[Quality assurance in sociomedical decision processes exemplified by documentation of occupational anamnesis in final sociomedical expert assessment].

426 German sociomedical expertises written by sociomedical specialists appointed by various German statutory insurance bodies were examined (compulsory pension fund, medical services of statutory health insurance, medical officers of the German government-controlled labour offices and experts appointed by various rehabilitation centres). A wide gap was found between reality on the one hand--as represented by the patient's previous work and the conditions prevailing at his particular place of work and on the labour market in general--and the theoretical postulates set by the doctor on the other hand. These deficits are defined in the present article and concrete suggestions are made on overcoming them. The problems pinpointed by this pilot study are intended to stimulate a development project to standardise patient anamnesis in relation to the type and place of work, irrespective of the various statutory health insurance bodies involved.