Respiratory tract diseases are often work related, but can also exert a significant impact on occupational status, regardless of their aetiology, by leading to work disability. There is still no agreement in the scientific community as to whether it is more useful to assess work ability, which is often by self-report, or impairment at work, which is evaluated by more objective measurement. By whatever measure, asthma, COPD, rhinitis and more uncommon conditions such as CF and allergic alveolitis are able to affect work productivity, work absence and work cessation. Moreover, job choice, as in the case of apprentices, can also be impacted, either on a selfselection basis or due to formal vocational counselling. Several studies have pointed toward occupational exposures as important determinants of work disability, regardless of whether the disease is asthma, COPD or another respiratory condition. This underscores the critical importance of taking an occupational history in patients with chronic respiratory tract disease presenting with exacerbations on the job or work disability. In a wider aspect, it is also important for physicians to act in order to prevent or decrease occupational exposures to vapours, gas, dust and fumes.
The consequences of chronic respiratory disease for employment and employability
Murgia N
2016
Abstract
Respiratory tract diseases are often work related, but can also exert a significant impact on occupational status, regardless of their aetiology, by leading to work disability. There is still no agreement in the scientific community as to whether it is more useful to assess work ability, which is often by self-report, or impairment at work, which is evaluated by more objective measurement. By whatever measure, asthma, COPD, rhinitis and more uncommon conditions such as CF and allergic alveolitis are able to affect work productivity, work absence and work cessation. Moreover, job choice, as in the case of apprentices, can also be impacted, either on a selfselection basis or due to formal vocational counselling. Several studies have pointed toward occupational exposures as important determinants of work disability, regardless of whether the disease is asthma, COPD or another respiratory condition. This underscores the critical importance of taking an occupational history in patients with chronic respiratory tract disease presenting with exacerbations on the job or work disability. In a wider aspect, it is also important for physicians to act in order to prevent or decrease occupational exposures to vapours, gas, dust and fumes.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
