Objective:

To estimate the waiting time since a suspected an occupational disease (OD) is identified, notified and recognized in Spain.

Method:

A series of 34 patients attended at Occupational Diseases Unit (ODU) of Hospital del Mar in Barcelona were follow up since their identification until final resolution by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). Median, and 25 and 75 percentiles (interquartile range [IQR]) were calculated in weeks by total time (n=27), ODU time (n=34), patient time (n=31) and INSS time (n=27).

Results:

Total time was 51 weeks (IQR: 33.6 and 122.6), of which 42 weeks (17.6-99.5) corresponded to the waiting period at the INSS.

Conclusions:

The disproportionately long waiting time since INSS receives a case could impact on the under-recognition of OD. Urgent improvement of the administrative process is needed to reduce the patient waiting time for the recognition of OD.

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