Acute Medicine | Respiratory | Taking an occupational history

Taking an Occupational History
Session Overview
Description
This session focuses on how to take an occupational history, with particular reference to respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and occupational asthma.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Take a thorough occupational history and explain how respiratory diseases might be triggered by work hazards

An accurate occupational history is important for many disease entities. Most doctors ask patients what they do for a living, but not many inquire exactly what a job entails. Patients may develop health problems due to, for example, heavy lifting (musculoskeletal problems), loud machinery (industrial deafness), exposure to chemicals and organic dyes (e.g. bladder cancer) or contact dermatitis (e.g. latex).

This session will focus on occupational history and respiratory disease such as asbestosis and occupational asthma. Similar to taking other parts of the medical history, there is a certain degree of skill and perception required.