Aim: Work diagnostic examinations are carried out to assess aptitude, job selection,
pre-rehabilitation assessment and follow-up, career guidance. Work diagnostic tests
include aptitude tests, various questionnaires, work practice tests and instrumental
examinations. For instrumental testing, portable work psychology testing instruments
or so-called ‘work-simulators’ can be used. Work simulators have been used for selection,
assessment of aptitude, training for jobs requiring a high level of attention and
with an increased risk of accidents.In the author’s opinion, work diagnostic instrumentation,
work simulator tests (e.g. ErgoScope) can be well integrated into the protocol of
primary and specialised occupational health care tasks.Methodology: The author conducted
an online questionnaire survey among occupational health specialists working in Hungary
to find out whether they use work diagnostic tools, and if so, which ones, and whether
they would be willing to send workers for instrumental work diagnostic tests. 272
second-level medical fitness for work examinations were reviewed for their inclusion
in the instrumental work diagnostic tests.Findings: It is clear from the questionnaire
responses that very few occupational health specialists have the opportunity to use
occupational diagnostic instrumentation in their work, but 60.62% of them would be
happy to send patients for instrumented skills testing. From the documentation of
the second level medical fitness for work examinations, the author selected those
where aptitude tests had been carried out and those where an instrumental aptitude
test would have assisted the assessment.Value: It can be concluded that, in addition
to the second level occupational/professional medical fitness tests, instrumental
occupational diagnostic tests could be easily integrated into the examination protocols
of occupational health, in the first level occupational/professional medical fitness
tests, in career counselling and in the occupational rehabilitation process, and would
significantly assist the work of occupational health professionals.
