Skip Navigation



Family Practice Advance Access published online on February 14, 2005
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh727
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
22/2/197    most recent
cmh727v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Weevers, H.-J. A.
Right arrow Articles by van Mechelen, W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Weevers, H.-J. A.
Right arrow Articles by van Mechelen, W.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, Please email: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received July 9, 2004
Accepted September 27, 2004

Article

Work-related disease in general practice: a systematic review

Harm-Jan A. Weevers 1, Allard J. van der Beek 2*, Johannes R. Anema 3, Gerrit van der Wal 1, and Willem van Mechelen 2

1 Department of Public and Occupational Health, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2 Department of Public and Occupational Health, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3 Department of Public and Occupational Health, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; TNO Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Allard J. van der Beek, E-mail: a.vanderbeek{at}vumc.nl


  Abstract

Objectives. The objective was to answer the following questions: What is the prevalence of potentially work-related diseases in the general practice population? What is the incidence of consulting a GP for a potentially work-related disease? What is the relationship between diseases seen in general practice and work ability?

Methods. Cochrane standards and QUOROM principals were used. For this systematic review the available literature was identified in a computerized search of the bibliographical databases Medline, Embase and Osh-rom. A total of 22 publications (24 studies) met the inclusion criteria.

Results. In the general practice population high prevalence rates of potentially work-related diseases were found for low back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain. Incidence rates of consulting a GP for a potentially work-related disease were high also. Musculoskeletal disorders were the main reasons for work-related consultations in general practice. Work-related diseases can affect work ability.

Conclusions. Work-related diseases are common, given the high incidence and prevalence of potentially work-related diseases found in the general practice population and seen by the GP. This review underlines the important role of GPs in identifying and managing work-related diseases. GPs should consider the work factor and pay special attention to the effects of work on health, because patients often link their work with their illness.

Keywords: General practice; incidence; prevalence; work ability; work-related diseases.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Occup. Environ. Med.Home page
I Pehkonen, H Miranda, E Haukka, R Luukkonen, E-P Takala, R Ketola, P Leino-Arjas, H Riihimaki, and E Viikari-Juntura
Prospective study on shoulder symptoms among kitchen workers in relation to self-perceived and observed work load
Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2009; 66(6): 416 - 423.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page
J. R Anema and A. J v. d. Beek
Medically certified sickness absence
BMJ, October 2, 2008; 337(oct02_2): a1174 - a1174.
[Full Text]

Home page
 ptjournalHome page
S. A. Olivo, L. G. Macedo, I. C. Gadotti, J. Fuentes, T. Stanton, and D. J Magee
Scales to Assess the Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review
Physical Therapy, February 1, 2008; 88(2): 156 - 175.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Occup Med (Lond)Home page
K.-P. Martimo, H. Varonen, K. Husman, and E. Viikari-Juntura
Factors associated with self-assessed work ability
Occup. Med., August 1, 2007; 57(5): 380 - 382.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Fam PractHome page
M. Antonopoulou, N Antonakis, A Hadjipavlou, and C Lionis
Patterns of pain and consulting behaviour in patients with musculoskeletal disorders in rural Crete, Greece
Fam. Pract., June 1, 2007; 24(3): 209 - 216.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Occup Med (Lond)Home page
T. Morken, I. S. Mehlum, and B. E. Moen
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Norway's offshore petroleum industry
Occup. Med., March 1, 2007; 57(2): 112 - 117.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.