'The sick note': a qualitative study of sickness certification in general practice in Ireland

The European Journal of General Practice
Michelle FoleyMargaret Denny

Abstract

Sickness certification is a common task undertaken by General Practitioners (GPs) in most developed countries. Research suggests that they find this task complex and difficult. Primary health care structures and sickness certification practices differ across Europe and little research explores GPs certifying practices in the Republic of Ireland. The aim of the study was to explore GPs' views on sickness certification, the strategies used to issue sickness certificates to patients and scope for improvement in the current system. A qualitative thematic approach used one to one in-depth interviews with 14 individual GPs, across 11 primary health care practices in Ireland. Analysis of the data was conducted using NVivo 8 qualitative software. GPs can find their role as certifier problematic, and a source of conflict during the consultation process with patients. GPs were concerned with breaching patient confidentiality and in particular disclosing illness to employers. They reported feeling inadequate in dealing with some cases requesting sickness leave, including certification for adverse social circumstances. Sickness certification was often given in response to patient demand. GPs felt a need for better communication between the...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 31, 2013·Occupational Medicine·M FoleyM-C Von Hout
Apr 17, 2013·BMC Family Practice·Ylva SkånérGunnar H Nilsson
Nov 13, 2013·Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation·Rasa RuseckaiteDanielle Mazza
Oct 11, 2015·Occupational Medicine·R KingE Roche
May 23, 2013·The European Journal of General Practice·Michelle FoleyMarie-Claire Van Hout
May 31, 2014·Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences·Anna-Sophia von CelsingThorne Wallman
Jun 2, 2016·The European Journal of General Practice·Cornelis A de KockAntoine L M Lagro-Janssen
Sep 15, 2016·Journal of Clinical Nursing·Linda LännerströmThorne Wallman
Oct 19, 2017·Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences·Linda LännerströmThorne Wallman

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