Ethics Guidance for Occupational Health Practice 9th Edition - Book - Page 28
2.38. Occupational health professionals should take care not to stray beyond their
areas of competence and expertise, and it should be remembered that dealing
effectively with the media is a skill for which training is available. It is unusual
to be offered any form of editorial control after comments are made, and
unsympathetic editing can significantly distort messages. Clarity and simplicity
of comment are good general principles to apply.
2.39. Clinicians should be aware of their enhanced influence as an occupational
health professional and accept this additional responsibility. If used
appropriately, social networking sites can offer several benefits for healthcare
professionals in line with both GMC, HCPC, and NMC guidance on use of social
media as healthcare professionals.
The occupational health evidence base
2.40. Occupational Health is a clinical science with a strong emphasis on
epidemiology, statistics and the physical sciences, whilst also incorporating
biopsychosocial
principles,
rehabilitation approaches and
sociological
perspectives. Basing clinical practice on sound scientific principles should be
the norm. This aspiration is frequently hampered by a lack of relevant highquality research or reliable data. Nevertheless, the standard approach should
be to formulate abstract problems into soluble questions, (or a series of
questions) find the relevant evidence, interpret the data, decide and evaluate
the outcome.
2.41. In the absence of good quality evidence, it is acceptable to adopt a consensus.
The potential weaknesses of a consensus approach should be openly
acknowledged. Occupational health professionals should aim to improve the
professional knowledge base by disseminating findings from their practice,
both at a local level and where appropriate, by publication in peer reviewed
literature.
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