Table 1.
Description of the workers presented in the video vignettes, gender, age, demography, complaints and self-assessment of disability
| Worker | Gender, age | Demography | 1st complaint mentioned in consultation/principal complaint | Secondary complaints | Self-assessment of disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ♀ 25 | Single, no children Divorced parents, no contact with her father, adverse family history Interrupted secondary education Currently in rehabilitation program Several short time jobs and sick leave spells |
General pain in the neck, the back and in arms Intense pain 24 h per day, 7 days a week |
Respiratory complaints, no objective findings of asthma or other known somatic disease. Anxiety and depression periodically treated with antidepressants | Expresses hope to achieve ability to work, but need substantial improvement in health conditions first |
| 2 | ♂ 40 | Married, two children Working off shore on oil platform as a mechanic – 2 weeks on, 4 weeks off work Several shorter periods of sick leave and two long spells (1 year each) |
Back and neck pain | Sleeping disturbances due to pain Irritable bowel syndrome, skin eczema |
The work is physically hard and provokes pain He does not see himself in this job until retirement, but the salary and long periods off work make him keeping the job |
| 3 | ♂ 37 | Married, unknown number of children Previously working off shore, but started as self-employed in construction |
General intense fatigue | No other complaints but have read about CFS which he finds fits his problems Economically burdens due to poor benefit coverage as self-employed |
No work capacity |
| 4 | ♀ 37 | No information on marital status or children Working in a kindergarten Previous 4 month sick leave for same complaints was followed by no symptoms for one and a half year |
Periodically numbness, staring like a toothache, followed by headache and a sensation of anesthesia on the right side of the body; things slips out of her hand. Extensive medical examination has not proved any cause of the symptoms | No other complaints | Difficult to work with these complaints, unsure about sick leave |