From: The Primary Care Practitioner and the diagnosis of occupational diseases
HISTORY TAKING IN OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE | |
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Criteria for causal relationship in epidemiology | Queries to be addressed to the patient |
Temporal relationship | 1. What is the time lag between the initial exposure and the start of the symptoms ? |
Dose-effect relationship | 2. Do the symptoms improve if the patient is not exposed any longer (e.g. if he/she changes work duties or is on holiday? 3. Do the symptoms worsen if the patient carries out specific duties or works in areas characterised by high levels of exposure? |
Strength of the association | 4. Are colleagues affected by the same symptoms related to the same exposure? |