1. [Characteristics of communication systems of suspected occupational disease in the Autonomous Communities, Spain].
- Author
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García Gómez M, Urbaneja Arrúe F, García López V, Estaban Buedo V, Rodríguez Suárez V, Miralles Martínez-Portillo L, González García I, Egea Garcia J, Corraliza Infanzon E, Ramírez Salvador L, Briz Blázquez S, Armengol Rosell R, Cisnal Gredilla JM, Correa Rodríguez JF, Coto Fernández JC, Díaz Peral MR, Elvira Espinosa M, Fernández Fernández I, García-Ramos Alonso E, Martínez Arguisuelas N, and Rivas Pérez AI
- Subjects
- Cross-Sectional Studies, Disease Notification legislation & jurisprudence, Humans, Occupational Diseases epidemiology, Spain epidemiology, Disease Notification methods, Occupational Diseases diagnosis, Public Health Surveillance methods
- Abstract
Background: There are several initiatives to develop systems for the notification of suspected occupational disease (OD) in different autonomous communities. The objective was to describe the status of development and characteristics of these systems implemented by the health authorities., Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on the existence of systems for the information and surveillance of suspected OD, their legal framework, responsible institution and availability of information. A specific meeting was held and a survey was designed and sent to all autonomous communities and autonomous cities (AACC). Information was collected on the existence of a regulatory standard, assigned human resources, notifiers, coverage and number of suspected OD received, processed and recognized., Results: 18 of 19 AACC responded. 10 have developed a suspected OD notification system, 3 of them supported by specific autonomic law. The notifiers were physicians of the public health services, physicians of the occupational health services and, in 2 cases, medical inspectors. 7 AACC had specific software to support the system. The OD recognition rate of suspected cases was 53% in the Basque Country; 41% in Castilla-La Mancha; 36% in Murcia; 32.6% in the Valencian Community and 31% in La Rioja., Conclusions: The study has revealed an heterogeneous development of suspected OD reporting systems in Spain. Although the trend is positive, only 55% of the AACC have some type of development and 39% have specific software supporting it. Therefore unequal OD recognition rates have been obtained depending on the territory.
- Published
- 2017