Pre-employment Health Screening Research Articles

Pulmonary congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation: a rare congenital abnormality in adults and review of literature

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) is characterized by an adenomatoid proliferation of bronchiole-like structures and cysts formation. The condition is most commonly found in newborns and children and may be associated with other malformations; rarely, the presentation is delayed until adulthood. We herein report two cases of CCAM in adult patients. 22 years old healthy female with pre-employment health screening chest X-ray showed a lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung. In another case, a computed tomographic scan of the thorax (CT) confirmed a mass in the upper right lung. A 28-year-old male presented with recurrent respiratory tract infection resistant to antimicrobial therapy. CT scan of the thorax showed a mass in the left lung upper zone. Surgical resection was performed in both cases, and histopathology of the resected specimen showed both cases were consistent with the CCAM.

Pre-Employment Health Screening for Nurse During COVID-19 Pandemic from Occupational Health Perspective: a Document Review

<p><em>The COVID-19 pandemic presents a major challenge to the pre-employment health screening system for nurses looking for jobs. For this reason, a pre-employment screening system is needed that sort it easier for all parties (nurses as prospective employees, companies, and company owners) in the health screening system. To offer a health screening system in the form of Remote Pre-employment Health Screening for nurses from the occupational health nursing (OHN) perspectives. The study used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Analysis with qualitative descriptive methods. The documents were extracted from Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and PubMed. The indicators included respondents (nurses), research methods (mixture of quantitative, document review, case study, opinion, and report), years (2016-2021), results (focus on pre-employment health screening), and language (English). Document search used the PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time) model. The search keywords were pre-employment health screening, OHN, and Covid-19. After analyzing the documents in the database (n=702), the records were eligible (n=10), and met the requirements for review (n=7). The findings of reviewed records were that the pandemic caused a disastrous impact on the nursing profession including the need to review the pre-employment health screening system. To prepare a remote pre-employment health screening system, the study suggests organization to a three in one formula: to make a memorandum of understanding, to set health examination standards, and to create an electronic application. </em></p><p><em> <strong>K</strong><strong>eywords</strong><strong>: </strong>Pre-employment, health screening, OHN, occupational healthCovid-19.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>

Colour Blindness amongst the Young Age Group in a Tertiary Care Eye Hospital for pre-employment health screening

Purpose: To determine the frequency of color vision deficiency among young age groups visiting a tertiary care eye hospital for pre-employment health screening.
 Study Design: Descriptive, cross sectional study.
 Place and Duration: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from June 2018 to December 2019.
 Methods: Data was collected using non-probability consecutive sampling technique. All candidates who appeared for medical fitness for pre-employment screening were included. Candidates belonged to various regions of Pakistan. Informed consent was taken. Complete history and ophthalmic examination including visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, anterior segment examination and dilated posterior segment examination was performed. Intra ocular pressure was measured by Goldmann Applanation Tonometer. Colour vision was checked before pupillary dilation using Ishihara test plates. Candidates were clearly instructed about test plates. Candidates with ocular abnormality were referred to the specialized units. The data analysis was done by IBM SPSS 20 software.
 Results: One thousand and five hundred (1500) candidates were screened. Out of these, 88.3% (1325) were males and 11.6% (175) were females. Mean age of the candidates was 20.35 ± 4.46 years. Approximately five percent (4.8%, n = 73/1500) candidates had color vision deficiency. Out of these, 94.52% (69) candidates were unaware of their condition.
 Conclusions: Color blindness in this study was 4.86%. Majority of the color blind persons were males and most of them were unaware of their condition.
 Key Words: Colour blindness, Ishihara plates, X-linked, Red green deficiency.

Frequency of color blindness in pre-employment screening in a tertiary health care center in Pakistan.

Objective:To describe the frequency of color vision deficiency among Pakistani adults presenting for pre-employment health screening in a tertiary care hospital.Methods:The cross-sectional study was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and the data was collected for color vision deficiency, age, gender, and job applied for from pre-employment examination during 2013-2014. IBM SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis.Results:Three thousand four hundred and thirty seven persons underwent pre-employment screening during 2013 and 2014; 1837 (53.44%) were males and 1600 (46.65%) females. The mean age was 29.01 (±6.53) years. A total of 0.9% (32/3437) persons had color vision deficiency with male being 1.4% and female 0.4%.Conclusion:Color vision deficiency was observed in 0.9% of candidates screened for pre-employment health check up in a tertiary care hospital. The color vision deficiency was predominantly present in male individuals.

Estimation of Upper Limit of Normal for Serum Alanine Transaminase in Healthy South Indian Population.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is the most common and cost effective screening test for asymptomatic liver disease. There is paucity of data on normal ALT among healthy individuals in India. An observational cross sectional study was conducted from January to July 2013 to estimate the upper limit of normal for ALT in healthy south Indian population. Adults undergoing voluntary or pre-employment health screening were included. Those with current and past alcoholism or smoking, acute illness or hospitalization during preceding 12months, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or over the counter medication use within a month, current or past intake of herbal medications, any chronic medical illness, abnormal body mass index (BMI), fatty liver in ultrasound, abnormality in haemoglobin, platelet count, blood sugar, creatinine, lipid profile and thyroid function test and positive serology (Hepatitis B, C or HIV) were excluded. A total of 2600 subjects were screened. 344 were included for analysis. Mean age was 35years in men and 34.83years in women, with a mean BMI of 22.2kg/m2 in men and 21.8kg/m2 in women. The mean ALT in men and women were 21.87±2.9 (97.5th percentile 28U/L) and 19.35±3.3 (97.5th percentile 24U/L) respectively. In conclusion, mean and upper limit of ALT (97.5th percentile) in south Indian men was 21.87 and 28IU/L and women were 19.35 and 24IU/L respectively. There is a need to re-consider ALT levels in our population for better detection of individuals at risk for liver disease.

Equality Act 2010: Knowledge, perceptions and practices of occupational physicians

Historically, many prospective employees in Great Britain have undergone pre-employment health screening (PEHS) assessments before a job offer. Section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 stipulates that PEHS assessments before a job offer may contravene the disability provisions of the Act except under specific circumstances. PEHS assessments in the current format may not fully comply with the provisions of the legislation. To describe the knowledge, perceptions and practices of occupational health physicians in UK following implementation of the Equality Act 2010. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey of occupational health physicians (OHPs) actively reporting to the Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA) at the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, the University of Manchester. There were 126 responses available for analysis (response rate 43%). Most participants (81%) were accredited occupational health specialists providing occupational health advice to various industry sectors; 96% reported involvement in PEHS assessments; 81% reported awareness of section 60 of the Equality Act 2010. Further analysis of these participants revealed varying knowledge levels and practices relating to specific requirements of section 60. Changes in professional practice resulting from the Act were reported by 38%, while 46% reported no change. There have been minimal immediate changes to PEHS practices by OHPs in response to section 60 of the Act. Some OHPs displayed inadequate knowledge of specific requirements of section 60 of the Act. OHPs could benefit from further training on specific requirements of this legislation.

Is pre-employment health screening by questionnaire effective?

Following a job offer, many employers require the chosen candidate to undergo health screening by questionnaire before the applicant commences work. Despite their widespread use, the effectiveness of such questionnaires remains uncertain. To systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness of pre-employment health questionnaires in predicting health and employment outcomes. We used a sensitive search strategy to search electronic databases from 1985 to September 2009. The search included dissertations for Membership of the UK Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM). The authors independently selected abstracts and papers for critical appraisal and inclusion in the review using methods based on guidelines produced by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York. Five hundred and three abstracts were identified; nine papers and two MFOM dissertations were critically appraised. Seven papers and two MFOM dissertations were included in the final review. Six studies explored pre-employment predictors of respiratory symptoms, one explored predictors of back pain in nurses, and two dissertations explored work outcomes including sickness absence and ill-health retirement. No papers addressing mental health outcomes met our inclusion criteria. Included studies either failed to identify pre-employment predictors of health and work outcomes or found very weak predictors. Pre-employment health screening (PEHS) by questionnaire has a low predictive value in detecting future adverse health and occupational outcomes. Where PEHS takes place, the health standards required and criteria for rejection of applicants should be based on a full risk assessment of the prospective post.

Age-specific frequency of screen-detected hepatitis C virus seropositivity in men from the Punjab province of Pakistan

Pakistan is a South Asian country with a high population seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibody. In administrative districts of its most populous province, Punjab, the frequency of seropositivity for HCV in different age groups of adult men, the usual bread winners for their families, is not known. This study describes the frequency and age-distribution of seropositivity for anti-HCV antibodies in 58,680 clinically healthy, adult men, from nine districts of the Punjab province in Pakistan, undergoing pre-employment health screening. Laboratory records belonging to these men, screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 3 for antiHCV antibodies in serum, were analysed and frequencies were calculated. A total of 4034 (6.9%) were seropositive for HCV. The highest frequency of HCV seropositivity was noted in men from Multan (9.6%), followed by Lahore (9.4%) district. The lowest (5.0%) was noted among men residing in Bahawalpur district. There was a progressive increase in seroprevalence with increasing age in men from all districts. Further research needs to be initiated to describe differential HCV risk factor distribution in various districts and sustainability of relatively low seroprevalence noted in younger men.

Evaluation of an occupational health service for general practitioners and their staff in a primary care trust

An occupational health service was set up in 2002 for general practitioners (GPs) and their staff in a London primary care trust (PCT). The service was based on a needs assessment undertaken in the locality in 1998. To evaluate awareness, usage and perceived helpfulness of the service amongst GPs and practice managers, and to ascertain current perceived priorities for what to include in the service. Questionnaire survey sent postally and electronically to 199 named GPs and 69 practice managers in 78 practices in the PCT. Overall 119/268 (44%) responses were received from 54/78 practices (69%). Awareness of the existence of the service was high (76%), and although uptake had been poor, this was not related to a perception that the service was unlikely to be helpful. Almost all those who had used the service had found it helpful. Nineteen (16%) respondents asked for more information about the service. Advice on health and safety law and fitness for work assessments were the highest priorities and hepatitis B immunization lowest, as in the 1998 needs assessment. However, a discrepancy between GPs and practice managers with regard to the perceived relative importance of pre-employment health screening and counselling/stress management emerged. The service is valued by users but could be developed by exploring new ways to disseminate information about the service and deliver it.

Implications of the Allitt inquiry.

The case of Beverly Allitt (Glasper and Whiting, 1993) highlights the issue of preemployment health screening and its relationship to psychiatric illness. The main purpose of pre-employment health screening is to assess a particular job applicant's health. Theoretically, such screening should identify psychiatric illness if there is a known history. However, if an illness has not been diagnosed, routine screening procedures may not be effective for ascertaining psychiatric disorders, such as Munchausen syndrome.

An Employee Health Service in Saudi Arabia

Health services for employees of this 500-bed tertiary care hospital include programs normally available to employees at hospitals in the United States. These programs include primary care, health promotion, health surveillance, and pre-employment health screening. The most pervasive influence on the health care provided is Islam. Saudi Arabia is a conservative Muslim country and all health care activities must be accomplished within the religious and cultural norms of the country. Communicable diseases endemic to this part of the world are of special concern in employee health. Special programs are in place for the prevention and control of tuberculosis, hepatitis B, brucellosis, ophthalmic chlamydia, malaria, and meningococcal disease.

Survey of safety and health care in British medical laboratories.

A retrospective postal survey of 24 000 medical laboratory workers in England, Wales, and Scotland showed highly variable standards of safety and health care. Pre-employment health screening was offered to two-thirds of employees, the physicians being the least likely to be examined (15%). Scottish laboratories provided better safety control than English and Welsh laboratories, while Public Health Service Laboratories had a better record than National Health Service establishments. Mouth pipetting is still practised in 65% of English and Welsh laboratories, and the use of protective clothing is rarely compulsory. The servicing of safety cabinets is often inadequate. Known and suspected carcinogens are still apparently used in a few laboratories (2-10%). In view of the wide variation in standards among laboratories, urgent consideration should be given to establishing regulations for codes of safe practice rather than relying merely on recommendations as at present.