Investigation of occupational health activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey for small- and medium-sized enterprises and occupational physicians mainly in the Shizuoka prefecture

Abstract

Previous studies of occupational health services (OHS) during the coronavirus infection disease (COVID-19) pandemic have focused on either occupational physicians (OPs) or enterprises mainly in the metropolitan areas. This survey aimed to assess OHS in some local cities during the pandemic and different perceptions of OPs and small- and medium- sized enterprises, which could contribute to efficient OHS in the future. From July to October 2021, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 196 OHS officers and 42 OPs in Shizuoka prefecture. We mailed 196 questionnaires (anonymous) to the OHS officers, with self-addressed postcards requesting their OP's cooperation for a similar survey. Based on the postcards replies, we mailed 149 questionnaires to 36 OPs. The survey was consisted of five categories; demographic characteristics, changes in OHS during the pandemic, infection countermeasures, infection status of employees, and free descriptions. The effective responses included 155 and 124 questionnaires from officers and 29 OPs, respectively. Regarding demographic characteristics, manufacturing and processing industries comprised the most frequent office types, whereas fewer than 100 employees comprised the most common office size. Regarding the changes in OHS, 8.4% of enterprises had OP's remote participation in health committees, and 14.5% of enterprises had stopped workplace patrols. Regarding infection countermeasures, approximately 90% of enterprises received advice and support from OPs and perceived health committees as the most helpful in receiving it. Whereas, OPs primarily gave it in workplace patrols. Many enterprises have implemented various infection countermeasures; however, they feel that promoting smoking cessation is difficult. They believed that the following advice and support was useful for the countermeasures; promoting awareness-raising activities to prevent infection, ventilation methods, and infection control while eating. Approximately 6.6% of enterprises were reluctant to share information about infection status among employees with OPs, and 34.5% of OPs were reluctant to share it with OHS officers. Moreover, about the ratio of enterprises whose employees had COVID-19, we found a difference between enterprises (39.4%)and OPs (28.2%). In free descriptions, some enterprises complained that OPs focused on COVID-19-related OHS and neglected conventional OHS. The survey revealed the OHS during the pandemic in some local cities and different perceptions about infection status between enterprises and OPs. To prepare for future pandemics, official organizations and academic conferences should provide guidelines for sharing information between OPs and enterprises. We believe this survey will lead to further cooperation between the two and better OHS combining COVID-19-related and conventional OHS.