Fit note use in UK clinical practice 2010–2016: A systematic review of quantitative research: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fit note use in UK clinical practice 2010–2016: A systematic review of quantitative research

T2 - Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry

AU - Dorrington, S.

AU - Roberts, E.

AU - Hatch, S.

AU - Madan, I.

AU - Hotopf, M.

PY - 2017/6/30

Y1 - 2017/6/30

N2 - Background: The fit note, introduced in England, Wales and Scotland in 2010, was designed to radically change the sickness certification process from advising on individuals’ inability to work to what they could do if adjustments were made available. Our review aimed to evaluate: (1) the percentage of fit notes utilizing the new “may be fit for work” option or advising on work adjustments, (2) the impact of the fit note on sickness absence and return to work, (3) demographic variation in fit note use. Methods: We systematically searched in Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Pub Med, Worldcat, Ovid and PsychInfo from 1 Jan 2010–30 Nov 2016 for studies on working aged adults which included the search terms “fit note” or “fitnote”. Relevant abstracts were extracted and we assessed the quality of the papers and assessed bias using the modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Results: Nine papers met the inclusion criteria, four of which were based on the same cohort. Maybe fit notes made up just 6.6% of all fit notes. Work adjustments were most often recommended for patients who were less deprived, female and patients with physical health problems. Fit note advice for patients with physical health problems increased over time, but the opposite was seen for patients with mental health problems. Conclusions: Further research needed to evaluate the use, impact and potential of the fit note, especially for patients with mental illness.

AB - Background: The fit note, introduced in England, Wales and Scotland in 2010, was designed to radically change the sickness certification process from advising on individuals’ inability to work to what they could do if adjustments were made available. Our review aimed to evaluate: (1) the percentage of fit notes utilizing the new “may be fit for work” option or advising on work adjustments, (2) the impact of the fit note on sickness absence and return to work, (3) demographic variation in fit note use. Methods: We systematically searched in Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Pub Med, Worldcat, Ovid and PsychInfo from 1 Jan 2010–30 Nov 2016 for studies on working aged adults which included the search terms “fit note” or “fitnote”. Relevant abstracts were extracted and we assessed the quality of the papers and assessed bias using the modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Results: Nine papers met the inclusion criteria, four of which were based on the same cohort. Maybe fit notes made up just 6.6% of all fit notes. Work adjustments were most often recommended for patients who were less deprived, female and patients with physical health problems. Fit note advice for patients with physical health problems increased over time, but the opposite was seen for patients with mental health problems. Conclusions: Further research needed to evaluate the use, impact and potential of the fit note, especially for patients with mental illness.

U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.990

DO - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.990

M3 - Meeting abstract

SN - 0924-9338

VL - 41, Supplement

JO - European Psychiatry

JF - European Psychiatry

M1 - S618

ER -