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Table 3 Variables associated with sickness certifying for longer periods than actually necessary due to factors in the health care system or wait for action from other stakeholders

From: Reasons for and factors associated with issuing sickness certificates for longer periods than necessary: results from a nationwide survey of physicians

 

Sickness absences issued for longer periods than necessary due to health care factors

Sickness absences issued for longer periods than necessary due to wait for action from other stakeholders

 

Unadjusted ORa(99% CI)

MultivariatebOR (99% CI)

Unadjusted ORa(99% CI)

MultivariatebOR (99% CI)

Gender

Female

1

-

1

-

 

Male

1.06 (0.96-1.16)

-

1.07 (0.96-1.18)

-

Age

– 34

1

-

1

1

 

35 – 44

0.92 (0.79-1.06)

-

1.47 (1.24-1.75)**

1.26 (0.97-1.63)

 

45 – 54

1.00 (0.86-1.16)

-

2.09 (1.76-2.47)**

1.48 (1.09-2.00)*

 

55 – 64

1.13 (0.98-1.30)

-

2.51 (2.14-2.95)**

1.78 (1.30-2.44)**

 

65 –

1.00 (0.78-1.28)

 

2.23 (1.70-2.91)**

2.18 (1.39-3.40)**

Board certified specialist

No

1

-

1

1

Yes

1.00 (0.90-1.11)

-

1.71 (1.52-1.92)**

1.65 (1.30-2.09)**

 

Sickness certification consultations

    

1-5 times a week

1

1

1

1

More than 5 times a week

2.90 (2.62-3.20)**

1.96 (1.69-2.27)**

2.56 (2.30-2.84)**

1.61 (1.37-1.88)**

Well established workplace policy

    

Yes (Reference = no)

1.18 (1.05-1.33)**

0.85 (0.71-1.02)

1.56 (1.38-1.76)**

0.94 (0.79-1.13)

Support from your management

    

Yes (Reference = no)

1.07 (0.97-1.18)

-

0.99 (0.89-1.10)

-

Frequency of the following situations related to sickness certification:

    

Delicate interactions with patients

3.18 (2.94-3.45)**

1.79 (1.62-1.98)**

2.18 (2.05-2.32)**

1.57 (1.44-1.71)**

Lack of time

2.10 (1.99-2.22)**

1.52 (1.41-1.65)**

1.86 (1.75-1.98)**

1.39 (1.27-1.52)**

Collaboration, referrals, and support

2.47 (2.32-2.64)**

1.62 (1.46-1.80)**

2.80 (2.63-2.99)**

1.78 (1.61-1.97)**

Need for more competence

1.59 (1.51-1.68)**

1.01 (0.92.-1.10)

1.41 (1.34-1.50)**

1.02 (0.93-1.12)

Perceived problems regarding sickness certification:

    

Problems with the sickness certification guidelines

0.88 (0.83-0.92)**

1.07 (1.00-1.14)

0.86 (0.82-0.90)**

1.05 (0.98-1.12)

General problems with sickness certification

1.87 (1.77-1.97)**

1.17 (1.07-1.29)**

1.62 (1.53-1.71)**

1.04 (0.94-1.14)

Problems with assessments

1.99 (1.88-2.10)**

1.19 (1.06-1.34)**

1.73 (1.63-1.83)**

1.20 (1.05-1.36)**

Problems with patient contacts

1.88 (1.78-1.98)**

1.11 (0.99-1.25)

1.57 (1.48-1.66)**

1.10 (0.98-1.24)

Clinic

    

Internal medicine

1

1

1

1

Occupational health

7.08 (5.02-10.00)**

4.77 (2.67-8.50)**

9.82 (7.11-13.57)**

2.58 (1.56-4.27)**

Orthopedic

4.82 (3.75-6.19)**

2.53 (1.86-3.46)**

3.23 (2.43-4.29)**

1.52 (1.08-2.15)*

Primary health care

4.74 (3.99-5.63)**

1.85 (1.45-2.35)**

7.32 (5.84-9.17)**

2.43 (1.81-3.26)**

Psychiatry

2.62 (2.10-3.27)**

1.04 (0.77-1.41)

5.38 (4.12-7.03)**

1.93 (1.37-2.73)**

Neurology

2.12 (2.10-3.27)**

1.25 (0.78-2.00)

3.30 (2.15-5.07)**

2.00 (1.20-3.36)*

Rheumatology

1.80 (1.19-2.72)**

0.97 (0.58-1.61)

4.16 (2.65-6.55)**

1.90 (1.09-3.32)*

Pain

1.18 (0.62-2.26)

0.81 (0.32-2.04)

2.43 (1.16-5.07)*

0.70 (0.24-2.11)

Rehabilitation

1.09 (0.69-1.71)

0.39 (0.21-0.72)**

3.27 (1.99-5.38)**

0.86 (0.44-1.66)

Surgery

0.78 (0.63-0.97)*

0.91 (0.69-1.19)

0.44 (0.30-0.64)**

0.52 (0.34-0.81)**

Gynecology

0.69 (0.53-0.89)**

0.50 (0.36-0.70)**

0.80 (0.55-1.16)

0.61 (0.38-0.96)*

Infection

0.51 (0.34-0.76)**

0.55 (0.34-0.90)*

0.51 (0.26-0.98)*

0.48 (0.21-1.10)

Oncology

0.50 (0.34-0.72)**

0.53 (0.34-0.84)**

0.48 (0.26-0.91)*

0.54 (0.26-1.10)

Child and youth

0.47 (0.25-0.88)*

0.60 (0.27-1.35)

0.65 (0.26-1.64)

0.75 (0.26-2.14)

Ear, nose and throat

0.44 (0.31-0.63)*

0.47 (0.30-0.74)**

0.60 (0.34-1.03)

0.52 (0.26-1.02)

Dermatology

0.44 (0.18-1.06)

0.35 (0.11-1.14)

0.92 (0.29-2.86)

1.21 (0.34-4.32)

Eye

0.39 (0.19-0.80)**

0.45 (0.18-1.16)

1.10 (0.48-2.52)

1.75 (0.67-4.56)

  1. a OR denotes odds ratio; CI denotes confidence interval. b The multivariable analysis was performed by simultaneously entering into the model all variables that were significantly associated with the dependent variable. * = Significant at p < 0.01; ** = Significant at p < 0.001.