Use of Objective Testing in the Diagnosis of Work-Related Asthma by Physician Specialty

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adams DA ; Bonauto DK ; Curwick CC
• Description:
  Although early and accurate diagnosis of work-related asthma is critical to avoid unnecessary medical, legal, social, and economic consequences, little is currently known about the diagnostic practices of physicians treating workers with work-related asthma. To characterize the use of objective diagnostic testing for work-related asthma by physician specialty. A cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative evaluation was conducted of 301 workers' compensation claimants with work-related asthma. A few claimants (36.9%) were treated by specialists in work-related asthma (allergists, pulmonologists, or occupational medicine physicians) either initially or through the course of their claim. Workers with occupational asthma were more likely to have seen a specialist than those with work-aggravated asthma (47.9% vs 23.0%; P < .001). Less than half of the claimants with work-related asthma (43.2%) had received an objective evaluation of pulmonary function, through either pulmonary function testing or testing for reversible airflow limitation, for the evaluation of their work-related asthma. Claimants treated by specialists were significantly more likely to have received diagnostic testing during evaluation of their disease than those treated solely by generalists (82.9% vs 20.0%; P < .001). The results of this study point to the lack of appropriate diagnostic care received by workers with work-related asthma. Physicians who may have questions about diagnostic procedures should consider referral to a specialist. The development of referral networks for work-related asthma may be warranted and should be explored. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Movements Asthma Asthma, Occupational Delivery Of Health Care Hypersensitivity Immune System Lung Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Air-flow Allergies Bronchial-asthma Diseases Immunology Medical-care Medical-treatment Occupational-diseases Occupational-exposure Occupational-health Pulmonary-function

  More +
• ISSN:
  1081-1206
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  97
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20031109
• Citation:
  Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2006 Oct; 97(4):546-550
• Email:
  cure235@lni.wa.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• End Date:
  20060630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8da7446895b4111bfba4a5e09617dd6e88c197fc93d9adf302001b71cd3e26d0d151959526ecd5a7ff8b10e1ee8144fda61749baf5a1d99eb5f41265c80fa4dd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/191464/cdc_191464_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 80.86 KB ]