Opinion survey of employers and labor unions on handling workers' personal health information

Research Project

Project/Area Number	14570369
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Public health/Health science
Research Institution	University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Principal Investigator	HORIE Seichi University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, Professor, 産業生態科学研究所, 教授 (90341528)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	TSUTSUI Takao University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, Research Associate, 産業生態科学研究所, 助手 (60309987)
Project Period (FY)	2002 – 2003
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2003)
Budget Amount *help	¥2,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000) Fiscal Year 2003: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000) Fiscal Year 2002: ¥1,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Keywords	occupational health / workers / health information / privacy / labor union / medical ethics / risk communication / health surveillance
Research Abstract	In cooperation with Japanese Trade Union Confederation, we mailed 934 labor unions questionnaire in January 2003, to ask their opinions regarding problems and desirable policy on privacy protection while employers are responsible for health information of employees. We received valid answers from 353 unions. Majority approved the record keeping (68.8%) and the perusal (61.8%) of health examination result by employer, in accordance with the existing laws. Some examination items were disallowed to be disclosed to the employer such as family history 11.0%, receipt of medical expenses 16.1%, smoking status 22.0%, body weight 28.9%. Changing the current legislation by requiring the employees or the occupational health professionals to keep personal health record was regarded problematic by 71.7% and 45.3%, respectively ; mainly for fear that the responsibility of employers to protect health of their employee would be weakened. Additionally, 25.2% pointed out the problems in small enterprises without assigned occupational health professionals, and 21.2% unions raised the issue on variety of professional competence. Meanwhile, the use of health information by employer to restrict or change employees' work assignment without their consent was regarded also problematic by 21.2%. At least 11 unions admitted they experienced cases of unwilling transfer, dismissal, or information leakage. This survey described the conflicting legal liability of Japanese employers to protect both health and privacy of the employees. Occupational health professionals should balance interests of employer and employee and propose an effective strategy for the handling health information at workplace.