scholarly journals Physicians’ use of information from sickness certification guidelines: A nationwide Swedish survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Svärd ◽  
K Alexanderson
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Sickness Certification ◽  
Part Time

Abstract Background Sickness certification guidelines, introduced in Sweden 2007, are to support physician’s work with sickness certification of patients. Our aim was to explore the clinical importance of the guidelines, by studying what kind of information from guidelines the physicians use, and if this differ between type of clinics. Methods Data from a questionnaire sent to all 34 718 physicians in Sweden in 2017 were used (54% response rate). The study is based on answers from the 13 750 physicians who had sick-leave consultations. Results Half of the respondents used the guidelines at least once a month, and this was most common in primary healthcare (72%), occupational health services (64%) and psychiatry (61%). The type of information used differed; 53% used recommendations about suggested sick-leave duration and 29% about degree (full- or part-time) of sickness absence. Using information about function respectively work capacity was more common within psychiatry (42 and 42%), primary healthcare (37 and 38%) and occupational health services (35 and 41%) and less common among physicians in surgery and orthopaedic clinics (12 and 12%) who more often used information about duration (48 and 53%). In total, 74% reported that the guidelines to some extent were problematic to apply while 29% reported that they improved the quality of how they handled sickness certification tasks. Half (47%) experienced that the guidelines facilitated their contacts with patients. Conclusions The use of sickness certification guidelines varied between type of clinic and a majority experienced to some extent that the guidelines were problematic to apply. Further studies are needed to assess what information physicians in different settings need and what developments of the guidelines that are warranted. Key messages Half of the physicians used the sickness certification guidelines every month, but the type of information used varied with type of clinical setting. As many as half of the physicians stated that the sickness certification guidelines facilitated their contacts with patients, but a majority found them somewhat problematic to apply.

scholarly journals Physician’s use of sickness certification guidelines: a nationwide survey of 13 750 physicians in different types of clinics in Sweden

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e051555
Author(s):  
Veronica Svärd ◽  
Kristina Alexanderson
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Sickness Certification ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Different Types

ObjectivesTo explore physicians’ experiences of using the national sickness certification guidelines introduced in 2007 and the types of information they used, in general and in different types of clinics.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingMost physicians working in Sweden in 2017.ParticipantsA questionnaire was sent to 34 718 physicians; 54% responded. Analyses were based on answers from the 13 750 physicians who had sick leave cases.Outcome measuresTo what extent the guidelines were used and what type of information from them that was used.ResultsTen years after the sickness certification guidelines were introduced in Sweden, half of the physicians used them at least once a month. About 40% of physicians in primary healthcare and occupational health services used the guidelines every week. The type of information used varied; 53% used recommendations about duration and 29% about degree of sick leave. Using information about function and activity/work capacity, respectively, was more common within primary healthcare (37% and 38%), psychiatry (42% and 42%), and occupational health services (35% and 41%), and less common in surgery and orthopaedic clinics (12% and 12%) who more often used information about duration (48% and 53%). Moreover, 10% stated that the guidelines were very, and 24% fairly problematic to apply. Half (47%) stated that the guidelines facilitated their contacts with patients and 29% that they improved quality in their management of sick leave cases. More non-specialists, compared with specialists, found that the guidelines facilitated contacts with patients (OR 3.28, 95% CI 3.04 to 3.55).ConclusionsThe majority of the physicians used the sickness certification guidelines, although this varied with type of clinic. Half stated that the guidelines facilitated patient contacts. Yet, some found it problematic to apply the guidelines. Further development of the guidelines is warranted as well as more knowledge about them among physicians.

scholarly journals Technology driven integration of occupational health services into primary healthcare settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 2421
Author(s):  
M. Mohan Kumar ◽  
Manisha Ruikar
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Auxiliary Nurse ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Nurse Midwives ◽  
Growing Economy ◽  
Fatal Injuries

India, a growing economy has population exceeding 1.21 billion. Of this more than 65.5% people belong to the working age group. Total workers have doubled during 1981-2011, an increase in both organized and unorganized sectors. India contributes 1/5th of non-fatal injuries, half of fatal injuries, 1/5th of occupational diseases. Early identification and appropriate management of occupational morbidities is very much possible at primary healthcare settings. The deficit of Factory Medical Officers in India is approximately 60% and hence factory workers are likely to seek primary healthcare settings for their ill-health. But doctors are neither sensitized nor trained even to suspect occupation as a cause. Thus, integration of occupational health services into primary healthcare is the need of the hour. Technology may be adopted to train not only medical officers but nurses, auxiliary nurse midwives and other healthcare workers to identify and manage occupational health problems in a comprehensive manner. 

scholarly journals Partial Ideas for Improving the Legal Regulation of Assessment of Competence to Work

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-36
Author(s):  
Lenka Scheu ◽  
Martin Štefko
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Medical Report ◽  
Medical Reports ◽  
Assessment Of Competence

This paper deals with medical examination of employee’s ability to work. Although from a legislative-technical point of view, this regulation is considered to be successful, in practice it causes major problems in the area of assessment care, which is evidenced in particular by the case law. Referencing to practice, we can state that the idea of the occupational health services provider as professional assistant of the employer in providing for the protection of employees’ occupational health has not taken hold at all. Employers justifiably ask why they should pay for a medical report giving them no legal certainty. Employers, on the other hand, want to pay for services that give them a solid basis for further action against employees. From the analysed regulations, it is clear that the issue of health assessment and medical reports remains in some respects still gaping, both in terms of the nature of the medical report and in terms of accepting the lack of work capacity of providers of occupational health services.

scholarly journals Employers’ Perceptions of Work Ability Knowledge Management in Collaboration with Occupational Health Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Sari Nissinen ◽  
Satu Soini ◽  
Helena Palmgren
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Work Capacity ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Keywords Health Information

Abstract Good collaboration between employers and occupational health services (OHS) requires smoothly flowing information exchange, which can be used to improve work ability (WA) management. Our aim was to examine WA knowledge management in the collaboration between workplaces and OHS. The data were collected via telephone interviews in which 154 employers participated. The results showed that the relevant WA data were available when needed and, in the form needed. The most relevant data were assessments of work capacity, suspected occupational diseases, health and work hazards, and workload factors. WA data enables the identification of people whose WA is at risk and the coordination of measures to support their coping at work or return to work after sick leave. We also identified the main needs for knowledge and current practices of WA knowledge management. Further research is needed, especially on the bottlenecks in knowledge flows. Keywords: Health information exchange, Knowledge Management, Medical records, Occupational health services, Workplace.

337. Occupational Health Services Showing Effect on Finnish Dairy Farms

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kalliokoski ◽  
J. Kangas ◽  
M. Kotimaa ◽  
K. Louhelainen
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Occupational Health Services

scholarly journals Health Services Use and Health Outcomes among Informal Economy Workers Compared with Formal Economy Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3189
Author(s):  
Nisha Naicker ◽  
Frank Pega ◽  
David Rees ◽  
Spo Kgalamono ◽  
Tanusha Singh
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Formal Economy ◽  
Relative Differences ◽  
Services Use

Background: There are approximately two billion workers in the informal economy globally. Compared to workers in the formal economy, these workers are often marginalised with minimal or no benefits from occupational health and safety regulations, labour laws, social protection and/or health care. Thus, informal economy workers may have higher occupational health risks compared to their formal counterparts. Our objective was to systematically review and meta-analyse evidence on relative differences (or inequalities) in health services use and health outcomes among informal economy workers, compared with formal economy workers. Methods: We searched PubMed and EMBASE in March 2020 for studies published in 1999–2020. The eligible population was informal economy workers. The comparator was formal economy workers. The eligible outcomes were general and occupational health services use, fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, HIV, tuberculosis, musculoskeletal disorders, depression, noise-induced hearing loss and respiratory infections. Two authors independently screened records, extracted data, assessed risk of bias with RoB-SPEO, and assessed quality of evidence with GRADE. Inverse variance meta-analyses were conducted with random effects. Results: Twelve studies with 1,637,297 participants from seven countries in four WHO regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific) were included. Compared with formal economy workers, informal economy workers were found to be less likely to use any health services (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.85–0.94, four studies, 195,667 participants, I2 89%, low quality of evidence) and more likely to have depression (odds ratio 5.02, 95% confidence interval 2.72–9.27, three studies, 26,260 participants, I2 87%, low quality of evidence). We are very uncertain about the other outcomes (very-low quality of evidence). Conclusion: Informal economy workers may be less likely than formal economy workers to use any health services and more likely to have depression. The evidence is uncertain for relative differences in the other eligible outcomes. Further research is warranted to strengthen the current body of evidence and needed to improve population health and reduce health inequalities among workers.

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