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[Longer medical certificates do not improve the quality of physicians' assessments].

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Title: [Longer medical certificates do not improve the quality of physicians' assessments].
Transliterated Title: Ökade krav på sjukintyg gör inte en osäker bedömning säkrare.
Authors: Af Winklerfelt Hammarberg S; med dr, specialist i allmänmedicin, verksamhetschef, avdelningen för allmän-medicin och primärvård, institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska institutet., Finnes A; med dr, leg psykolog, enhetschef, avdelningen för försäkringsmedicin, -institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap, Karolinska institutet., Giöstad A; med dr, ST-läkare i allmänmedicin, avdelningen för allmän-medicin och primärvård, institu-tionen för neurobio-logi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska institutet; samtliga Liljeholmens universitetsvårdcentral, Akademiskt primärvårdscent-rum, SLSO, Region -Stockholm.
Source: Lakartidningen [Lakartidningen] 2026 Oct 07; Vol. 123. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Oct 07.
Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article
Language: Swedish
Journal Info: Publisher: Sveriges Lakarforbund Country of Publication: Sweden NLM ID: 0027707 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1652-7518 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00237205 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Lakartidningen Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Stockholm : Sveriges Lakarforbund
MeSH Terms: Certification*/standards , Sick Leave* , Work Capacity Evaluation* , Disability Evaluation*, Humans ; Sweden ; Primary Health Care
Abstract: Sickness certification is a common and demanding task in Swedish primary care, particularly for patients with mental health conditions, for whom assessments of work ability and functional impairment are often associated with considerable uncertainty. Drawing on the findings of Falk et al., the authors argue that longer or more detailed sickness certificates do not improve the consistency or quality of physicians' assessments but do increase the administrative burden. The authors advocate shifting the focus from documentation towards active rehabilitation. Suggested strategies include earlier access to evidence-based treatment, greater use of part-time sickness absence, stronger workplace involvement, and closer collaboration among healthcare services,occupational health services, employers, the Social Insurance Agency, and the Public Employment Service. Behavioural medicine approaches may also help strengthen patients' problem-solving skills and reduce the risk of prolonged dependence on sickness absence.
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20261007 Date Completed: 20261007 Latest Revision: 20261007
Update Code: 20261008
DOI: 10.65868/GOLT7613
PMID: 42841317
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: [Longer medical certificates do not improve the quality of physicians' assessments].
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  Data: Ökade krav på sjukintyg gör inte en osäker bedömning säkrare.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Af+Winklerfelt+Hammarberg+S%22">Af Winklerfelt Hammarberg S</searchLink>; med dr, specialist i allmänmedicin, verksamhetschef, avdelningen för allmän-medicin och primärvård, institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska institutet.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Finnes+A%22">Finnes A</searchLink>; med dr, leg psykolog, enhetschef, avdelningen för försäkringsmedicin, -institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap, Karolinska institutet.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Giöstad+A%22">Giöstad A</searchLink>; med dr, ST-läkare i allmänmedicin, avdelningen för allmän-medicin och primärvård, institu-tionen för neurobio-logi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, Karolinska institutet; samtliga Liljeholmens universitetsvårdcentral, Akademiskt primärvårdscent-rum, SLSO, Region -Stockholm.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%220027707%22">Lakartidningen</searchLink> [Lakartidningen] 2026 Oct 07; Vol. 123. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Oct 07.
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  Data: English Abstract; Journal Article
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  Data: Swedish
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  Data: <i>Publisher: </i><searchLink fieldCode="PB" term="%22Sveriges+Lakarforbund%22">Sveriges Lakarforbund </searchLink><i>Country of Publication: </i>Sweden <i>NLM ID: </i>0027707 <i>Publication Model: </i>Electronic <i>Cited Medium: </i>Internet <i>ISSN: </i>1652-7518 (Electronic) <i>Linking ISSN: </i><searchLink fieldCode="IS" term="%2200237205%22">00237205 </searchLink><i>NLM ISO Abbreviation: </i>Lakartidningen <i>Subsets: </i>MEDLINE
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  Data: <i>Original Publication</i>: Stockholm : Sveriges Lakarforbund
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Certification%22">Certification*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Certification+standards%22">standards</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Sick+Leave%22">Sick Leave*</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Work+Capacity+Evaluation%22">Work Capacity Evaluation*</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Disability+Evaluation%22">Disability Evaluation*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Humans%22">Humans</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Sweden%22">Sweden</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Primary+Health+Care%22">Primary Health Care</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Sickness certification is a common and demanding task in Swedish primary care, particularly for patients with mental health conditions, for whom assessments of work ability and functional impairment are often associated with considerable uncertainty. Drawing on the findings of Falk et al., the authors argue that longer or more detailed sickness certificates do not improve the consistency or quality of physicians' assessments but do increase the administrative burden. The authors advocate shifting the focus from documentation towards active rehabilitation. Suggested strategies include earlier access to evidence-based treatment, greater use of part-time sickness absence, stronger workplace involvement, and closer collaboration among healthcare services,occupational health services, employers, the Social Insurance Agency, and the Public Employment Service. Behavioural medicine approaches may also help strengthen patients' problem-solving skills and reduce the risk of prolonged dependence on sickness absence.
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  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20261007 <i>Date Completed: </i>20261007 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20261007
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  Data: 10.65868/GOLT7613
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PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=42841317
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        Value: 10.65868/GOLT7613
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      – Code: swe
        Text: Swedish
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Humans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sweden
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Primary Health Care
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      – SubjectFull: Certification standards
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      – SubjectFull: Sick Leave
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      – SubjectFull: Work Capacity Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Disability Evaluation
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      – TitleFull: [Longer medical certificates do not improve the quality of physicians' assessments].
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            – D: 07
              M: 10
              Text: 2026 Oct 07
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              Y: 2026
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