OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency and duration of sickness certificates issued by GPs to Polish and Norwegian working adults with acute cough/lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study with clinicians from nine primary care centres in Poland and 11 primary care centres in Norway. GPs filled out a case report form for all patients, including information on antibiotic prescribing, sickness certification, and advice to stay off work. SETTING: Primary care research networks in Poland and Norway. SUBJECTS: Working adults with a new or worsening cough or clinical presentation suggestive of LRTI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Issuing sickness certificates and advising patients to stay off work. RESULTS: GPs recorded similar symptoms and signs in patients in the two countries. Antibiotics were prescribed more often in Polish than in Norwegian patients (70.4% vs. 27.1%, p < 0.0001). About half of the patients received a formal sickness certificate (50.5% in Norway and 52.0% in Poland). The proportion of patients advised to stay off work was significantly higher in the Polish sample compared with the Norwegian sample (75.2% vs. 56.1%, p = 0.002). Norwegian GPs less often issued sick certificates for more than seven days (5.6% vs. 36.9%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The overall proportion of sickness certification for acute cough/LRTI was similar in Norwegian and Polish patients. However, in the Polish sample, GPs more often advised patients to take time off work without issuing a sick note. When sickness certificates were issued, duration of longer than seven days was more common in Polish than in Norwegian patients.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency and duration of sickness certificates issued by GPs to Polish and Norwegian working adults with acute cough/lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study with clinicians from nine primary care centres in Poland and 11 primary care centres in Norway. GPs filled out a case report form for all patients, including information on antibiotic prescribing, sickness certification, and advice to stay off work. SETTING: Primary care research networks in Poland and Norway. SUBJECTS: Working adults with a new or worsening cough or clinical presentation suggestive of LRTI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Issuing sickness certificates and advising patients to stay off work. RESULTS: GPs recorded similar symptoms and signs in patients in the two countries. Antibiotics were prescribed more often in Polish than in Norwegian patients (70.4% vs. 27.1%, p < 0.0001). About half of the patients received a formal sickness certificate (50.5% in Norway and 52.0% in Poland). The proportion of patients advised to stay off work was significantly higher in the Polish sample compared with the Norwegian sample (75.2% vs. 56.1%, p = 0.002). Norwegian GPs less often issued sick certificates for more than seven days (5.6% vs. 36.9%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The overall proportion of sickness certification for acute cough/LRTI was similar in Norwegian and Polish patients. However, in the Polish sample, GPs more often advised patients to take time off work without issuing a sick note. When sickness certificates were issued, duration of longer than seven days was more common in Polish than in Norwegian patients.
Authors: C C Butler; K Hood; T Verheij; P Little; H Melbye; J Nuttall; M J Kelly; S Mölstad; M Godycki-Cwirko; J Almirall; A Torres; D Gillespie; U Rautakorpi; S Coenen; H Goossens Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-06-23
Authors: Peder A Halvorsen; Katrine Wennevold; Nils Fleten; Magdalena Muras; Anna Kowalczyk; Maciek Godycki-Cwirko; Hasse Melbye Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2011-02-17 Impact factor: 2.581
Authors: Maciek Godycki-Cwirko; Marek Nocun; Christopher C Butler; Paul Little; Theo Verheij; Kerenza Hood; Nils Fleten; Anna Kowalczyk; Hasse Melbye Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-10-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Sibyl Anthierens; Sarah Tonkin-Crine; Elaine Douglas; Patricia Fernandez-Vandellos; Jaroslaw Krawczyk; Carl Llor; Jochen W L Cals; Nick A Francis; Lucy Yardley; Samuel Coenen; Theo Verheij; Herman Goossens; Paul Little Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2012-10-11 Impact factor: 2.497