Sickness certificates in Sweden: did the new guidelines improve their quality?

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Descriptive information provided in sickness certificates issued in 2007 and 2009

Variable	2007N= 475		2009N= 501		P-value
Variable	%	n	%	n
Sex
Man	38	182	34	171
Woman	62	293	66	330	0.174
Total	100	475	100	501
Age average
mean, SD	45	12	45	12	0.566
Age interval
≤24	6	26	7	33
25-34	19	90	17	86
35-44	23	108	23	116
45-54	24	112	25	125
≥55	29	139	28	141	0.871
Total	100	475	100	501
Diagnostic group
MD	17	80	21	105
MSD	29	137	28	138
CR	9	42	11	55
Other	45	211	40	196	0.166
Total	99	470	99	494
Physician affiliation
PHC	43	201	42	210
OHS	5	24	4	19
Private	8	39	10	51
Hospital	44	206	44	219	0.591
Total	99	470	100	499
Total sick leave length
Median, CI	36	82-107	32	57-72
Mean, SD	94	139	65	87	<0.001

MD, mental disorders; MSD musculoskeletal diseases; CR, circulatory and respiratory diseases; Other, other diagnostic groups; PHC, primary health care; OHS, occupational health services.
CI, confidence interval 95%.

ISSN: 1471-2458