Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers
Background: GPs can use the fit note to advise that a patient ‘may be fit’ or is ‘not fit’ for work. Previous employer-based research on the fit note is largely qualitative and based on general perceptions and past experience. Knowledge of the return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit not...
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| Format: | Article |
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Oxford University Press
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35402/ |
| _version_ | 1848795068907913216 |
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| author | Coole, Carol Potgieter, Iskra Nouri, Fiona Worthington, Esme Drummond, Avril |
| author_facet | Coole, Carol Potgieter, Iskra Nouri, Fiona Worthington, Esme Drummond, Avril |
| author_sort | Coole, Carol |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: GPs can use the fit note to advise that a patient ‘may be fit’ or is ‘not fit’ for work. Previous employer-based research on the fit note is largely qualitative and based on general perceptions and past experience. Knowledge of the return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes is needed to strengthen the evidence-base and inform practice.
Objective: To investigate the return-to-work outcomes of fit notes issued to employed patients, and their employers’ opinions as to the usefulness of each note.
Methods: Participating organizations collecting fit notes were asked to rate the outcome and usefulness of each fit note via postal questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis.
Results: Five hundred and sixteen questionnaires were posted, with a 97% return rate (n = 498). More than 80% of employees (n = 44) returned to work after the expiry date of a ‘may be fit’ note compared with 43% (n = 167) of those issued with a ‘not fit’ note. Fit notes were considered more useful if they provided information on the condition and its effect on the employee’s ability to work, if they stated whether or not the employee needed reassessment and if clear advice regarding return-to-work had been provided.
Conclusions: ‘May be fit’ notes are useful in helping employees return to work. However, this option is infrequently used, and the completion and content of many fit notes does not meet employers’ needs. These factors need to be urgently addressed if the fit note is to reach its full potential. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:26:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-35402 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:26:13Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-354022020-05-04T17:09:54Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35402/ Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers Coole, Carol Potgieter, Iskra Nouri, Fiona Worthington, Esme Drummond, Avril Background: GPs can use the fit note to advise that a patient ‘may be fit’ or is ‘not fit’ for work. Previous employer-based research on the fit note is largely qualitative and based on general perceptions and past experience. Knowledge of the return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes is needed to strengthen the evidence-base and inform practice. Objective: To investigate the return-to-work outcomes of fit notes issued to employed patients, and their employers’ opinions as to the usefulness of each note. Methods: Participating organizations collecting fit notes were asked to rate the outcome and usefulness of each fit note via postal questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively; qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Five hundred and sixteen questionnaires were posted, with a 97% return rate (n = 498). More than 80% of employees (n = 44) returned to work after the expiry date of a ‘may be fit’ note compared with 43% (n = 167) of those issued with a ‘not fit’ note. Fit notes were considered more useful if they provided information on the condition and its effect on the employee’s ability to work, if they stated whether or not the employee needed reassessment and if clear advice regarding return-to-work had been provided. Conclusions: ‘May be fit’ notes are useful in helping employees return to work. However, this option is infrequently used, and the completion and content of many fit notes does not meet employers’ needs. These factors need to be urgently addressed if the fit note is to reach its full potential. Oxford University Press 2015-06-26 Article PeerReviewed Coole, Carol, Potgieter, Iskra, Nouri, Fiona, Worthington, Esme and Drummond, Avril (2015) Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers. Family Practice, 32 (5). pp. 551-556. ISSN 1460-2229 consultation occupational/environmental medicine primary care public health rehabilitation/disabilities http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/content/32/5/551 doi:10.1093/fampra/cmv050 doi:10.1093/fampra/cmv050 |
| spellingShingle | consultation occupational/environmental medicine primary care public health rehabilitation/disabilities Coole, Carol Potgieter, Iskra Nouri, Fiona Worthington, Esme Drummond, Avril Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title | Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title_full | Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title_fullStr | Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title_short | Return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| title_sort | return-to-work outcomes and usefulness of actual fit notes received by employers |
| topic | consultation occupational/environmental medicine primary care public health rehabilitation/disabilities |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35402/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35402/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35402/ |