Biomedical subjects

S Brage

Publications and source records attributed to S Brage.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

The use of case histories to explore concepts of disease, illness and sickness certification.

A questionnaire with 12 case histories was constructed to investigate views on sickness certification and concepts of disease and illness among GPs and laymen. It was mailed to random samples of 436 Norwegian GPs and 600 Norwegians, stratified for gender, age and residence. Response rates were low, 44% for doctors, and 54% for laymen, probably indicating that the method was more suitable for smaller surveys. Case histories could be used to compare views of GPs and laymen on the concepts of disease and illness. They were also useful in examining views on sickness certification, but, in that case, they probably only reveal what respondents thought should be done. From this study it was not safe to conclude how often, and for what medical conditions doctors would issue sickness certificates in practice. ICPC was useful for coding diagnostic suggestions, set by GPs, but will be more useful after inclusion of criteria and more extensive synonym lists.

Abstracting and Indexing↗

PubMed1995

Assessment of sickness certification and concepts of musculoskeletal disease and illness in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how laymen assess the need for sickness certification and how they use the concepts "disease" and "illness" in relation to musculoskeletal disorders. DESIGN: Mail questionnaire with simulated case histories. SUBJECTS: A stratified, random sample of 600 Norwegians, aged 16-69 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores that measured the respondents' use of the concept "illness", and their view on need for sickness certification were constructed and analysed. RESULTS: Response rate was 54%. The respondents perceived seven case histories describing musculoskeletal health problems more often as "illness" (61%) than as "disease" (46%). There was a close correlation between the use of "illness" and assessed need for sickness certification. However, sickness certification could be suggested for cases with neck pain, even if the patient was not perceived as ill. Women suggested sickness certification significantly more often than men. Age, length of education, and personal experience with serious musculoskeletal health problems influenced suggestions on certification among men. However, these variables could not explain any difference in use of the concept "illness".

Absenteeism↗

PubMed1992

[ICPC in general practice].

The aim of this pilot study was to describe the distribution of diagnoses in general practice using International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC). The study took place in a group practice in Kongsberg, Southern Norway, in May 1991. It was of particular interest to find out how often doctors could use a disease as diagnosis (ICPC component 7) after the meeting with the patient and how often they used a symptom or complaint (ICPC component 1) as diagnosis. Results from 1,189 consultations show that a disease was used as diagnosis in 61% of all cases. A complaint or a symptom was used in 21%. Women were more often given a symptom as diagnosis. The study also shows that disorders of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems were the most common diagnoses, accounting for 18% and 16% respectively. During one month, 247 diagnoses were used. Inter-observer tests of reliability showed that 81% of all consultations were coded to the same chapter.

Disease↗

PubMed1992

[What symptoms and complaints result in sick-listing? ICPC-coding of patients' own opinion in general practice].

The aim of this study was to describe which complaints patients themselves regard as the cause of sickness certification. During one week in April 1986, 1,379 patients in Buskerud county, Norway, filled in a form after receiving an initial certificate of illness or a continuation certificate from a general practitioner. International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) no. 1-29 was used to classify the patients' symptoms and complaints. More than half of the patients (53%) considered pain in the musculoskeletal system, particularly back pain (22%), as the reason for their sickness certification. Physical work load was assumed to be a contributory cause to the complaints by 66% of the patients certified sick because of back pain, 58% of those certified sick due to cervical spine and shoulder symptoms, and 72% of those with myalgia, fibrositis (ICPC no. L18, L19). 29% of the patients meant that their health problems could have been prevented, and 15% reported that they could have continued work if their jobs had been adjusted because of their condition.

Family Practice↗