[Characteristics of communication systems of suspected occupational disease in the Autonomous Communities, Spain].

BACKGROUND: There are several initiatives to develop systems for the notification of suspected occupational disease (OD) in different autonomous communities. The objective was to describe the status of development and characteristics of these systems implemented by the health authorities. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on the existence of systems for the information and surveillance of suspected OD, their legal framework, responsible institution and availability of information. A specific meeting was held and a survey was designed and sent to all autonomous communities and autonomous cities (AACC). Information was collected on the existence of a regulatory standard, assigned human resources, notifiers, coverage and number of suspected OD received, processed and recognized. RESULTADOS: Respondieron 17 CCAA y 1 ciudad autonoma. Tenian desarrollados sistemas de comunicacion de sospecha de EP 10 de ella, de los cuales 3 se apoyaban en norma legal autonomica especifica. Las personas responsables de la notificacion fueron medicos de los servicios publicos de salud, de los servicios de prevencion y, en 2 casos, medicos inspectores. 7 CCAA disponian de aplicacion informatica para dar soporte al sistema. La tasa de reconocimiento de EP de las sospechas tramitadas fue del 53% en el Pais Vasco; 41% en Castilla-La Mancha; 36% en Murcia; 32,6% en la Comunidad Valenciana y 31% en La Rioja. CONCLUSIONS: The study has revealed an heterogeneous development of suspected OD reporting systems in Spain. Although the trend is positive, only 55% of the AACC have some type of development and 39% have specific software supporting it. Therefore unequal OD recognition rates have been obtained depending on the territory.