Family physicians' sick-listing practices in relation to mental disorders: A descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• General Practice
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability.
• Family physicians frequently issue sickness certificates for mental health conditions.
• Limited understanding exists regarding family physicians' sick-listing practices in Quebec.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe family physicians' sick-listing practices for mental disorders in Quebec.
• To identify challenges faced by family physicians in this process.
• To ascertain the needs of family physicians regarding sick-listing.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to 23 family physicians.
• Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• All participants found sickness certifications problematic, despite weekly completion.
• While patient sick-listing was rarely refused, 43.5% suggested accommodations.
• Key issues included waiting times for psychotherapy, delayed workplace accommodations, lack of time, and assessing work capacity.

Conclusions:

• Sickness certification for mental disorders presents significant challenges for family physicians.
• Enhanced training in medical schools and continuous education programs is recommended.
• Findings can inform improvements in medical education and professional development for sick-listing practices.