Ann Occup Environ Med.  2015 ;27(1):23. 10.1186/s40557-015-0072-1.

Residency programs and the outlook for occupational and environmental medicine in Korea

• Lee Y
• Kim J
• Chae Y

• KMID: 2370869
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-015-0072-1

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study investigated the implementation of training courses and the overall outlook for occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) in Korea. We described the problems facing OEM residency programs in Korea, and reviewed studies dealing with the specialty of occupational health in developed countries in order to suggest directions of improvement for the OEM training courses.
METHODS
We surveyed 125 OEM residents using a questionnaire in August 2012. A total of 23 questions about the training environment, residency programs, preferred institutions for post-licensure employment, and the outlook for OEM specialists were included in the questionnaire and analyzed according to the type of training institution and residency year. Responses from 88 residents (70.4 %) were analyzed.
RESULTS
The major responsibilities of OEM residents were found to vary depending on whether they were trained in research institutes or in hospitals. OEM residents had a lower level of satisfaction with the following training programs: toxicology practice (measurements of biological markers, metabolites, and working environments), and OEM practice (environmental diseases and clinical training involving surgery). When asked about their eventual place of employment, OEM residents preferred institutions providing special health examinations or health management services. OEM residents reported a positive outlook for OEM over the next 5 years, but a negative outlook for the next 10 years.
CONCLUSIONS
Although a standardized training curriculum for OEM residents exists, this study found differences in the actual training courses depending on the training institution. We plan to standardize OEM training by holding a regional conference and introducing open training methods, such as an open hospital system. Use of Korean-language OEM textbook may also reduce differences in the educational programs of each training institution. Toxicology practice, environmental diseases, and clinical training in surgery are areas that particularly need improvement in OEM residency training programs.

Keyword

Residency programs; Outlook; Occupational and environmental medicine

MeSH Terms

Academies and Institutes
Biological Markers
Curriculum
Developed Countries
Education
Employment
Environmental Medicine*
Internship and Residency*
Korea*
Occupational Health
Specialization
Toxicology
Biological Markers