Customers using occupational health services also use services from other health care sectors concurrently. Some users of occupational health services use these services extensively, either periodically or over a longer period. This study aimed to characterize users and heavy users of occupational health care services and their concurrent use of other health services. Additionally, it examined the connection between the use of health services and sickness absences and disability pensions.
The study was conducted using patient registry data from a private occupational health service provider, combined with national statistical registers (Statistics Finland, THL, KELA, and ETK). The study analyzed how those who used occupational primary health care services used the services on other health care sectors (public primary health care, specialized medical care, private health care) and their decisions related to disability pensions.
The study population included 66,368 individuals for the sociodemographic analysis and 59,650 individuals for the analysis of concurrent service use. The study found that women were more often heavy users of occupational health services than men. Heavy users often had a medium level of education and performed manual labor. Heavy users of occupational primary health care, both permanent and occasional, were more likely to use other service sectors compared to other occupational health care users, even though they extensively used occupational health services. Almost one-third of permanent heavy users of occupational health care had used public specialized medical care every year of the study.
Frequent use of occupational health care was associated with work disability, regardless of sociodemographic factors. Those using multiple health care sectors had a higher likelihood of long sick leaves (> 15 days) and disability pensions compared to those who only used occupational health care.