A study to investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates
Item
- Title
- A study to investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates
- Title
- A study to investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates
- Author(s)
- Napier Alistair
- Abstract
- Background: The direct and indirect consequences of lower back pain (LBP) are a significant cost to society. In 2010 the NHS introduced ‘fit notes’, which only doctors can issue, to improve return to work (RTW). Objectives: To investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work (FTW) issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates. To investigate whether osteopaths, as musculo-skeletal experts are better suited to issue fit notes and how this might transpire. Methods: A web based questionnaire to 300 randomly selected osteopathic professionals eliciting quantitative and qualitative data. Results: 61 responses were received, a 20% response rate. 85% of respondents advise patients on FTW issues, primarily issuing GoSC certificates for LBP and neck pain. 80% of respondents agree they should be able to provide official fit notes. Conclusions: Issue of fit notes by osteopaths would be extremely beneficial, but a number of matters must be resolved for this to occur.
- Abstract
- Background: The direct and indirect consequences of lower back pain (LBP) are a significant cost to society. In 2010 the NHS introduced ‘fit notes’, which only doctors can issue, to improve return to work (RTW). Objectives: To investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work (FTW) issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates. To investigate whether osteopaths, as musculo-skeletal experts are better suited to issue fit notes and how this might transpire. Methods: A web based questionnaire to 300 randomly selected osteopathic professionals eliciting quantitative and qualitative data. Results: 61 responses were received, a 20% response rate. 85% of respondents advise patients on FTW issues, primarily issuing GoSC certificates for LBP and neck pain. 80% of respondents agree they should be able to provide official fit notes. Conclusions: Issue of fit notes by osteopaths would be extremely beneficial, but a number of matters must be resolved for this to occur.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15086
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Osteopaths, fit notes, sickness certificates, incapacity certification, fitness to work, lower back pain, return-to-work
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Napier Alistair, “A study to investigate osteopaths’ attitudes about fitness to work issues and the use of sickness or incapacity certificates”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1752