PREFERRED PARAMETERS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (OSS) IN EXPERT OPINIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL STAFF: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: An Occupational Health Surveillance System (OHSS) provides a critical opportunity to monitor and evaluate occupational disorders and injuries over time. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, more than 21 million employees, work in the industrial and private sections, 62.08% and 38.03% respectively..  The present qualitative study was designed for the collection of expert opinions of staff in this filed, and to determine proper characters for a suitable Iranian OHSS. 

Methods: The present qualitative study was performed on interview-based data from occupational medicine staff. Some of the questions were in reference to OHSS definition, temporary accompaniment of occupational diseases and injuries surveillance system, OHSS promoters and consumers, type of requested data for OHSS, and rewarding and controlling systems to preparing qualitative and valid OHSS data. Interview answers were read, summarized and presented.

Results: Most of the study participants’ staff believed that OHSS in the scientific base must cover all essential parts including disorders, hazards and accidents collectively. They believed that this combination was made by teams working with occupational medicine staff and other specialties such as occupational hygienists and information technologists. They emphasized that the Iranian Ministry of Health had the capacity to promote OHSS and organize an executive committee with the entire OHSS involved as a team working in this filed. Occupational staff had been focused on this fact that OHSS data must cover all the required data of the Iranian working population and their relatives.  

Conclusion: The Iranian occupational registry system must be changed and developed as an Occupational Health Surveillance System according to the main parameters which were found in occupational staff interviews.