Sick-listing habits among general practitioners in a Swedish county

Area of Science:

• Primary Health Care
• General Practice
• Medical Audit

Background:

• Sick-listing is a common practice in general practice.
• Understanding sick-listing habits, including duration and diagnoses, is crucial for healthcare management.
• Variations in sick-listing practices among general practitioners (GPs) warrant investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe sick-listing habits in general practice.
• To determine the frequency and duration of sick-leave certification.
• To identify diagnoses associated with sick-listing and explore influencing factors.

Main Methods:

• A medical audit was conducted in primary health care settings.
• 53 general practitioners (GPs) recorded all instances where sick-listing was considered over a 2-week period.
• Data collected included the percentage of consultations involving sick-listing, duration of sick-leave, partial sick-listing rates, and GP sex differences.

Main Results:

• Sick-listing was considered in 9% of GP consultations, with certificates issued in most cases (94%).
• The median duration of certified sick-leave was 14 days, with musculoskeletal problems being the most frequent diagnosis.
• Female patients received partial sick-listing more often than males, and female GPs certified sick-leave for a larger proportion of patients compared to male GPs.

Conclusions:

• Patient influence appears significant in general practitioners' (GPs) sick-listing decisions.
• There are notable sex-based differences in sick-listing practices among GPs.
• Further research into the factors influencing sick-listing duration and patient-GP dynamics is recommended.