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Table 4 Variables associated with sickness certifying for longer periods than actually necessary due to patient or physician factors

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

 

Sickness certificates issued for longer periods than necessary due to patient factors

Sickness certificates issued for longer periods than necessary due to physician factors

 

Unadjusted ORa(99% CI)

MultivariatebOR (99% CI)

Unadjusted ORa(99% CI)

MultivariatebOR (99% CI)

Gender

Female

1

1

1

-

 

Male

0.82 (0.72-0.94)**

0.96 (0.80-1.16)

1.12 (0.97-1.29)

-

Age

– 34

1

1

1

1

 

35 – 44

0.84 (0.69-1.01)

0.83 (0.65-1.07)

0.75 (0.61-0.91)**

0.84 (0.62-1.12)

 

45 – 54

0.78 (0.64-0.95)**

0.67 (0.51-0.87)**

0.55 (0.44-0.67)**

0.68 (0.46-1.00)

 

55 – 64

0.64 (0.53-0.78)**

0.55 (0.42-0.72)**

0.52 (0.42-0.63)**

0.83 (0.56-1.23)

 

65 –

0.44 (0.30-0.66)**

0.55 (0.32-0.93)*

0.29 (0.18-0.47)**

0.54 (0.26-1.10)

Board certified specialist

1

-

1

1

Yes (Reference = no)

0.69 (0.60-0.79)

-

0.57 (0.49-0.65)**

1.04 (0.77-1.41)

Sickness certification consultations

    

1-5 times a week

1

1

1

1

More than 6 times a week

3,29 (2.85-3.80)**

1.91 (1.57-2.33)**

2.35 (2.02-2.73)**

1.57 (1.27-1.94)**

Well established workplace policy

    

Yes (Reference = no)

0.94 (0.80-1.10)

-

0.58 (0.47-0.70)**

0.56 (0.43-0.75)**

Support from your management

    

Yes (Reference = no)

1.10 (0.96-1.28)

-

0.95 (0.82-1.10)

-

Frequency of the following situations related to sickness certification:

    

Delicate interactions with patients

2.52 (2.34-2.70)**

1.74 (1.59-1.90)**

2.88 (2.67-3.11)**

2.12 (1.92-2.34)**

Lack of time

2.04 (1.87-2.23)**

1.42 (1.25-1.62)**

2.22 (2.01-2.45)**

1.34 (1.17-1.54)**

Collaboration, referrals, and support

2.10 (1.96-2.24)**

1.46 (1.30-1.64)**

1.39 (1.30-1.49)**

1.04 (0.91-1.19)

Need for more competence

1.68 (1.56-1.81)**

0.98 (0.88-1.10)

1.99 (1.83-2.16)**

1.17 (1.04-1.32)**

Perceived problems regarding sickness certification:

    

Problems with the sickness certification guidelines

0.91 (0.85-0.97)**

1.06 (0.96-1.16)

1.07 (0.99-1.15)

-

General problems with sickness certification

1.73 (1.61-1.85)**

0.99 (0.88-1.12)

1.98 (1.84-2.15)**

0.93 (0.82-1.06)

Problems with assessments

2.10 (1.94-2.27)**

1.28 (1.09-1.49)**

2.40 (2.20-2.62)**

1.09 (0.92-1.29)

Problems with patient contacts

2.00 (1.86-2.15)**

1.30 (1.12-1.50)**

2.98 (2.72-3.26)**

2.03 (1.73-2.38)**

Clinic

    

Internal medicine

1

1

1

1

Occupational health

4.36 (2.84-6.72)**

2.63 (1.34-5.16)**

1.09 (0.65-1.81)

1.28 (0.57-2.89)

Orthopedic

3.56 (2.41-5.24)**

1.99 (1.22-3.24)**

2.62 (1.85-3.71)**

1.24 (0.80-1.95)

Primary health care

5.52 (4.00-7.63)**

2.51 (1.64-3.84)**

2.70 (2.04-3.57)**

1.30 (0.88-1.91)

Psychiatry

9.50 (6.68-13.51)**

6.10 (3.85-9.67)**

2.22 (1.58-3.13)**

1.37 (0.86-2.18)

Neurology

1.36 (0.65-2.84)

1.16 (0.49-2.73)

1.15 (0.59-2-24)

0.92 (0.40-2.14)

Rheumatology

2.07 (1.03-4.16)*

1.83 (0.83-4.06)

1.17 (0.57-2.42)

0.92 (0.39-2.17)

Pain

2.29 (0.83-6.33)

1.35 (0.30-6.20)

0.93 (0.27-3.17)

1.67 (0.37-7.51)

Rehabilitation

2.69 (1.35-5.36)**

2.30 (0.99-5.38)

0.24 (0.05-1.12)

0.39 (0.08-1.96)

Surgery

0.56 (0.33-0.96)*

0.72 (0.39-1.34)

1.08 (0.74-1.58)

1.19 (0.75-1.91)

Gynecology

1.30 (0.80-2.12)

1.22 (0.66-2.23)

1.94 (1.33-2.83)**

1.57 (0.96-2.58)

Infection

0.77 (0.33-1.80)

0.60 (0.18-2.00)

0.68 (0.32-1.44)

0.66 (0.26-1.69)

Oncology

0.23 (0.06-0.86)*

0.38 (0.09-1.52)

0.78 (0.40-1.52)

1.50 (0.68-3.29)

Child and youth

1.04 (0.34-3.20)

1.80 (0.46-7.03)

0.71 (0.23-2.16)

0.93 (0.18-4.88)

Ear, nose and throat

0.56 (0.24-1.31)

0.76 (0.28-2.03)

0.49 (0.23-1.04)

0.56 (0.22-1.37)

Dermatology

1.52 (0.38-6.02)

1.05 (0.13-8.67)

0.75 (0.16-3.53)

0.52 (0.05-5.17)

Eye

1.05 (0.31-3.58)

1.82 (0.39-8.51)

0.87 (0.29-2.68)

0.75 (0.14-3.91)

  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.