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Quality of sickness certification in primary health care: a retrospective database study.
- Source :
-
BMC family practice [BMC Fam Pract] 2013 Apr 12; Vol. 14, pp. 48. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Apr 12. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: In the period 2004-2009, national and regional initiatives were developed in Sweden to improve the quality of sickness certificates. Parameters for assessing the quality of sickness certificates in primary health care have been proposed. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of sickness certification in primary health care by means of assessing sickness certificates issued between 2004 and 2009 in Stockholm.<br />Methods: This was a retrospective study using data retrieved from sickness certificates contained in the electronic patient records of 21 primary health care centres in Stockholm County covering six consecutive years. A total number of 236 441 certificates were used in the current study. Seven quality parameters were chosen as outcome measures. Descriptive statistics and regression models with time, sex and age group as explanatory variables were used.<br />Results: During the study period, the quality of the sickness certification practice improved as the number of days on first certification decreased and the proportion of duly completely and acceptable certificates increased. Assessment of need for vocational rehabilitation and giving a prognosis for return to work were not significantly improved during the same period. Time was the most influential variable.<br />Conclusions: The quality of sickness certification practice improved for most of the parameters, although additional efforts to improve the quality of sickness certificates are needed. Measures, such as reminders, compulsory certificate fields and structured guidance, could be useful tools to achieve this objective.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Quality Assurance, Health Care methods
Regression Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Socioeconomic Factors
Sweden
Certification standards
Electronic Health Records statistics & numerical data
Primary Health Care standards
Quality Indicators, Health Care
Sick Leave legislation & jurisprudence
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-2296
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC family practice
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23586694
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-14-48