RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Working towards a ‘fit note’: an experimental vignette survey of GPs
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 245
OP 250
DO 10.3399/bjgp10X483896
VO 60
IS 573
A1 Anna Sallis
A1 Richard Birkin
A1 Fehmidah Munir
YR 2010
UL http://bjgp.org/content/60/573/245.abstract
AB 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.