Table 3 Proportion of physicians in relation to how problematic they found different sickness certification assessments. (n = 12,933)

… assess whether a patient’s functioning is reduced?

13.2

32.8

38.6

15.4

-

… assess whether the reduced functioning is due to disease/injury?

9.4

27.7

41.9

21.0

-

… assess the degree to which the reduced functioning limits a patient’s work capacity?

20.8

37.0

32.1

10.1

-

… assess the degree to which the reduced functioning limits a patient’s work capacity among those without an employment?

29.5

34.9

24.8

10.8

-

… make a long-term prognosis about the future work capacity of patients on sick leave?

21.0

34.7

30.2

14.1

-

… assess the optimum duration and degree of sickness absence?

13.2

35.3

39.5

12.1

-

… handle short-term sickness certifications

(<15 days)?

1.6

4.6

28.2

65.5

-

… handle sickness certifications (15–90 days)?

8.8

26.9

38.6

21.1

4.7

… handle long-term sickness certifications

(91–180 days)?

23.3

28.6

19.5

11.2

17.4

… handle very long-term sickness certifications (>180 days)?

29.9

20.9

14.1

8.6

26.6