Top

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Addressing future work ability of employees in GP consultations: results of a cross-sectional study

Authors: Anna T. Ehmann, Peter Martus, Achim Siegel, Monika A. Rieger

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Objectives

In this study we examined to what extent members of a best-practice integrated healthcare model in Germany discussed their subjective future work ability with their general practitioner (GP); furthermore, we examined independent variables which explain whether future work ability is discussed.

Methods

In a cross-sectional survey, 1168 (out of 3218 invited) integrated healthcare members responded to a standardized questionnaire. This study includes n = 475 employed respondents who were at most 65 years old. We determined the (relative) frequency of employed members up to 65 years who had already discussed their subjective future work ability with their GP. By means of logistic regression analysis, explanatory variables were identified which statistically explained the discussion of future work ability with their GP.

Results

N = 80 (16.8%) respondents stated they had discussed their future work ability with their GP. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following results: The odds ratio for discussing future work ability is increased the more satisfied respondents are with their general practitioner, the worse they assess their current work ability in relation to the physical demands of the job, and when respondents suffer from one or more chronic diseases (Nagelkerke’s pseudo-R² = 0.13).

Conclusions

Even in this healthcare setting, employees up to the age of 65 rarely discussed their subjective future work ability with their GP. This suggests that the issue ‘future work ability’ is even less commonly discussed in other community-based care settings in Germany. It seems that health care providers involved in acute care only sporadically take this issue into consideration - despite the great importance of maintaining work ability.

Available only for authorised users

Griffiths A. Designing and managing healthy work for older workers. Occup Med. 2000;50(7):473–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/50.7.473.CrossRef

Weevers H-JA, van der Beek AJ, Anema JR, van der Wal G, van Mechelen W. Work-related disease in general practice: a systematic review. Fam Pract. 2005;22(2):197–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmh727.CrossRefPubMed

Waddell G, Burton AK. Is work good for your health and well-being? London: TSO; 2006.

Ilmarinen J, Tuomi K, Eskelinen L, Nygård C-H, Huuhtanen P, Klockars M. Background and objectives of the Finnish research project on aging workers in municipal occupations. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1991;17:7–11.

Ilmarinen J, Lehtinen S, Työterveyslaitos, editors. Past, Present, and Future of Work Ability: Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Work Ability, 5-6 September 2001, Tampere, Finland. Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; 2004.

Ilmarinen J, Gould R, Järvikoski A, Järvisalo J. Diversity of work ability. In: Gould R, Ilmarinen J, Järvisalo J, Koskinen S, editors. Dimensions of work ability: results of the Health 2000 Survey: Eläketurvakeskus; 2008. p. 13–23.

Prümper J, Richenhagen G. [From incapacity to work to the house of work ability. The Work Ability Index and its application] Von der Arbeitsunfähigkeit zum Haus der Arbeitsfähigkeit. Der Work Ability Index und seine Anwendung. Ältere Beschäftigte: Zu jung, um alt zu sein. Konzepte–Forschungsergebnisse–Instrumente. 2011:135–46.

Ilmarinen J. Work ability - a comprehensive concept for occupational health research and prevention. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2009;35(1):1–5. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1304.CrossRefPubMed

Treier M. [Perspectives of work ability] Perspektiven der Arbeitsfähigkeit. In: Treier M, editor. [Occupational work ability management: More than just health promotion] Betriebliches Arbeitsfähigkeitsmanagement: Mehr als nur Gesundheitsförderung. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden; 2016. p. 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-13102-9_2.CrossRef

10.

Salonen P, Arola H, Nygård C-H, Huhtala H, Koivisto A-M. Factors associated with premature departure from working life among ageing food industry employees. Occup Med. 2003;53(1):65–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqg012.CrossRef

11.

Alavinia SM, de Boer A, van Duivenbooden JC, Frings-Dresen MH, Burdorf A. Determinants of work ability and its predictive value for disability. Occup Med. 2009;59(1):32–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqn148.CrossRef

12.

Tuomi K, Huuhtanen P, Nykyri E, Ilmarinen J. Promotion of work ability, the quality of work and retirement. Occup Med. 2001;51(5):318–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/51.5.318.CrossRef

13.

Ilmarinen J, Rantanen J. Promotion of work ability during ageing. Am J Ind Med. 1999;Suppl 1:21–3. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199909)36:1.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Smith NAL. Occupational medicine and the general practitioner. Occup Med (Lond). 2005;55(2):77–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqi065.CrossRef

15.

Hoge A, Ehmann AT, Rieger MA, Siegel A. Caring for workers’ health: do German employers follow a comprehensive approach similar to the Total worker health concept? Results of a survey in an economically powerful region in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050726.CrossRef

16.

Gehanno JF, Bulat P, Martinez-Jarreta B, Pauncu EA, Popescu F, Smits PBA, van Dijk FJH, Braeckman L. Undergraduate teaching of occupational medicine in European schools of medicine. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;87:397–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0878-5.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Elms J, O’Hara R, Pickvance S, Fishwick D, Hazell M, Frank T, et al. The perceptions of occupational health in primary care. Occup Med (Lond). 2005;55(7):523–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqi123.CrossRef

18.

Weevers H-JA, van der Beek AJ, van den Brink-Muinen A, Bensing J, Boot CRL, van Mechelen W. Communication about work between general practitioners and patients consulting for musculoskeletal disorders. Qual Prim Care. 2009;17(3):197–203.PubMed

19.

de Kock CA, Lucassen PLBJ, Spinnewijn L, Knottnerus JA, Buijs PC, Steenbeek R, Lagro-Janssen ALM. How do Dutch GPs address work-related problems? A focus group study. Eur J Gen Pract. 2016;22(3):169–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2016.1177507.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Arnaud S, Cabut S, Viau A, Souville M, Verger P. Different reporting patterns for occupational diseases among physicians: a study of French general practitioners, pulmonologists and rheumatologists. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2010;83(3):251–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0457-y.CrossRefPubMed

21.

Beach J, Watt D. General practitioners and occupational health professionals. BMJ. 2003;327(7410):302–3. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7410.302.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

22.

Moßhammer D, Manske I, Grutschkowski P, Rieger MA. [Intersection of family and occupational health care - a literature review] Schnittstelle der haus- und betriebsärztlichen Patientenversorgung - eine Literaturübersicht. ArbeitsmedSozialmedUmweltmed. 2011;46:301–7.

23.

Moßhammer D, Natanzon I, Manske I, Grutschkowski P, Rieger MA. [The cooperation between general practitioners and occupational health physicians in Germany: where are deficits and barriers? A qualitative analysis based on focus group interviews] die Kooperation zwischen Haus- und Betriebsärzten in Deutschland: Wo befinden sich Defizite und Barrieren?: Eine qualitative analyse anhand von Fokusgruppeninterviews. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2012;106(9):639–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2011.09.027.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Moßhammer D, Natanzon I, Manske I, Grutschkowski P, Rieger MA. Cooperation between general practitioners and occupational health physicians in Germany: how can it be optimised? A qualitative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;87(2):137–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0845-1.CrossRefPubMed

25.

Moßhammer D, Michaelis M, Mehne J, Wilm S, Rieger MA. General practitioners’ and occupational health physicians’ views on their cooperation: a cross-sectional postal survey. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016;89(3):449–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1084-4.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Stratil JM, Rieger MA, Völter-Mahlknecht S. Cooperation between general practitioners, occupational health physicians, and rehabilitation physicians in Germany: what are problems and barriers to cooperation? A qualitative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2017;90(6):481–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1210-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

27.

Stratil J, Rieger MA, Völter-Mahlknecht S. Optimizing cooperation between general practitioners, occupational health and rehabilitation physicians in Germany: a qualitative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2017;90(8):809–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-017-1239-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

28.

Stratil JM, Rieger MA, Völter-Mahlknecht S. Image and perception of physicians as barriers to inter-disciplinary cooperation? - the example of German occupational health physicians in the rehabilitation process: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):769. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3564-1.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

29.

Simmons JM, Liebman AK, Sokas RK. Occupational health in community health centers: practitioner challenges and recommendations. New Solut. 2018;28(1):110–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048291117749937.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Harber P, Mullin M, Merz B, Tarazi M. Frequency of occupational health concerns in general clinics. J Occup Environ Med. 2001;43(11):939–45. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-200111000-00003.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Neumann K, Dietzel J. [Monitoring integrated healthcare: Improving the general conditions of integrated healthcare] Monitoring Integrierte Versorgung: Rahmenbedingungen der IV verbessern. Berlin; 2014.

32.

Klakow-Franck R. [Patient management and care coordination - An operational area for quality competition?] Patientensteuerung und Koordinierung der Versorgung – Ein Einsatzgebiet für Qualitätswettbewerb?: [Extract from: BARMER GEK Healthcare up to date 2016] Auszug aus: BARMER GEK Gesundheitswesen aktuell 2016 (Seite 36–53); 2016.

33.

Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der Entwicklung im Gesundheitswesen. [Special Report 2009: Coordination and Integration - Health Care in a Society of Longer Life 2009] Sondergutachten 2009. 2009. https://www.svr-gesundheit.de/index.php?id=14. Accessed 20 Mar 2020.

34.

Siegel A, Köster I, Schubert I, Stößel U. Utilization dynamics of an integrated care system in Germany: Morbidity, age, and sex distribution of Gesundes Kinzigtal integrated care’s membership in 2006–2008. In: Health care utilization in Germany: Springer; 2014. p. 321–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9191-0_17.CrossRef

35.

Hildebrandt H, Hermann C, Knittel R, Richter-Reichhelm M, Siegel A, Witzenrath W. Gesundes Kinzigtal integrated care: improving population health by a shared health gain approach and a shared savings contract. Int J Integr Care. 2010;10(2). https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.539.

36.

Hildebrandt H, Pimperl A, Schulte T, Hermann C, Riedel H, Schubert I, et al. [Triple Aim Evaluation in Integrated Care ‚Gesundes Kinzigtal’. Health status, Experience of Care and Economic Efficiency] Triple Aim – Evaluation in der Integrierten Versorgung Gesundes Kinzigtal–Gesundheitszustand, Versorgungserleben und Wirtschaftlichkeit. Bundesgesundheitsblatt-Gesundheitsforschung-Gesundheitsschutz. 2015;58:383–392.

37.

Hildebrandt H. Money for value: the Kinzigtal-way to measure the produced value and health gain in a local area. Int J Integr Care. 2012;12:1.

38.

Siegel A, Niebling W. [Individual patient benefit in „Gesundes Kinzigtal“ - interim results of a trend study] Individueller Patientennutzen im „Gesunden Kinzigtal“ – Zwischenergebnisse einer Trendstudie. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2018;130:35–41. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zefq.2017.12.003.

39.

Bertelsmann Stiftung. [Weisse-Liste-Ärzte Method documentation: Development of a survey instrument for GP and specialist care] Weisse-Liste-Ärzte Methodendokumentation: Entwicklung eines Befragungsinstruments für die haus- und fachärztliche Versorgung: Bertelsmann Stiftung; 2010.

40.

Bertelsmann Stiftung. [Questionnaire Weisse-Liste-Ärzte: general practitioners and specialists] Fragebogen Weisse-Liste-Ärzte: Hausärzte und Fachärzte: Bertelsmann Stiftung; 2010.

41.

EuroQol Group. EuroQol-a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Health Policy. 1990;16:199–208.CrossRef

42.

Hopsu L, Lerssi-Uskelin J, Seitsamo J & Tuominen E. Work Ability Index™. In: Rautio M, Michelsen T, editors. WAI: How to use the Work Ability Index questionnaire. 2nd ed. Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; 2014. p. 10–11.

43.

Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Jahkola A, Katajarinne L, Tulkki A. [Work ability index] Arbeitsbewältigungsindex: Work ability index. 1st ed. Bremerhaven: Wirtschaftsverl. NW; 2001.

44.

Martus P, Jakob O, Rose U, Seibt R, Freude G. A comparative analysis of the work ability index. Occup Med (Lond). 2010;60(7):517–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq093.CrossRef

45.

Freyer M, Formazin M, Rose U. Factorial validity of the work ability index among employees in Germany. J Occup Rehabil. 2019;29(2):433–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-018-9803-9.CrossRefPubMed

46.

de Kock CA, Lucassen PLBJ, Bor H, Knottnerus JA, Buijs PC, Steenbeek R, Lagro-Janssen ALM. Training GPs to improve their management of work-related problems: results of a cluster randomized controlled trial. Eur J Gen Pract. 2018;24(1):258–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2018.1517153.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

47.

Oswald W, Hutting N, Engels JA, Bart Staal J, der Sanden MWG N-v, Heerkens YF. Work participation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders: is this addressed in physical therapy practice? J Occup Med Toxicol. 2017;12:27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-017-0174-5.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

48.

Morrison J. The role of the GP in keeping people in work. Occup Med (Lond). 2011;61(2):74–5. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq204.CrossRef

49.

Kittel J, Fröhlich SM, Heilmeyer P, Olbrich D, Karoff M, Greitemann B. Protect employability: effects of prevention programs offered by the German pension scheme. Rehabilitation (Stuttg). 2014;53:251–7. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1358389.CrossRef

50.

Deutsche Rentenversicherung. [RV Fit Overview] RV Fit. 2020. https://www.rv-fit.de/DE/home/home_node.html;jsessionid=879C4B9B300BC68394A63ECC3D9E4533.delivery2-8-replication. Accessed 14 Jul 2020.

51.

Bethge M. Effects of graded return-to-work: a propensity-score-matched analysis. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2016;42(4):273–9. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3562.CrossRefPubMed

52.

Ilmarinen J, Tuomi K, Seitsamo J. New dimensions of work ability. Int Congr Ser. 2005;1280:3–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ics.2005.02.060.CrossRef

53.

Finnish Centre for Pensions. Retirement Ages. 2020. https://www.etk.fi/en/work-and-pensions-abroad/international-comparisons/retirement-ages/. Accessed 3 Jul 2020.

54.

Bethge M. [Rehabilitation and participation in working life] Rehabilitation und Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben. Bundesgesundheitsbl. 2017;60(4):427–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-017-2519-8.CrossRef

55.

Varekamp I, van Dijk FJH, Kroll LE. Workers with a chronic disease and work disability. Problems and solutions Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2013;56(3):406–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-012-1621-1.CrossRefPubMed

56.

Söderbacka T, Nyholm L, Fagerström L. Workplace interventions that support older employees’ health and work ability - a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):473. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05323-1.CrossRef

57.

Sell L, Bültmann U, Rugulies R, Villadsen E, Faber A, Søgaard K. Predicting long-term sickness absence and early retirement pension from self-reported work ability. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2009;82(9):1133–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0417-6.CrossRefPubMed

58.

Thorsen S, Rugulies R, Løngaard K, Borg V, Thielen K, Bjorner JB. The association between psychosocial work environment, attitudes towards older workers (ageism) and planned retirement. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2012;85(4):437–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0689-5.CrossRefPubMed

59.

Feißel A, Swart E, March S. The impact of work ability on work motivation and health: a longitudinal study based on older employees. J Occup Environ Med. 2018;60(5):e238–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001244.CrossRefPubMed

60.

Feißel A, Peter R, Swart E, March S. Developing an extended model of the relation between work motivation and health as affected by the work ability as part of a corporate age management approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040779.

61.

Porst R. [How to increase the rate of feedback in postal surveys] Wie man die Rücklaufquote bei postalischen Befragungen erhöht. 2001. https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/20141/ssoar-2001-porst-wie_man_die_rucklaufquote_bei.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y&lnkname=ssoar-2001-porst-wie_man_die_rucklaufquote_bei.pdf. Accessed 25 Sep 2020.

62.

Völter-Mahlknecht S., Michaelis M., Preiser C., Blomberg N., Rieger M.A. [Research Report 448. Utilization of medical check-ups in the field of occupational medicine] Forschungsbericht 448. http://www.bmas.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/PDF-Publikationen/forschungsbericht-f448.pdf;jsessionid=DA7F8539671B556D67B3FC0A659C634D?__blob=publicationFile. Accessed 25 Sep 2020.

63.

Michaelis M, Lange R, Junne F, Rothermund E, Zipfel S, Gündel H, Rieger MA. Prevention of common mental disorders in employees – conception, study design and sample characteristics of a multi-target survey. Mental Health Prev. 2016;4(2):88–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhp.2016.03.001.CrossRef

64.

Junne F, Michaelis M, Rothermund E, Stuber F, Gündel H, Zipfel S, Rieger MA. The role of work-related factors in the development of psychological distress and associated mental disorders: differential views of human resource managers, occupational physicians, Primary Care Physicians and Psychotherapists in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15:559.CrossRef

Title: Addressing future work ability of employees in GP consultations: results of a cross-sectional study
Authors: Anna T. Ehmann
Peter Martus
Achim Siegel
Monika A. Rieger
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00299-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Addressing future work ability of employees in GP consultations: results of a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

COPSOQ III in Germany: validation of a standard instrument to measure psychosocial factors at work

COVID-19 infection across workplace settings in Qatar: a comparison of COVID-19 positivity rates of screened workers from March 1st until July 31st, 2020

The impact of chronic co-exposure to different heavy metals on small fibers of peripheral nerves. A study of metal industry workers

Artificial intelligence and robotisation in the EU - should we change OHS law?

Arterial abnormalities in the hands of workers with vibration white fingers – a magnetic resonance angiography case series

Misdiagnosis in occupational and environmental medicine: a scoping review