THE ART OF PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING HEALTH AT WORK – A FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT FOR OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICIANS

Aim of the study To update one of the important tasks of the occupational physician - the preventive counseling of those involved in work system. Material and methods The study is an informational approach supported by a solid base of bibliographic data selected and presented by the authors in an explicit chronological arrangement regarding occupational medicine as preventive, but curative medical discipline too, and occupational physician’s tasks in this field, mainly prophylactic. Results and discussion Pliny’s, Hippocrates’, Agricola’ and Paracelsus’ observations,harmoniously centralized by Ramazzini - father of occupational medicine, remain fundamental works over time and held the concept of work prevention; his work “Art of preserving the health of princes and senior persons” recorded valid principles of prevention, urgently needed today, also. Conclusions The occupational physicians should concentrate their activity on hazards and occupational diseases prevention, to be a diplomat actor on labor stage, advisor to employers and employees, skillful expert in the art of promoting health because of increased work productivity will result in personal satisfaction and material gain

Acceptability of Human Papilloma Virus Self-Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening in a Cohort of Patients from Romania (Stage 2)

(1) Background: Low patient’s adherence to conventional cervical cancer screening methods determined the need to take into consideration alternative approaches, and vaginal HPV self-sampling is one of them. We aimed to evaluate, using an online survey, the Romanian women’s acceptability of vaginal HPV self-sampling. (2) Methods: A 13-questions online survey was distributed on three Facebook groups, and the results were summarized. (3) Results: Despite of good educational background, 10.8% (n = 60) of the respondents did not know what a Pap smear is, and 33% (n = 183) were not informed about the free national cervical cancer screening program. Multivariate analysis revealed an increased likelihood of vaginal self-sampling acceptance among respondents who did not know about Pap test (OR: 7.80; 95%CI: 1.062–57.431; p = 0.021), national cervical cancer screening program (OR: 1.96; 95%CI: 1.010–3.806; p = 0.02), HPV infection (OR: 7.35; 95%CI: 3.099–17.449; pp = 0.03). Moreover, women who did not previously undergo a cervical cancer screening program were more likely to accept the new screening method (OR: 1.62; 95%CI: 0.878–3.015; p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: Our results showed high acceptability rates of vaginal HPV self-sampling among participants