An international comparison of occupational health services for small and medium-sized enterprises and the utilization of occupational health nurses

Abstract

To clarify the current state of occupational health services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overseas and the utilization of occupational health nursing professionals, information from seven countries was retrieved, collected, and comparatively analyzed to obtain insights applicable to Japan. It was revealed that in many countries, occupational health nurses play a vital role in providing occupational health services to SMEs. This is supported by legal systems that promote multidisciplinary collaboration and by the enhancement of education and training for occupational health nursing professionals. It is hoped that the findings will contribute to the promotion of occupational health activities among SMEs in Japan.