Abstract
This study aims to answer the question whether the relatively high inflow risk into disability for women, compared to that for men, is related to a lower chance of being called by the occupational physician during sickness absence. This chance is influenced by sociodemographic, health-related, and work-related factors, as well as by the duration of sickness absence. Using a proportional hazards model, the “risk” of being called by the physician within a certain time period (the so-called hazard rate) is estimated. Kaplan–Meier curves show a gender difference in the hazard rate. Women appear to have a higher chance of being called by the occupational physician (i.e., a shorter waiting time). The influence of the covariates on the hazard rate is estimated using a Weibull model. The Weibull estimations show a negative duration dependence for women, while for men there is no duration dependence. It is concluded that the higher chance for women to be called by the occupational physician is not associated with a gender difference in treatment. Rather, it is the result of a difference in underlying characteristics. Underlying characteristics that significantly predict the waiting time for the occupational physician are in particular related to the labor market position of the employee: educational qualifications, firm size, industry, occupational workload, and job tenure. Other significant predictors are duration and diagnosis.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Cuelenaere B, Veerman TJ, Prins R, Giezen AMvd. In Distant mirrors. Work incapacity and return to work. Zoetermeer: College van Toezicht Sociale Verzekeringen, 1999.
Landelijk Instituut Sociale Verzekeringen. Trendrapportage Arbeids(on)geschiktheid. Amsterdam: Landelijk Instituut Sociale Verzekeringen, 2001.
Einerhand MGK, Knol G, Prins R, Veerman TJ. Sickness and invalidity arrangements. Facts and figures from six European countries. Den Haag: Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid, 1995.
Adviescommissie Arbeidsongeschiktheid. Werk maken van arbeidsgeschiktheid. Den Haag: Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid, 2001.
Vinke H, Andriessen S, Heuvel SGvd, Houtman ILD, Rijnders S, Vuuren CVv, Wevers CWJ. Vrouwen en reïntegratie. Hoofddorp: TNO Arbeid, 1999.
Delft MLE. Sociale atlas van de vrouw. Den Haag: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, 1991.
Shrey DE. Worksite disability management model for effective return-to-work planning. Occup Med State Art Rev, 2000; 15(4): 789–801.
de Vos EL, Wevers CWJ. Aan de slag met een arbeidshandicap: internationale ervaringen. Amsterdam: Landelijk Instituut Sociale Verzekeringen, 1998.
Akabas SH, Gates LB, Galvin DE. Disability management. A complete system to reduce costs, increase productivity, meet employee needs, and ensure legal compliance. New York: AMACOM, 1992.
Shrey DE. Disability management in industry: The new paradigm in injured worker rehabilitation. Disabil Rehabil 1996; 18(8): 408–414.
Shrey DE, Lacerte M. Principles and practices of disability management in industry. Florida: CRC Press, 1997.
Crook J, Moldofsky H. The probability of recovery and return to work from disability as a function of time. Qual Life Res, 1994; 3(ppl. 1): s97-s109.
Meershoek A. Weer aan het werk. Verzekeringsgeneeskundige verzuimbegeleiding als onderhandeling over verantwoordelijkheden, in Vakgroep Gezondheidsethiek en Wijsbegeerte. Maastricht, Netherlands: Maastricht University, 1999.
Kaiser CP. Het verzekeringsgeneeskundig handelen en de verzuimduur. Maastricht, Netherlands: Universiteit Maastricht, 1992.
Griffin WA. Assessing state changes in microsocial interaction: An introduction to event-history analysis. In: Mordechai Gottman J, ed. The analysis of change. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 1995, pp. 309–337.
Heckman JJ. Statistical models for discrete panel data. In: Manski CF, McFadden DL, eds. Structural analysis of discrete data and econometric applications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1981, pp. 114–142.
Schröer CAP. Ziekteverzuim wegens overspanning: een onderzoek naar de aard van overspanning, de hulpverlening en het verzuimbeloop. Maastricht, Netherlands: Universiteit Maastricht, 1993.
Delft MLEv. Sociale atlas van de vrouw. Rijswijk, Netherlands: Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, 1991.
Glebbeek AC. Perspectieven op loopbanen. Groningen, Netherlands: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 1993.
Beek KWHv. To be hired or not to be hired, the employer decides. Relative chances of unemployed job-seekers on the dutch labor market. Den Haag: Universiteit van Amsterdam, 1993.
Gründemann RWM, Nijboer ID. WAO-intrede en werkhervatting. Amsterdam: Universiteit van Amsterdam, 1998. P. 302.
Molenaar-Cox PGM, Fiseler JG, Stelt HGvd, Smaal M, Kers WC. Databoek PES3. Amsterdam: GAK/GMD, 1995.
Yamaguchi K. Event history analysis. (Applied social research methods series). Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1991.
Blossfeld HP, Hamerle A, Mayer KU. Event history analysis. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1989.
Trussell J, Richards T. Correcting for unmeasured heterogeneity in hazard models using the Heckman-Singer procedure. In: Tuma N, ed. Sociological methodology. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1985, pp. 242–276.
Lancaster T. Econometric methods for the duration of unemployment.Econometrica 1979; 47(4): 939–956.
Cuelenaere B, Molenaar-Cox P, Brummelen Yv. Begeleiding van mannen en vrouwen in het eerste ziektejaar. Amsterdam: LISV, 2001.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Joling, C., Groot, W. & Janssen, P.P. Waiting for the Doctor: Gender Differences in the Timing of an Intervention by the Occupational Physician. J Occup Rehabil 13, 45–61 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021897807592
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021897807592