Diabetes mellitus and work. Assessment and questionnaires revision

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus presents high prevalence, severe complications, clinical repercussions, costs and occupational implications. Their assessment requires the use of the medical history and support questionnaires. A literature review was conducted on the topic of clinical and occupational evaluation aspects of diabetes; the database searched was Medline. The search showed numerous papers about diabetes clinical and therapeutic aspects as well as social or public health aspects but the results lacked occupational aspects. To assess the disease, the use of questionnaires is generalized and each author selects those which fit best to their purpose. It is concluded that to carry out a clinical and occupational evaluation related to diabetes, an inter-specialities cooperation, based on a complete medical history including occupational risk factors, is recommended. The questionnaires are useful, adapted to the objective, recommending those valued in Spanish as in Fear of hypoglycemia questionnaire (EsHFS) and Diabetes-related quality of life questionnaire (EsDQOL).

Keywords: Assessment; Cuestionarios; Diabetes; Occupational health; Questionnaires; Salud laboral; Valoración.