, 21-58 years), mean duration of employment 9.0+/-8.7 years (range, 1-32 years) for urinary mutagenicity determination with use of the Ames fluctuation test (strains TA 98 and TA 100 with and without metabolic activation) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. To assess occupational exposure of workers, urine samples were collected in two series. First, initial just after a one-month holiday (non-exposure). Second, four months later during regular occupational activity. During the same periods, workers completed a questionnaire, which sought information concerning their working conditions, non-occupational factors, and personal habits. RESULTS: Of the total 47 samples tested, 3 (6%) collected just after a one-month holiday and 6 (12%) samples collected during regular occupational activity were positive in at least one mutagenicity assay. Dichlorobenzidine traces ranging from 1.6 to 8.9 ppb were detected in 4 (8%) samples of the exposed as well as in 4 (8%) samples of non-exposed workers. No significant differences between biological and analytical responses obtained in the non-exposure period and after occupational exposure were observed, however, 5 (11%) workers in this group presented urinary mutagenicity that could be related to occupational exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that some industrial hygiene problems, revealed in the analysis of questionnaire responses and confirmed by our evaluation, could be undoubtedly and easily solved to improve working conditions of the employees.

Polyhexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride exposure and erythema multiforme in a physician.

A 52-year-old woman physician developed recurrent erythema multiforme. Occupational and environmental exposure assessment suggested a disinfectant containing polyhexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride (PHMB), Phagosept. Elimination of the product was followed by disappearance of symptomatology. Literature search revealed cases of sensitization and anaphylaxis due to contact with PHMB, but to our knowledge, this is the first report on PHMB-induced erythema multiforme.

Results of a feasibility study: barriers and facilitators in implementing the Sherbrooke model in France.

OBJECTIVES: Return-to-work interventions associated with the workplace environment are often more effective than conventional care. The Sherbrooke model is an integrated intervention that has proved successful in preventing work disability due to low-back pain. Implementation, however, runs up against many obstacles, and failure has been reported in many countries. The present study sought to identify barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of the Sherbrooke model within the French health system. METHODS: A multiple case study with nested levels of analysis was performed in two regions of France. A conceptual framework was designed and refined to identify barriers and facilitators at the individual, organizational and contextual levels. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interview (N=22), focus groups (N=7), and observation and from the gray literature. Participants (N=61) belonged to three fields: healthcare, social insurance, and the workplace. RESULTS: Numerous barriers and facilitators were identified in each field and at each level, some specific and others common to workers in all fields. Individual and organizational barriers comprised lack of time and resources, discordant professional values, and perceived risk. Legal barriers comprised medical confidentiality, legal complexity, and priority given to primary prevention. Individual-level facilitators comprised needs and perceived benefits. Some organizations had concordant values and practices. Legal facilitators comprised possibilities of collaboration and gradual return to work. CONCLUSION: The present feasibility analysis of implementing the Sherbrooke model revealed numerous barriers and facilitators suggesting a new implementation strategy be drawn up if failure is to be avoided.

Introduction to the special section on psychological and behavioral approaches to occupational health.

The history of the International Commission on Occupational Health is deeply bound to that of the 20th century. First and only international scientific society of such an importance, it was founded in 1906 to bring solutions to the problems caused by a great number of occupational injuries and diseases due to the developing of industry. With the passing years, from a small medical group it has become a multidisciplinary society, present in 90 countries, where researchers, government authorities, and practitioners are coexisting in a permanent exchange between practice and research. It is composed of international scientific committees, which organize regular conferences and meet every 3 years on the occasion of the great International Congress in Occupational Health. Owing to the changes due to the new technologies of work and to the globalization of economy, the orientation of its activities is in progress: larger opening toward developing countries and the phenomenon of development in general, emphasis on prevention in occupational health, and opening of a new field of research on the psychosocial factors and work organization. At the first conference on this theme, held in Copenhagen in August 1998, occupational health and occupational psychology specialists met. Indeed, new approaches are needed, like the setting up of adapted tools to face the consequences of these factors on health and the construction of a new paradigm of occupational health. Today, both the transcultural approach of the problems of occupational health and the ethical thought on fundamental values are necessary.

Searching for high-quality articles about intervention studies in occupational health--what is really missed when using only the Medline database?

OBJECTIVE: Most occupational health physicians access electronic databases to obtain reliable medical information. Although it has been demonstrated that the use of Medline alone does not ensure comprehensiveness, many experts rely solely on this database. Our study aimed to discover to what extent the physician who limits his/her search to Medline misses studies of high quality. METHODS: We constructed a "gold standard" database of high-quality intervention studies gathering all the references included in the systematic reviews of the Cochrane Library and indexed under the topic "occupational health field". We then searched all these references, one by one, in Medline. RESULTS: Overall, 88.8% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 86.1-91.5] of the high quality studies included in our gold standard database were indexed in Medline. References included in reviews on psychiatric or psychological topics were significantly less often indexed in Medline [81.7% (95% CI 75.9-88.5)] than references included in reviews on other topics [92.2% (95% CI 89.5-95.0)] (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The recall ratio of Medline for high-quality intervention studies is close to 90%. For occupational health practitioners who aim to find reliable answers to their daily practice questions, searching Medline only is more cost-effective than previously thought.

Salud ocupacional en los trabajadores de la salud / Occupational health among the health workers

Los trabajadores de la salud representan un porcentaje muy importante de la fuerza laboral en la mayoría de los países. Sim embargo los servicios de salud hospitalarios se han formado más tarde que en otros sectores laborales. Los altos costos operativos en los hospitales hace que se dé prioridad a la búsqueda de la mayor productividad, pero ésta no debe ir en detrimento de la salud de los trabajadores. En los hospitales no sólo trabajan profesionales de la salud sino también personal dedicado a una gran variedad de tareas y todos ellos están expuestos a riesgos específicos y no específicos. Los riesgos potenciales para la salud de los trabajadores hospitalarios pueden ser infecciosos, psíquicos, químicos. Los riesgos profesionales son numerosos: desórdenes músculo-esqueléticos, accidentes y agresiones, carga mental y psíquica, pobres diseños ergonómicos. Para planificar un programa de prevención en los hospitales modernos es importante identificar y evaluar los riesgos y las necesidades de la salud en general de los trabajadores. Las prioridades se deben acordar entre los trabajadores, los médicos, el personal administrativo y aún con los mismos enfermos (AU)

Salud ocupacional en los trabajadores de la salud / Occupational health among the health workers

Los trabajadores de la salud representan un porcentaje muy importante de la fuerza laboral en la mayoría de los países. Sim embargo los servicios de salud hospitalarios se han formado más tarde que en otros sectores laborales. Los altos costos operativos en los hospitales hace que se dé prioridad a la búsqueda de la mayor productividad, pero ésta no debe ir en detrimento de la salud de los trabajadores. En los hospitales no sólo trabajan profesionales de la salud sino también personal dedicado a una gran variedad de tareas y todos ellos están expuestos a riesgos específicos y no específicos. Los riesgos potenciales para la salud de los trabajadores hospitalarios pueden ser infecciosos, psíquicos, químicos. Los riesgos profesionales son numerosos: desórdenes músculo-esqueléticos, accidentes y agresiones, carga mental y psíquica, pobres diseños ergonómicos. Para planificar un programa de prevención en los hospitales modernos es importante identificar y evaluar los riesgos y las necesidades de la salud en general de los trabajadores. Las prioridades se deben acordar entre los trabajadores, los médicos, el personal administrativo y aún con los mismos enfermos