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Occupational Medicine Advance Access published online on October 11, 2009
Occupational Medicine, doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp147
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

General practitioners’ use of sickness certificates

Richard Roope1, Gordon Parker2 and Susan Turner3

1 The Whiteley Surgery, Yew Tree Drive, Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7LB, UK
2 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HT, UK
3 Occupational and Environmental Research Group, University of Manchester, 4th Floor, Block C, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Background At present, sickness certification is largely undertaken by general practitioners (GPs). Guidance from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is available to help with this task; however, there has been little formal evaluation of the DWP's guidance in relation to day-to-day general practice.

Aims To assess GPs’ training, knowledge and application of the DWP's sickness certification guidelines.

Methods A structured questionnaire was sent to GPs within a (former) primary care trust (PCT). It probed demographics, training and knowledge of sickness certification guidelines. Case histories and structured questions were used to assess current practice.

Results In this group of 113 GPs, there was a low awareness and use of the DWP's guidelines and Website relating to sickness certification. The majority of the GPs (63%) had received no training in sickness certification, and the mean length of time for those who had received training was 4.1 h. Most GPs also felt that patients and GPs have equal influence on the duration of sickness certification.

Conclusions This evidence of variable practice indicates that GPs should have more guidance and education in sickness certification. Closer sickness certification monitoring through existing GP computer systems may facilitate an improvement in practice that benefits patients and employers. The DWP, medical educators and PCTs may all have an additional role in further improving sickness certification practice.

Keywords      Cost of sickness; general practice; occupational medicine; sickness absence duration; sickness certification

Correspondence to: Richard Roope, The Whiteley Surgery, Yew Tree Drive, Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7LB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1489 881982; fax: +44 (0)1489 881980; e-mail: roope{at}talktalk.net


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