Collaboration between general practitioners and occupational physicians: a comparison of the results of two national surveys in France.
OBJECTIVE
To study the perceptions that general practitioners (GPs) and occupational physicians (OPs) have of GPs' role in occupational health and their willingness to work together to prevent the exclusion of patients with disabilities from the workplace.


METHODS
Cross-sectional telephone survey of two randomly selected national samples of GPs and OPs was conducted.


RESULTS
The majority of GPs and OPs are in favor of cooperation, especially to prevent exclusion from the workplace. However, some GPs lack trust in OPs' independence, an attitude associated negatively with the practice of GP referral to OPs to anticipate disability-related problems likely to occur when returning to work after a prolonged sick leave.


CONCLUSIONS
There are some barriers to cooperation, on the part of both OPs and GPs. Initiatives are needed to encourage cooperation between these two types of physicians.
From the INSERM (Dr Verger), UMR912 (SESSTIM), and Aix-Marseille University, UMR_S912, IRD, and ORS PACA, Southeastern Health Regional Observatory, Marseille, France; French Institute for Health Promotion and Health Education (Dr Ménard), Saint-Denis, France; West Île-de-France Occupational Medicine Society (Mr Demortière), AMETIF Santé Travail, Cergy-Pontoise, France; and French Institute for Health Promotion and Health Education (Dr Beck), Saint-Denis, France; Cermes3-Cesames Team (Research Centre for Medicine, Science, Health, Mental Health and Society, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité/CNRS UMR 8211/Inserm U988/EHESS), Paris, France.
Pierre
P
Verger
Colette
C
Ménard
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Richard
Gérard
G
Demortière
François
F
Beck
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054538:Occupational Health Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D062707:Return to Work; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires