Background
the Technical Epidemiological Nexus of Social Security (NTEP in Portuguese) has modified the characterization of occupational injuries during evaluation for sickness benefits in Brazil.
Objective
to describe the profile of sickness benefit requirements when NTEP was indicated by the social security system, and to analyze the factors associated with its characterization/mischaracterization through medical evaluation.
Methods
retrospective analytical study with a sample of 822 expert medical reports issued in Sao Paulo between 2008 and 2011. A logistic regression model analysis was performed to assess the association between the characterization of NTEP and sex, age, and diagnosis.
Results
the profile of the beneficiaries was as follows: males (60.6%), aged 30-39 (31.8%), and presenting sickness due to injuries by external causes (35.0%). NTEP was mischaracterized in 59% of the cases, mostly because workers reported that the injury had not occurred at work (70.9%). There was an association between NTEP characterization and disabling diagnosis, mainly due to musculoskeletal disorders (OR 7.45; 95%CI 4.88-11.38).
Conclusion
the disabling diagnosis is a factor strongly associated with NTEP characterization by medical experts. Commonly, there is a mischaracterization of its application, which could minimize social justice for workers with occupational injury.
social security; occupational health; expert testimony; occupational accidents registry; occupational epidemiology