| Summary: | Background: With background in the Referral Project beginning in 2001, Norwegian manual therapists (MTs), have since 2006, had the opportunity to prescribe sick leave (SL). After the project was evaluated in 2003, this practice has not been particularly investigated. The aim of the study was to assess MTs' practice as SL prescribers in 2013, what factors that influence this role, and characteristics of the patients getting SL. Method: Retrospective Cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was developed and distributed through Facebook and e-mail lists available from the Norwegian Manual Therapist Association and the Norwegian Physiotherapist Association. Results: 199 respondents answered. They prescribed on average about five SLs a month, yearly SLs and patients receiving SL, were respectively 50 and 32. A moderate negative correlation was found between consultations per patient and patients receiving SL. MTs who seldom treated acute patients, prescribed significantly fewer SL. MTs in Nordland prescribed significantly more SL than MTs in Oslo, Akershus and Hordaland. Most patients receiving SL had localized pain for a short duration of time, with SL duration under two weeks. Mostly 50 or 75% of the patients receiving SL, got their SL by their MTs. Increasing information about the right of prescribing SL, specialization/authorization for MTs and more municipal health reimbursement agreements were reported as important promotional factors for the role as SL prescribers. Lack of knowledge in patients and doctors regarding MT's right to prescribe SL and long waiting time, were important limiting factors. Conclusion: MTs prescribe five SLs a month, 50 a year, to 32 patients, a higher number of the patients with SL receive SL by their MTs now than in 2003. Number of prescribed SL is considerably higher than what's presented in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration's statistics. There are regional differences regarding SL prescription. Few acute patients causes fewer SL prescriptions, high patient turn-over ...
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