Annemarie Money1, Mark Hann2, Susan Turner3, Louise Hussey4, Raymond Agius5. 1. 1Research Associate,Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,Centre for Epidemiology,Institute of Population Health,University of Manchester,Manchester,UK. 2. 2Research Fellow,Centre for Primary Care,Institute of Population Health,University of Manchester,Manchester,UK. 3. 3Senior Clinical Fellow,Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,Centre for Epidemiology,Institute of Population Health,University of Manchester,Manchester,UK. 4. 4Research Associate,Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,Centre for Epidemiology,Institute of Population Health,University of Manchester,Manchester,UK. 5. 5Professor of Occupational Medicine,Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,Centre for Epidemiology,Institute of Population Health,University of Manchester,Manchester,UK.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Aim To investigate the attitudes to health and work of general practitioners (GPs) with training in occupational medicine (OM) compared with non-OM trained GPs, since the introduction of the fit note. BACKGROUND: Changes to the UK sickness certification system since 2010 and the introduction of the fit note required GPs to change their focus to what patients can do, rather than what they cannot do in relation to work. In an effort to reduce the UK sickness absence burden, GPs completion of the fit note should help to keep people in work, or assist patients to return to work as quickly as possible after a period of absence. METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected via the 7th National General Practitioner Worklife Survey. Findings Results indicate that responses from GPs who had undertaken training in OM, and GPs having received some form of work and health training in the 12-month period before the study were associated with significantly more positive attitudes to patients' returning to work and to the fit note. This study reveals evidence of a difference between trained and non-trained GPs in their attitude to the fit note, and to work and health generally. Further work investigating the effect of specific training in OM on the management and recognition of ill-health by GPs is recommended.
UNLABELLED: Aim To investigate the attitudes to health and work of general practitioners (GPs) with training in occupational medicine (OM) compared with non-OM trained GPs, since the introduction of the fit note. BACKGROUND: Changes to the UK sickness certification system since 2010 and the introduction of the fit note required GPs to change their focus to what patients can do, rather than what they cannot do in relation to work. In an effort to reduce the UK sickness absence burden, GPs completion of the fit note should help to keep people in work, or assist patients to return to work as quickly as possible after a period of absence. METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected via the 7th National General Practitioner Worklife Survey. Findings Results indicate that responses from GPs who had undertaken training in OM, and GPs having received some form of work and health training in the 12-month period before the study were associated with significantly more positive attitudes to patients' returning to work and to the fit note. This study reveals evidence of a difference between trained and non-trained GPs in their attitude to the fit note, and to work and health generally. Further work investigating the effect of specific training in OM on the management and recognition of ill-health by GPs is recommended.
Entities:
Keywords:
fit note; general practitioners; occupational medicine; sickness certification; work-related ill-health