Use of the International Classification of Diseases in the analysis of dental absenteeism

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of disease and injury classification codes in workplace absences requests due to dental causes. METHODS: The study analyzed 240 requests in a federal public agency between January 2008 and December 2009. The use of the International Classification of Diseases - 10th Revision (ICD-10) was compared to the Application of the International Classification of Diseases to Dentistry and Stomatology (ICD-DA). The degree of specificity was determined for the codifications on workplace justifications, as well as for codifications assigned by official dental experts in indirect inspections and expert examinations. RESULTS: Of the total number of dental certificates, 22.9% did not present the ICD, 7.1% used ICD-9, 3.3% used ICD-DA and 66.7% used ICD-10. The majority of codifications were concordant (55.1%), and greater specificity was found in codifications assigned after evaluation by official dental experts. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need to improve use of ICD-10 among dentists and official dental experts .For analysis of work absenteeism, it is suggested the use of ICD-DA and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, which provide relevant data for monitoring absenteeism due to dental reasons.