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The Role and Influence of Care Providers on Work Disability

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Handbook of Work Disability

Abstract

Although health care providers often have a central role in the prevention and treatment of work disability, their contribution has not been consistently positive. This is unfortunate, as the consequences of unnecessary work disability include ill health and economic deprivation. Often, patients report that health care providers pay little attention to the work-related consequences of their illness, except when required by law to issue sickness certificates. Common problems include failure to recognize work disability as an important consideration, over-focus on biomedical issues and symptoms rather than on function, irrational cognitions about work and health, employing ineffective treatments, and inability to deal with workplace and social issues. Provider education, economic incentives, peer leadership, and support to address work disability issues can make a difference in provider influences on work outcomes. A change in paradigm is suggested, based in large part on improved communication among workers, employers, and health care providers. The evidence base for a positive health care providers’ influence is growing and in several countries evidence-based practice guidelines are available that directly address work disability issues. Practical research on how to achieve meaningful change in health care provider attitudes and practices in relation to work disability is still needed. Work disability prevention should be a goal for all health care providers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational, Health Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Carel Hulshof M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department: Centre of Excellence, Netherlands Society of Occupational Medicine (NVAB), 2113, 3500 GC, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Carel Hulshof M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Center for Disability Research, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, MA, 01748, USA

    Glenn Pransky M.D.

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  1. Carel Hulshof M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Glenn Pransky M.D.
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Correspondence to Carel Hulshof M.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Toronto, College Street 155, Toronto, M5T 3M7, Ontario, Canada

    Patrick Loisel

  2. EMGO Institute for Health and Care Resea, Department of Public and Occupational He, VU University Medical Center, AMC-UMCG-UWV-VUmc, Amsterdam, NL-1081 BT, Netherlands

    Johannes R. Anema

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Hulshof, C., Pransky, G. (2013). The Role and Influence of Care Providers on Work Disability. In: Loisel, P., Anema, J. (eds) Handbook of Work Disability. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6214-9_13

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