Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK.
Fam Pract. 2010 Jun;27(3):344-50. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmp096. Epub 2009 Dec 24.
GPs typically sanction absence from work by issuing sickness certificates. There has been some debate recently about changing the way sickness certificates are issued and by whom. However, without understanding GPs' certification practices, their requirements in terms of training and education and how they feel the certification process should or should not be changed, measures aimed at improving the system are unlikely to succeed.
To investigate and describe British GPs' sickness certification practices.
A cross-sectional nationwide postal survey of 2154 UK GPs was conducted. GPs were asked about perceived certification practices, training in sickness certification, their opinions about the certification process and potential to improve the system.
Adjusted response was 42% (n = 878). GPs do ask about a patient's work situation but lack training in sickness certification. GPs would like to maintain their role in sickness certification but felt there was scope for other health professionals to issue some sickness certificates. GPs report more frequent sickness certification for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions compared to any other condition.
This study has highlighted the main issues that GPs face during a consultation where sickness certification is a possible outcome. Lack of training in certification was a recurrent theme. However, GPs felt there was scope to improve training and recommendations were made as to how this might be achieved. The survey has highlighted that GPs feel there are opportunities to improve the system and that other health professionals may play a role in the certification process.
全科医生通常通过开具病假证明来批准员工缺勤。最近，关于改变病假证明的开具方式和开具人有一些争论。然而，如果不了解全科医生的认证实践、他们在培训和教育方面的要求，以及他们认为认证过程应该如何或不应该如何改变，旨在改善该系统的措施不太可能取得成功。
调查和描述英国全科医生的病假证明实践。
对 2154 名英国全科医生进行了一项全国性的横断面邮政调查。全科医生被问及他们对认证实践的看法、病假认证培训、对认证过程的看法以及改善系统的潜力。
调整后的回复率为 42%（n=878）。全科医生确实会询问患者的工作情况，但缺乏病假认证方面的培训。全科医生希望维持他们在病假认证中的角色，但认为其他卫生专业人员有资格签发一些病假证明。全科医生报告称，与任何其他疾病相比，他们更频繁地为心理健康和肌肉骨骼疾病开具病假证明。
本研究强调了全科医生在可能开具病假证明的咨询过程中面临的主要问题。认证培训的缺乏是一个反复出现的主题。然而，全科医生认为有改进培训的空间，并就如何实现这一目标提出了建议。该调查突出表明，全科医生认为有机会改善该系统，并且其他卫生专业人员可能在认证过程中发挥作用。
