Basic Occupational Health Service Model With The Participation Of The Community Health Services

ObjectivesIn order to explore the model of basic occupational health service (BOHS) with the participation of community health services and to protect workers from occupational hazards, a participatory training model and low cost modifications on BOHS for small and medium enterprises was developed based on the support of community health services. The project is useful for the decision maker on the issue.MethodsSelected professionals and related leaders of all the community health services in Pudong District were asked to fill the questionnaire of occupational health service in community health service, which included basic personal information, knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on BOHS.Workers engaged in welding and their related managers in small and medium-sized enterprises in Pudong District were investigated on the KAP of BOHS. After the baseline survey, they were provided a participatory training course by trained professional from 2 community health services. The training course included recognition of hazards and assessment of potential health risks. The workers were encouraged to find way to fix the occupational health problems. The KAP was assessed by comparison the results pre-and post-the training. The effects of the project were also evaluated by follow-up on the modifications.Results1. BOHS professionals in community health serviceBOHS professionals in community health service were well educated. Most of them were of medical specialty. They knew the BOHS concepts and were willing to support BOHS project. They thought strengthened supervision of occupational health was the main task at present. Community health services have the capability of carrying out BOHS. However, some barriers such hand shortage, aged professional should be given attention.2. The BOHS intervention (1) A total of valid 625 samples were collected from welding workers in the enterprises. Knowledge, attitude and behavior scores statistically increased after worker's participation of the training courses (X2=15.31, P<0.001;X2=8.41, P= 0.0037;X2=48.00, P<0.001,respectively), so did the total scores of the 3 parts (X2 =23.05, P<0.001).(2) More workers thought the working condition had been improved (X2=34.60, P<0.001) after the interventions.(3) twenty-three pieces of suggestions to improve the working conditions were proposed by the workers, and most of them were adopted by the employers and got into practice.ConclusionsCommunity health services have the capability of carrying out BOHS, though there were some barriers such as service sense, knowledge and financial supports. The BOHS interventions were efficient and were feasible. Education and training was one of the main intervention strategies.