Standards for 'Health for Health Professionals' services in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Doctors are more likely to suffer from work-related mental ill-health than other professions in the UK and internationally. Services to support doctors with health problems are emerging in the UK and have diverse models of delivery and funding. Services should be able to demonstrate agreed standards of practice for those who wish to commission, develop or access them.


OBJECTIVE
To develop consensus about standards for 'Health for Health Professionals' (HHP) services in the UK through a modified Delphi study.


METHODS
We conducted a two-stage Delphi study over 6 months. The questionnaire development took place during the UK Association of Physician Health (UKAPH) meeting in London in 2012, an invited meeting for clinicians with a specific interest in the area of physician health. The final questionnaire was disseminated via the UKAPH database.


RESULTS
Forty-four people took part in round 1 and 40 in round 2. Participants were mainly GPs, occupational physicians and psychiatrists. Consensus was reached on major criteria for HHP services, with greatest consensus (45% agreement or greater) for four statements concerning the clarity and transparency of the services offered and one statement that anyone working within the service should have received suitable training in physician health. Consensus about some statements varied among the three specialities.


CONCLUSIONS
This study will assist discussion about providing and improving consistent services across the UK, while recognizing the flexibility required in view of geographical differences.
Centre for Psychosocial Research, Occupational and Physician Health, Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
D
D
Cohen
N
N
Marfell
G
G
Greene
D003697:Delphi Technique; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians; D006113:United Kingdom
Fitness for work; harmonization of standards; health services; mental health; physician; sick doctors.