The aim of the present study was to gain more knowledge of GPs' experiences of sickness certification, by comparing data from Sweden and Norway, regarding frequencies and aspects of sickness certification found to be problematic.
On the other hand, doctors also experience difficulties with the relationship during sickness certification consultation, but they believe that communication is one of the most important aspects of sickness certification as well [ 5].
Generally, a majority of the GPs in both countries found all the specified aspects of sickness certification problematic.
Some of the aspects of sickness certification were experienced as problematic for more of the GPs in Sweden than GPs in Norway.
The main strengths of the study are the large number of participants, the fact that all of the psychiatrists in an entire country were included, the relatively high response rate compared to other studies of this type, and the many and detailed questions about different aspects of sickness certification.
To some extent, research has identified aspects of sickness certification that physicians consider to be problematic, and it is also recognized that these can differ between physicians [ 11, 18], whereas very little is known about how physicians respond to the problems that they experience.
Regarding other aspects of sickness-certification practice, results from different countries and from different time periods have been unexpectedly similar [ 11].
A comprehensive questionnaire of 163 questions about various aspects of sickness-certification practice and related work issues was developed, based on a previous questionnaire, research, and contacts with many different clinicians and researchers in the area [ 29, 31].
In this study, answers to the 11 questionnaire items about various aspects of the sickness certification guidelines were analysed.
