title: How do Dutch GPs address work-related problems? A focus group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Netherlands, there is a lack of knowledge about general practitioners' (GPs) perception of their role regarding patients' occupation and work related problems (WRP). As work and health are closely related, and patients expect help from their GPs in this area, a better understanding is needed of GPs' motivation to address WRP.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore GPs' opinions on their role in the area of work and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative study using three focus groups with Dutch GPs from the catchment area of a hospital in the Southeast of the Netherlands. The group was heterogeneous in characteristics such as sex, age, and practice setting. Three focus groups were convened with 18 GPs. The moderator used an interview guide. Two researchers analysed verbatim transcripts using constant comparative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We distinguished three items: (a) work context in a GP's integrated consultation style; (b) counselling about sick leave; (c) cooperation with occupational physicians (OPs). The participants are willing to address the topic and counsel about sick leave. They consider WRP in patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) challenging. They tend to advise these patients to continue working as they think this will ultimately benefit them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The participating GPs seemed well aware of the relation between work and health but need more knowledge, communication skills and better cooperation with occupational physicians to manage work-related problems. [Box: see text].
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health , Radboud University Medical Centre , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Cornelis A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Kock
authors.affiliation: b Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Centre , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Peter L B J
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Hospital De Gelderse Vallei , Ede , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spinnewijn
authors.affiliation: d CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care; Dept. of General Practice , Maastricht University , Maastricht , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: J André
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
authors.affiliation: e TNO Work, Health and Care , Leiden , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Buijs
authors.affiliation: e TNO Work, Health and Care , Leiden , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steenbeek
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health , Radboud University Medical Centre , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Antoine L M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lagro-Janssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D054538:Occupational Health Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018582:Sick Leave
keywords: General practice; occupational health physicians; qualitative research; return to work; sick leave