Background: Little has been published in the medical literature about the occupational medicine content of family practice. Little is known about the educational interventions needed for family physicians to improve the care they provide to patients suffering from occupational-related disorders.
Methods: A questionnaire based on a curriculum in occupational medicine proposed by a subcommittee of the Education Committee of the American Academy of Family Physicians for the guidance of family practice residency directors was sent to a random sample of 100 Oregon family physicians from a total of approximately 570 active practicing members of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Ninety-three completed questionnaires were returned.
Results: Occupational medicine constituted a significant part (14 percent) of the practices of Oregon family physicians. The respondents rated management of chronic disability, disability determination, repetitive trauma disorders, and legal issues as the most important occupational medicine problems in their practices. These issues were also those about which they thought they needed additional training.
Conclusions: Education in occupational medicine for family physicians must be better tailored to fit their needs and their priorities. The responses to this survey of practicing family physicians in Oregon suggest that more training in the areas of chronic disability management, disability determination, the management of repetitive trauma disorders, and legal aspects of occupational disorders is needed.