Related Experiment Videos
Comparison of work-related ill-health data from different GB sources
1Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. louise.hussey@manchester.ac.uk
Background:
A number of data sources help inform policy decisions regarding the risk of work-related ill-health.
Aims:
To compare self-reported and medically reported data from multiple sources and discuss their benefits and limitations in providing estimates of work-related ill-health incidence in Great Britain.
Methods:
Sources included The Health & Occupation Reporting network (THOR & THOR-GP (THOR in General Practice)) and the survey of Self-reported Work-related Illness (SWI). Results from SWI and THOR from GPs, rheumatologists, psychiatrists, dermatologists and respiratory physicians (2006-2009) were compared. THOR-GP data also included patient referrals information.
Results:
Overall incidence rates were highest when calculated from self-reported data, and lowest from clinical specialists. SWI rates were higher than GP rates for mental ill-health (SWI 790, GP 500 per 100 000 persons employed) and 'other' diagnoses (SWI 368, GP 41), whereas incidence rates for musculoskeletal (SWI 670, GP 684) and skin diagnoses (SWI 38, GP 152) were higher from GPs. Very few cases of musculoskeletal and mental ill-health were referred to clinical specialists (<1%). Skin (15%) and respiratory (26%) cases were referred more frequently. Case mix varied by data source.
Conclusions:
SWI is more inclusive than THOR-GP; however, reports are unsubstantiated by medical opinion. Clinical specialist reports are subject to biases such as severity and referral patterns. GP data benefit from their inclusion of less severe cases than reports from secondary care and may give a better reflection of the incidence of diseases with a work-related aetiology unrecognized by self-reporting individuals.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Data Collection I
Comparing the Survival Analysis of Two or More Groups
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Methods of Documentation V: CBE
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data