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Med. Pr. 2012;63(6):637-650

BARRIERS TO OCCUPATIONAL ACTIVATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT THE LEVEL OF PROPHYLACTIC CARE

BARIERY W AKTYWIZACJI ZAWODOWEJ OSÓB NIEPEŁNOSPRAWNYCH

Aleksandra Cyran, Marta Wiszniewska, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa

Abstract

Background: The employment rate of people with disabilities in Poland is one of the lowest in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the barriers to activation of this group of people at the level of prophylactic care. Material and Methods: The survey was performed in a group of 245 occupational health (OH) physicians and 151 health and safety (HS) specialists. Knowledge of OH physicians and HS specialists in the field of prophylactic care of disabled workers was analyzed. Results: Over 90% of OH physicians and 98% of HS specialists showed lack of comprehensive knowledge of the principles of prophylactic care of disabled workers. Only 9.8% of physicians and 2% of specialists were aware of restrictions on employment of workers with a moderate or severe degree of disability overtime and at night shift. Only 12.7% of physicians and 0.7% of HS specialists knew legal restrictions on employment opportunities for disabled people in the open market, 30.6% of physicians and 23.1% of specialists considered knowledge acquired during vocational training as sufficient for dealing with OHS for disabled workers. Mental disorders were significantly more often reported as diseases that cause the major problems to employer and/or to employees. Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge of prophylactic care of workers with disabilities is an obstacle in the professional activation of this group of people. Psychiatric problems, epilepsy and diabetes cause the major problems in prophylactic care of disabled employees. Action to improve the system of vocational training of OH physicians and HS specialists is necessary.

Key words

barriers to employment, occupational health physicians, health and safety specialists, prophylactic care, employees with disabilities