SUMMARY
The quality of cooperation in occupational health care: A conceptual exploration
This exploratory qualitative research used the technique of concept mapping to explore the employees’ perspective on the cooperation between occupational physicians and other curative physicians (COPCP). In the brainstorm session of the concept mapping, patients who had been absent from work for at least six months during the previous two years (n=14) gave short spontaneous indications of what they conceived to be the ideal cooperation between the occupational physician and the treating physician. Twenty-five qualifications that were brought forward during the brainstorm session were divided over six clusters representing the ‘quality of COPCP’: (1) respect for the patient, (2) the patient in control, (3) effective communication between the parties, (4) professional attitude of the physicians involved, (5) verifiable procedures, and (6) development and application of guidelines.