Table 3 Physicians reporting "very problematic" or "rather problematic" about tasks related to sickness certification

Type of problem¹

%

%

P²

crude

95% CI

adjusted⁴

95% CI

Assessment

To assess whether a patient's functional capacity is reduced

19.4

63.6

s

7.2

4.7–11–2

7.1

4.5–11.3

To assess the degree to which reduced functional capacity limits a patient's work ability

53.4

80.9

s

3.7

2.5–5.4

4.0

2.7–6.1

To ascertain the optimum duration and degree of sickness certification

44.3

77.6

s

4.4

3.0–6.3

4.2

2.8–6.3

To suggest a plan of action and/or measures to be taken during the sick leave?

37.8

55.2

s

2.0

1.4–2.9

2.1

1.4–3.0

Certification

To issue sickness certificates to be used by SIO⁵

47.0

46.4

ns

1.0

0.7–1.4

0.9

0.6–1.3

To decide whether to authorize prolongations of a period of sick leave that was previously certified by another physician?

52.0

75.1

s

2.8

1.9–4.0

2.4

1.6–3.5

Role

To manage the two different roles as the patient's physician and medical expert for the social insurance offices and other authorities?

39.9

65.1

s

2.9

2.0–4.2

2.9

1.9–4.4

To handle situations in which you and a patient have different opinions about the need for sickness absence?

52.4

81.0

s

3.9

2.7–5.7

3.5

2.3–5.2

To discuss with patients the advantages and disadvantages of being on sick leave?

30.2

50.7

s

2.4

1.6–3.5

2.2

1.4–3.2