Scandinavian journal of public health
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Scand J Public Health · Aug 2009
Impact of work, health and health beliefs on new episodes of pain-related and general absence-taking.
To evaluate the impact of physical and psychosocial workloads, and self-reported health aspects and health beliefs, on the risk of new episodes of pain-related and general sickness absence. ⋯ Risk factors for general absence and for pain-related absence in unselected working populations are similar but of different effect sizes. A potential primary prevention area could be the provision of accommodating workplaces for employees with pain problems. The mechanisms behind the influence of care-seeking behaviour warrant further research.
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Scand J Public Health · Aug 2009
Comparative StudyReimbursement for drugs -- a register study comparing economic outcome for five healthcare centres in areas with different socioeconomic conditions.
Previous studies have indicated the negative effects of socioeconomic deprivation on health status and morbidity. Nevertheless, the economic assignment systems for pharmaceutical benefits in Sweden do not take socioeconomic status (SES) into account. The aim of the study was, therefore, to compare reimbursement for subsidized drugs at primary healthcare centres (HCCs) with differing socioeconomic conditions in relation to real costs. The word reimbursement is used to denote economic compensation to the HCCs from the county council for drug benefit costs. ⋯ HCCs responsible for citizens with lower SES appeared to be disadvantaged by the prevalent reimbursement system in Sweden, thereby increasing differences in the state of health of the citizens. This, in turn, hampers health preventing programmes and lifestyle interventions. An HCC-specific standardized summary of socioeconomic burden is presented.