Work-related Presentations to General Practitioners in Australia

By L Hendrie and T Driscoll

Data on work-related disorders managed in general practice were obtained from a larger study of general practice activity in Australia during 1998 to 2000.

The results when extrapolated, indicate about 3.9 million work-related problems being handled by GPs in Australia each year. 1.1 million of these will be new problems. The most common problems managed were musculoskeletal disorders (58%), skin disorders (13%), psychological problems (9%) and neurological problems (4%). There were some age and sex-related influences on the proportion of different work-related problems. Males had 63% of work-related problems.

Workers compensation paid for about 55% of all work-related problems with considerable variation depending on condition.

(CCH Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand. vol. 19, no. 2, April 2003)