Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
02:28
Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
Frequency and severity of problems that general practitioners experience regarding sickness certification
Monika Engblom1, Gunnar Nilsson, Britt Arrelöv
1Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. monika@engark.se
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
|December 1, 2011
Summary
Sickness certification poses challenges for general practitioners (GPs), with many finding it problematic. Key issues include assessing work capacity and avoiding conflicts, leading to unnecessarily long sick leave, particularly among younger and male doctors.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- General Practice
- Insurance Medicine
Background:
- Sickness certification is a complex task for physicians.
- General practitioners (GPs) frequently encounter challenges in managing sickness certification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific problems GPs face in sickness certification.
- To identify reasons for issuing unnecessarily prolonged sick leave periods.
Main Methods:
- A national cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Swedish primary health care.
- 2516 GPs under 65 years old with weekly sickness certification consultations participated.
- A response rate of 59.9% was achieved.
Main Results:
- Over half of GPs (54.5%) found sickness certification problematic weekly.
- Assessing work capacity, predicting incapacity duration, and managing patient disagreements were common issues.
- Long healthcare waiting times and avoiding patient conflict were cited as reasons for extended sick leave, with younger/male GPs more prone to the latter.
Conclusions:
- A majority of GPs experience difficulties with sickness certification, primarily related to insurance medicine competence.
- There is a need for improved training and support in insurance medicine for GPs.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:26Methods of Documentation II: POMR
The Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) revolutionized medical record-keeping by introducing a systematic approach focusing on the patient's problems rather than merely listing symptoms. Dr. Lawrence Weed's introduction of this method in the 1960s marked a significant advancement in medical documentation. The POMR framework consists of four key components: the database, problem list, plan of care, and progress notes.
01:17Classification of Illness
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:29Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a persistent medical condition that affects many individuals worldwide. Its clinical manifestations can vary greatly, making diagnosis and management challenging for healthcare professionals. The following is a comprehensive overview of the clinical manifestations, assessment, and management strategies for GERD.
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...
01:17Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data
Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems related to...
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems related to...