Background
Methods
Study design and Settings
Study sample
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The claim was accepted prior to 2003, as there were no adequate data on sickness certificates available.
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The claim was for healthcare expenses only (i.e., the claim did not meet the 10 day work absence threshold, therefore no sickness certificate was issued) (n = 78,086, 35.6 %);
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The initial sickness certificate was written by a health practitioner other than a GP (n = 5439, 2.5 %);
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The information on duration of certificates contained logical errors, such as certification date prior to injury date and similar (n = 82, 0.04 %).
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Claims that had no sickness certificates associated with it (n = 9654, 4.4 %)
Statistical analysis
Variable | Description |
---|---|
Age group | Age groups in 10 year age bands as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (www.abs.gov.au); |
Gender | Male/Female |
Worker condition | Worker condition at the initiation of claim |
Postcode | Local government area postcode transformed to the residential location: metro, rural, interstate, missing or unknown. |
GP caseload | The GP caseload was calculated by adding the number of claims for each GP provider and dividing into four groups based on consultation with GP’s on what was considered low and high caseloads for a provider. Group 1 with 13 claims per provider (c/p) were considered low, group 2 with 14 – 26 c/p was low-medium, group 3 with 27 – 48 c/p was high-medium and group 4 with 49+ c/p was considered a high caseload (over the eight year period from 2003-2010). |
Occupation group | The major occupation group for the claimant based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). |
Employer segment size | This variable reflects the size of the employer where the injury took place. The segment size is classified into four groups determined by the organisation’s annual remuneration; <$1 M (Small); $1 M - $20 M (Medium); >$20 (Large); Government (Government). |
Industry group | The major workplace industry group code based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 codes. |
Socio-economic Index (SEIFA) | The “Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) - 2011 State Score”, refers to a classification by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that ranks areas in Australia according to relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage based on information from the five-yearly Census. All areas are ordered from the lowest (10 % assigned 1) to the highest (10 % assigned 10) decile number. Each area is divided into 10 groups and assigned a decile number, each decile subsequently then have an equal number of areas not necessarily people |
Results
General findings
Alternate duties certificates | Unfit for work certificates | Total Certificates | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Factors | N | Row % | N | Row % | N | Row % |
Total Claims | 28,174 | 23.5 | 91,726 | 76.5 | 119,900 | 100 |
Age Group | ||||||
15 – 24 years | 2827 | 22.4 | 9793 | 77.6 | 12,620 | 100 |
25 – 34 years | 5551 | 24.7 | 16,956 | 75.3 | 22,507 | 100 |
35 – 44 years | 7279 | 23.5 | 23,643 | 76.5 | 30,922 | 100 |
45 – 54 years | 8307 | 23.7 | 26,714 | 76.3 | 35,021 | 100 |
55 – 64 years | 4210 | 22.4 | 14,611 | 77.6 | 18,821 | 100 |
Gender | ||||||
Male | 18,950 | 24.3 | 58,891 | 75.7 | 77,841 | 100 |
Female | 9224 | 21.9 | 32,835 | 78.1 | 42,059 | 100 |
Worker Condition | ||||||
Fractures | 2040 | 17.3 | 9756 | 82.7 | 11,796 | 100 |
MSD | 14,062 | 29.3 | 33,884 | 70.7 | 47,946 | 100 |
Other traumatic injuries | 3402 | 18.2 | 15,320 | 81.8 | 18,722 | 100 |
Back pains & strains | 4200 | 21.0 | 15,765 | 79.0 | 19,965 | 100 |
MHC | 608 | 4.9 | 11,871 | 95.1 | 12,479 | 100 |
Other diseases | 3862 | 42.9 | 5130 | 57.1 | 8992 | 100 |
Local Government Area | ||||||
Metro | 18,686 | 24.6 | 57,367 | 75.4 | 76,053 | 100 |
Rural | 7214 | 20.9 | 27,233 | 79.1 | 34,447 | 100 |
Interstate | 2274 | 24.2 | 7126 | 75.8 | 9400 | 100 |
GP caseload | ||||||
1 – 13 Claims/provider | 6622 | 22.4 | 22,941 | 77.6 | 29,563 | 100 |
14 – 26 Claims/provider | 6654 | 22.1 | 23,389 | 77.9 | 30,043 | 100 |
27 – 48 Claims/provider | 6763 | 22.1 | 23,824 | 77.9 | 30,587 | 100 |
49 + Claims/provider | 8135 | 27.4 | 21,572 | 72.6 | 29,707 | 100 |
Occupation | ||||||
Managers | 1428 | 22.5 | 4909 | 77.5 | 6337 | 100 |
Professionals | 2393 | 19.0 | 10,205 | 81.0 | 12,598 | 100 |
Technicians & trades | 6473 | 24.7 | 19,688 | 75.3 | 26,161 | 100 |
Community & personal service | 2792 | 17.1 | 13,532 | 82.9 | 16,324 | 100 |
Clerical & admin | 978 | 21.4 | 3593 | 78.6 | 4571 | 100 |
Sales workers | 926 | 23.6 | 2997 | 76.4 | 3923 | 100 |
Machinery operators & drivers | 5625 | 26.7 | 15,463 | 73.3 | 21,088 | 100 |
Labourers | 7559 | 26.2 | 21,339 | 73.8 | 28,898 | 100 |
Employer Segment Size | ||||||
Small | 6190 | 19.3 | 25,916 | 80.7 | 32,106 | 100 |
Medium | 12,576 | 25.4 | 36,876 | 74.6 | 49,452 | 100 |
Large | 7851 | 28.6 | 19,570 | 71.4 | 27,421 | 100 |
Government | 1557 | 14.3 | 9364 | 85.7 | 10,921 | 100 |
Industry | ||||||
Manufacturing | 7733 | 31.0 | 17,232 | 69.0 | 24,965 | 100 |
Wholesale trade | 2261 | 29.4 | 5442 | 70.6 | 7703 | 100 |
Mining | 105 | 28.3 | 266 | 71.7 | 371 | 100 |
Electricity, gas, water & waste | 296 | 26.8 | 808 | 73.2 | 1104 | 100 |
Professional scientific & technical services | 581 | 25.4 | 1705 | 74.6 | 2286 | 100 |
Information media & telecommunications | 207 | 24.8 | 628 | 75.2 | 835 | 100 |
Retail trade | 1588 | 24.3 | 4957 | 75.7 | 6545 | 100 |
Transport, postal & warehousing | 2166 | 22.5 | 7481 | 77.5 | 9647 | 100 |
Construction | 2775 | 21.5 | 10,115 | 78.5 | 12,890 | 100 |
Administrative & support services | 818 | 21.3 | 3027 | 78.7 | 3845 | 100 |
Rental hiring & real estate services | 221 | 20.9 | 835 | 79.1 | 1056 | 100 |
Arts & recreation services | 618 | 20.8 | 2356 | 79.2 | 2974 | 100 |
Accommodation & food services | 765 | 20.3 | 3004 | 79.7 | 3769 | 100 |
Financial & insurance services | 127 | 18.9 | 544 | 81.1 | 671 | 100 |
Healthcare & social assistance | 3358 | 18.8 | 14,497 | 81.2 | 17,855 | 100 |
Education & training | 1156 | 18.0 | 5261 | 82.0 | 6417 | 100 |
Agriculture, forestry & fishing | 541 | 17.4 | 2577 | 82.6 | 3118 | 100 |
Public administration & safety | 1297 | 16.7 | 6451 | 83.3 | 7748 | 100 |
Other services | 11,561 | 25.6 | 4540 | 74.4 | 16,101 | 100 |
Socio-Economic Index | ||||||
Lowest 10 % (0-10 %) | 3232 | 25.7 | 9359 | 74.3 | 12,591 | 100 |
Lowest 11-20 % | 1626 | 21.1 | 6078 | 78.9 | 7704 | 100 |
Lowest 21-30 % | 2064 | 23.5 | 6728 | 76.5 | 8792 | 100 |
Lowest 31-40 % | 2853 | 22.9 | 9590 | 77.1 | 12,443 | 100 |
Lowest 41-50 % | 2982 | 23.6 | 9658 | 76.4 | 12,640 | 100 |
Highest 51-60 % | 3396 | 23.5 | 11,033 | 76.5 | 14,429 | 100 |
Highest 61-70 % | 4208 | 24.5 | 12,998 | 75.5 | 17,206 | 100 |
Highest 71-80 % | 2827 | 23.1 | 9402 | 76.9 | 12,229 | 100 |
Highest 81-90 % | 3717 | 23.5 | 12,125 | 76.5 | 15,842 | 100 |
Highest 10 % (91-100 %) | 1213 | 21.0 | 4570 | 79.0 | 5783 | 100 |
Individual variable Univariate and Multivariate analysis
Univariate model | Multivariate model | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Factors | Odds Ratio | CI at 95 % | Odds Ratio | CI at 95 % |
Age Group | ||||
15 – 24 years [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
25 – 34 years | 1.13a
| 1.07 – 1.19 | 1.03 | 0.97 – 1.09 |
35 – 44 years | 1.06 | 1.01 – 1.12 | 0.95 | 0.91 – 1.00 |
45 – 54 years | 1.39a
| 1.02 – 1.13 | 0.96 | 0.91 – 1.01 |
55 – 64 years | 1.32 | 0.94 – 1.05 | 0.86a
| 0.81 – 0.91 |
Gender | ||||
Male [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
Female | 0.87a
| 0.84 – 0.89 | 1.06a
| 1.02 – 1.10 |
Worker Condition | ||||
Fractures [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
MSD | 1.95a
| 1.88 – 2.09 | 1.89a
| 1.79 – 1.99 |
Other traumatic injuries | 1.06 | 1.00 – 1.12 | 0.99 | 0.93 – 1.05 |
Back pains and strains | 1.27a
| 1.20 – 1.35 | 1.19a
| 1.12 – 1.27 |
MHC | 0.24a
| 0.22 – 0.26 | 0.25a
| 0.22 – 0.27 |
Other diseases | 3.60a
| 3.37 – 3.83 | 3.32a
| 3.11 – 3.54 |
Local Government Area | ||||
Metro [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
Rural | 0.81a
| 0.78 – 0.83 | 0.91a
| 0.87 – 0.94 |
Interstate | 0.98 | 0.93 – 1.00 | 0.95 | 0.91 – 1.01 |
GP caseload | ||||
1 – 13 Claims/provider [REF]b
| 1 | 1 | ||
14 – 26 Claims/provider | 0.98 | 0.94 – 1.02 | 0.93a
| 0.90 – 0.97 |
27 – 48 Claims/provider | 0.98 | 0.94 – 1.02 | 0.89a
| 0.85 – 0.92 |
49 + Claims/provider | 1.30a
| 1.25 – 1.35 | 1.16a
| 1.11 – 1.20 |
Occupation | ||||
Managers [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
Professionals | 0.80a
| 0.74 – 0.86 | 0.83a
| 0.76 – 0.91 |
Technicians & trades | 1.13a
| 1.05 – 1.21 | 0.91 | 0.84 – 0.97 |
Community & personal service | 0.71a
| 0.66 – 0.76 | 0.80a
| 0.73 – 0.87 |
Clerical & admin | 0.93 | 0.85 – 1.02 | 0.96 | 0.87 – 1.07 |
Sales workers | 1.06 | 0.96 – 1.16 | 0.92 | 0.83 – 1.02 |
Machinery operators & drivers | 1.25a
| 1.17 – 1.33 | 0.91 | 0.84 – 0.97 |
Labourers | 1.21a
| 1.14 – 1.29 | 0.91 | 0.85 – 0.97 |
Employer Segment Size [REF] | ||||
Small | 1 | 1 | ||
Medium | 1.42a
| 1.38 – 1.47 | 1.38a
| 1.33 – 1.43 |
Large | 1.68a
| 1.68 – 1.74 | 1.86a
| 1.78 – 1.94 |
Government | 0.69a
| 0.65 – 0.73 | 1.24a
| 1.14 – 1.34 |
Industry | ||||
Agriculture, forestry & fishing [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
Mining | 1.88a
| 1.47 –2.40 | 1.53a
| 1.18 – 1.97 |
Manufacturing | 2.13a
| 1.94 – 2.35 | 1.54a
| 1.39 – 1.71 |
Electricity, gas, water & waste | 1.74a
| 1.48 – 2.05 | 1.31a
| 1.11 – 1.55 |
Construction | 1.30a
| 1.18 – 1.44 | 1.08 | 0.97 – 1.20 |
Wholesale trade | 1.97a
| 1.78 – 2.19 | 1.49a
| 1.33 – 1.66 |
Retail trade | 1.52a
| 1.36 – 1.70 | 1.21a
| 1.07 – 1.36 |
Accommodation & food services | 1.21a
| 1.07 – 1.37 | 1.05 | 0.92 – 1.19 |
Transport, postal & warehousing | 1.37a
| 1.24 – 1.53 | 1.06 | 0.95 – 1.19 |
Information media & telecommunications | 1.57a
| 1.30 – 1.88 | 1.15 | 0.95 – 1.40 |
Financial & insurance services | 1.11 | 0.89 – 1.97 | 0.93 | 0.73 – 1.17 |
Rental hiring & real estate services | 1.26a
| 1.05 – 1.50 | 1.19 | 0.99 – 1.43 |
Professional scientific & technical services | 1.62a
| 1.42 – 1.85 | 1.37a
| 1.19 – 1.58 |
Administrative & support services | 1.28a
| 1.14 – 1.45 | 1.06 | 0.93 – 1.20 |
Public administration & safety | 0.95 | 0.85 – 1.06 | 1.00 | 0.88 – 1.14 |
Education & training | 1.04 | 0.93 – 1.17 | 1.12 | 0.98 – 1.27 |
Healthcare & social assistance | 1.10 | 0.99 – 1.21 | 0.86 | 0.77 – 0.97 |
Arts & recreation services | 1.24a
| 1.09 – 1.42 | 0.99 | 0.86 – 1.13 |
Other services | 1.63a
| 1.46 – 1.82 | 1.34a
| 1.20 – 1.51 |
Socio-Economic Index | ||||
Lowest 10 % (0-10 %) [REF] | 1 | 1 | ||
Lowest 11-20 % | 0.77a
| 0.72 – 0.82 | 0.96 | 0.90 – 1.04 |
Lowest 21-30 % | 0.88a
| 0.83 – 0.94 | 0.99 | 0.93 – 1.06 |
Lowest 31-40 % | 0.86a
| 0.81 – 0.91 | 0.97 | 0.91 – 1.03 |
Lowest 41-50 % | 0.89a
| 0.84 – 0.94 | 1.00 | 0.94 – 1.07 |
Highest 51-60 % | 0.89a
| 0.84 – 0.94 | 0.98 | 0.93 – 1.04 |
Highest 61-70 % | 0.93 | 0.88 – 0.98 | 1.04 | 0.98 – 1.10 |
Highest 71-80 % | 0.87a
| 0.82 – 0.93 | 1.02 | 0.96 – 1.09 |
Highest 81-90 % | 0.88a
| 0.84 – 0.93 | 1.05 | 0.98 – 1.11 |
Highest 10 % (91-100 %) | 0.76a
| 0.71 – 0.82 | 0.95 | 0.88 – 1.03 |