Document Detail


Working towards a 'fit note': an experimental vignette survey of GPs.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20353670     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has designed a trial medical statement.
AIM: To compare fitness for work assessment outcomes and written advice across current and trial medical statements. To examine the use of and suggestions to improve the trial medical statement.
DESIGN OF STUDY: Comparative study with a two-way mixed design using questionnaire-based vignettes presenting GPs with three hypothetical sick leave cases (back pain, depression, combined back pain and depression) and medical statements (current or trial). The questionnaire also gathered GP views of using the trial Med 3.
SETTING: Nine primary care organisations (PCOs) in England, Scotland, and Wales.
METHOD: Five hundred and eighty-three GPs employed in PCOs in summer 2008 were randomised to receive a current or trial Med 3 postal questionnaire. GPs assessed vignette patients' fitness for work using the questionnaire medical statements.
RESULTS: GPs using the trial Med 3 were less likely to advise refraining from work and more likely to provide written fitness for work advice compared to GPs using the current Med 3 form. Date sections of the trial Med 3 were used inconsistently, and a return to work date was unclear. GPs wanted further clarification of the implications of assessing a case as 'fit for some work' and its relationship to employers' willingness to follow GP advice about work.
CONCLUSION: The study indicates a revised form may reduce the number of patients advised to refrain from work and increase the provision of written fitness for work information.
Authors:
Anna Sallis; Richard Birkin; Fehmidah Munir
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners     Volume:  60     ISSN:  1478-5242     ISO Abbreviation:  Br J Gen Pract     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-03-31     Completed Date:  2010-12-10     Revised Date:  2011-07-27    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9005323     Medline TA:  Br J Gen Pract     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  245-50     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Occupational and Health Psychology Services, Health, Work and Wellbeing Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, London. anna.sallis@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Back Pain / rehabilitation
Counseling
Depressive Disorder / rehabilitation
Disability Evaluation
Family Practice / standards*
Female
Great Britain
Humans
Male
Medical Records / standards*
Middle Aged
Professional Practice
Questionnaires
Sick Leave*
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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