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Occupational Medicine 2004;54:238-244
Occupational Medicine, Vol. 54 No. 4 © Society of Occupational Medicine; all rights reserved

Assessment of the potential effects of population changes in attitudes, awareness and beliefs on self-reporting of occupational ill-health

Katharine Abba1, Simon Clarke1 and Rosanna Cousins2

1 Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Health & Safety Executive, Bootle, Merseyside, UK.
2 Human Factors Unit, Health & Safety Executive, Bootle, Merseyside, UK.

Background

It is important to take account of the effects of population changes in attitudes, awareness and beliefs when interpreting temporal trends in self-reported occu- pational ill-health.

Aim

To assess how changes in population attitudes, awareness and beliefs have influenced trends in the self-reporting of occupational and other types of ill-health.

Method

A review of relevant literature was carried out. The criterion for inclusion was that papers must be based on empirical evidence; theoretical dicussion papers were included only where empirical examples were included.

Results

Several examples were identified where raised awareness of a health problem following intended or unintended publicity was followed by an increase in self-reports of this problem. The magnitude of the increase varied widely according to the situation. One example was identified where self-reports decreased following a publicity programme designed to prevent the occurrence and worsening of the problem in the population. Potential mechanisms identified as influencing changes in self-reporting of ill-health following raised awareness included changes in symptom/illness management, perception of symptoms, tolerance of symptoms, recognition and diagnosis of illness, attribution of illness; social desirability and legitimacy and recall.

Conclusion

The effects of changes in population attitudes, awareness and beliefs on trends in self-reports of occupational and other illness are difficult to predict for any given situation.

Keywords      Attitudes; awareness; self-reporting of illness; social factors; work

Received       13 May 2003
Revised         12 November 2003
Accepted       27 January 2003

Correspondence to: Miss Katharine Abba, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Health & Safety Executive, Room 234 Magdalen House, Stanley Precinct, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3QZ, UK. Tel: +44 151 951 3658; fax: +44 151 951 4703; e-mail: katherine.abba{at}hse.gsi.gov.uk


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