Health and psychosocial work characteristics of employees who did or did not consult the general practitioner in relation to work

OBJECTIVES: To examine how health problems and psychosocial work characteristics are associated with having visited or not having visited the general practitioner (GP) in relation to work. METHODS: Baseline self-reported data of the Maastricht Cohort Study about fatigue at work were used to gather information about fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength), presence of at least one long-term disease, likelihood of having a mental illness (General Health Questionnaire), and psychosocial work characteristics (psychological job demands, decision latitude and social support at work, as measured with the Job Content Questionnaire). The cohort participants indicated having visited (VISITORS) or not having visited (NON-VISITORS) the GP in relation to work. Differences between these groups were measured by multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: When compared with VISITORS and taking into account the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and mutual associations between reported health problems and psychosocial work characteristics, a lower percentage of NON-VISITORS reported at least one long-term disease and NON-VISITORS presented lower levels of fatigue and psychological job demands, and higher levels of decision latitude and social support at work. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that NON-VISITORS reported fewer health problems and a more positive perception of their work environment than VISITORS did. Interrelationships between psychosocial work characteristics and health variables should be taken into consideration when studying their associations with visiting the GP in relation to work.