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  • Title: Comparison of work-related ill health reporting by occupational physicians and general practitioners.
    Author: Hussey L, Turner S, Thorley K, McNamee R, Agius R.
    Journal: Occup Med (Lond); 2010 Jun; 60(4):294-300. PubMed ID: 20360174.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The provision of occupational health (OH) services to the UK population is limited and concentrated in certain industries. Occupational physicians (OPs) therefore see a different subset of the population than general practitioners (GPs) and their recognition of work-related ill health may differ. AIMS: To examine how reports submitted by OPs and GPs compare and to discuss how biases may affect diagnostic and demographic differences. METHODS: The Health & Occupation Reporting network collects information on work-related ill health. OPs and GPs report case details, including demographic information, occupation, industry and suspected agent/task/event. Differences in reporting patterns were assessed. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal and mental ill-health reports made up over 80% of reports to both schemes although the likelihood ratio (LR) showed OPs were 78% more likely to report a psychological case than GPs. OPs were also more (18%) likely to report a female case. Health & social care was the industry most frequently reported by both groups; however, this was in greatly differing proportions (OPs 38%, GPs 14%). When LRs were adjusted for industry, this reduced the likelihood of an OP reporting cases of mental ill health (to 40%) and found them 10% less likely to report females than GPs. CONCLUSIONS: OP and GP reporting patterns highlight the variation in OH provision and its influence on the data provided. OPs are best placed to report on health and work relationships; however, as some sectors have poor access to OH services, reports from suitably trained GPs will help inform about this 'blind spot'.
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