[Could sick leaves be reduced by augmenting the knowledge of the general practitioner?]

Musculoskeletal disorders account for about 50 % of the cost of sick leaves in Norway. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether it is possible cut down the length of such sick leaves by augmenting the knowledge of these disorders among general practitioners (GPs).

Among GPs in a region of 50 000 inhabitants in Buskerud county, 24 joined a continuous medical education programme on musculoskeletal disorders and received financial compensation for the extra time spent on an extended clinical examination of patients whose sick leave had exceeded 16 days. 41 GPs that did not wish to attend the programme joined the study as a control group. Patients were included over one year and there was a one-year follow-up period.

The GPs in the programme had a total of 753 patients who were included in the study; the GPs in the control group had 964. There were no differences between these patient groups with regard to sex, age, occupation and diagnosis, in length of sick leaves, or more permanent disability benefits. Among patients on sick leave of more than one year, 55% had not been referred to a specialist.

Augmenting the skills of GPs and giving them incentives to conduct more thorough clinical examinations does not reduce length of sick leaves caused by musculoskeletal disorders.