SFOK19004U Occupational Health in a Public Health Perspective

This is a specialized course within the area of occupational health research with an emphasis on the role of occupational exposures in relation to public health. The offset of the course is that being occupationally active can imply cognitive and social stimulation, one the one hand, and, on the other hand, it can also imply exposure to work-related stressors and demands that exceed the resources of the individual.

The course will start with a brief introduction to the organization of the Danish labor market including the historical development.

The body of the course covers a range of occupational exposures related to the psychosocial working environment, ergonomic exposures, working hours, negative social relations, and noise. These occupational exposures are discussed in relation to major public health challenges, including e.g. depression, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, dementia, accidents, and cancer. As part of the course, the mechanisms leading from exposures to diseases (e.g. the physiological stress response) will be covered.

To draw a clear line to public health and social medicine, the socioeconomic distribution of adverse exposures and the effects of these exposures on morbidity and mortality will be addressed. In addition, the course will address potentially vulnerable groups at the labor market such as young people, seniors, pregnant women, immigrants, and employees with reduced work ability. In relation to employees with reduced work ability, a module will be reserved for vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work including challenges related to long-term sickness absence.

Critical assessment of methods used in occupational health research (e.g. for the assessment of occupational exposures), including human biomonitoring and ethical issues is integrated in the course.

Depending on the available resources and possibilities, the course schedule will include a module outside of the University of Copenhagen (e.g. an occupational health clinic, the working environment authorities, or a local workplace). Furthermore, an international perspective can be added with examples from extreme working conditions occurring in non-Western countries.

The course consists of lectures and seminars with an emphasis on student participation and interactions between lecturers and students. Students are expected to actively contribute to group discussions. Furthermore, all students are expected to prepare and present part of the course curriculum in groups.