Basic Occupational Health Service Development in Primary Health Care Units

Abstract

Background: Informal workers are known that faced with unsuitable work environment and exposed to numerous of hazards. As results, Accessibility to appropriated health services is difficulty. Therefore, appropriate health services by Primary Health Care Units (PCUs), the closet providers, should be taken into consideration.

Objective: To develop the model of Basic Occupational Health Service (BOHS) in PCUs

Materials and Methods: This action research was conducted from November 2009 to April 2012. Twenty PCUs were selected from 4 regions of Thailand. The main activities consisted of training, implementing BOHS by primary health care staff, set up surveillance system, supervision /monitoring and evaluation. BOHS was defined as passive and active health care service. Data was collected using risk assessment checklist and screening diagnosis report form and analyzed by using percentage mean and standard deviation. The outcomes of the study are Model of BOHS ,operating mechanism, risk assessment and work-related illness report.

Results: A total of 20 PCUs, 19 PCUs could provide BOHS with two main activities, passive and active health care service. During November 2009- March 2012, data from screening diagnosis showed that 3,353 patients were work–related illness of 19.6 per 1,000 populations. The first three important health hazards among 2,821 informal workers worked in unsuitable posture, exposed to heat and dust or chemical from 15 PCUs were revealed.  There were 14 PCUs, providing risk management programs and coordinating with local Authorities for budget supporting. The operating mechanism consist of  health provincial policy support, technical support and participation system.

Conclusions: These findings indicated that BOHS model could be provided in PCUs. The main activities were passive and active health care service. The operating mechanism consist of policy technical and participatory support. Policy of provincial health office, surveillance system development and supervision are important to be taken into account. The one of key success factor is coordination with other networks in particularly local Authority.