TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of an exposure-based return-to-work program for workers on sick leave due to common mental disorders: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
AU - Noordik, Erik
AU - van der Klink, Jac J.
AU - Geskus, Ronald B.
AU - de Boer, Michiel R.
AU - van Dijk, Frank J. H.
AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Karen
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - In case of long-term sick leave, gradually increasing workload appears to be an effective component of work-directed interventions to reduce sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD). CMD are defined as stress-related, adjustment, anxiety, or depressive disorders. We developed an exposure-based return-to-work (RTW-E) intervention and evaluated the effect on time-to-full return to work (RTW) among workers who were on sick leave due to CMD in comparison to those treated with care-as-usual (CAU). CAU is guideline-directed and consists of problem-solving strategies and graded activities. Using a two-armed cluster-randomized trial, we randomized 56 occupational physicians (OP). Of these, 35 OP treated 160 workers at the start of their sick leave; 75 workers received RTW-E and 85 workers received CAU. These workers were followed over a 12-month follow-up period. The time-to-full RTW lasting ≥28 days without recurrence was the primary outcome measure. To evaluate differences between groups, we used intention-to-treat and multilevel Cox's regression analysis. The median time-to-full RTW differed significantly between groups [hazard ratio (HR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.33-0.89]. The workers receiving RTW-E (209 days; 95% CI 62-256) had a prolonged time-to-full RTW compared to workers receiving CAU (153 days; 95% CI 128-178). Workers on sick leave due to CMD treated with RTW-E showed a prolonged time-to-full RTW compared to those treated with CAU. We recommend that OP do not apply RTW-E but continue counseling workers on sick leave due to CMD according to CAU
AB - In case of long-term sick leave, gradually increasing workload appears to be an effective component of work-directed interventions to reduce sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD). CMD are defined as stress-related, adjustment, anxiety, or depressive disorders. We developed an exposure-based return-to-work (RTW-E) intervention and evaluated the effect on time-to-full return to work (RTW) among workers who were on sick leave due to CMD in comparison to those treated with care-as-usual (CAU). CAU is guideline-directed and consists of problem-solving strategies and graded activities. Using a two-armed cluster-randomized trial, we randomized 56 occupational physicians (OP). Of these, 35 OP treated 160 workers at the start of their sick leave; 75 workers received RTW-E and 85 workers received CAU. These workers were followed over a 12-month follow-up period. The time-to-full RTW lasting ≥28 days without recurrence was the primary outcome measure. To evaluate differences between groups, we used intention-to-treat and multilevel Cox's regression analysis. The median time-to-full RTW differed significantly between groups [hazard ratio (HR) 0.55; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.33-0.89]. The workers receiving RTW-E (209 days; 95% CI 62-256) had a prolonged time-to-full RTW compared to workers receiving CAU (153 days; 95% CI 128-178). Workers on sick leave due to CMD treated with RTW-E showed a prolonged time-to-full RTW compared to those treated with CAU. We recommend that OP do not apply RTW-E but continue counseling workers on sick leave due to CMD according to CAU
U2 - https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3320
DO - https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3320
M3 - Article
C2 - 22951572
SN - 0355-3140
VL - 39
SP - 144
EP - 154
JO - Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
JF - Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
IS - 2
ER -