Effectiveness of workplace interventions in rehabilitating musculoskeletal disorders and preventing its consequences among workers with physical and sedentary employment: systematic review protocol Coordinated and Tailored Work Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Economic Evaluation Undertaken with Workers on Sick Leave Due to Musculoskeletal Disorders Effectiveness of a Coordinated and Tailored Return-to-Work Intervention for Sickness Absence Beneficiaries with Mental Health Problems A Participatory Return-to-Work Intervention for Temporary Agency Workers and Unemployed Workers Sick-Listed Due to Musculoskeletal Disorders: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Thoughts and feelings of future working life as a predictor of return to work: a combined qualitative and quantitative study of sick-listed persons with musculoskeletal disorders A two-year follow-up on a program theory of return to work intervention. Return to work of cancer patients after a multidisciplinary intervention including occupational counselling and physical exercise in cancer patients: a prospective study in the Netherlands A Prospective Study of the Effectiveness of Early Intervention with High-risk Back-injured Workers—A Pilot Study Subgroup analyses on return to work in sick-listed employees with low back pain in a randomised trial comparing brief and multidisciplinary intervention Predictive tests for non-return to work in patients with chronic low back pain Association between clinical and work-related interventions and return-to-work for patients with musculoskeletal or mental disorders. Trajectories and predictors of return to work after traumatic limb injury--a 2-year follow-up study. A workplace intervention for sick-listed employees with distress: results of a randomised controlled trial Self Perceptions as Predictors for Return to Work 2 Years After Rehabilitation in Orthopedic Trauma Inpatients Blended E-health module on return to work embedded in collaborative occupational health care for common mental disorders: design of a cluster randomized controlled trial Return to work after early part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized controlled trial. Motivating disability pensioners with back pain to return to work--a randomized controlled trial.
Background Musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) are the leading cause of work disability and sickness absence worldwide . The prevalence of MSDs increases with age , consequently challenging sustainable employability among the growing ageing workforce . Knowledge of feasible and efficient workplace-based interventions to rehabilitate MSD or prevent its consequences is therefore warranted . This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness of workplace-based interventions on MSDs and its consequences among adult workers with physical and sedentary work tasks , respectively . Methods We will search the following bibliographic data bases : PubMed ( including the data base ‘ MEDLINE ’ ) and Web of Science Core Collection ( including the data bases ‘ Science Citation Index Exp and ed ’ , ‘ Social Sciences Citation Index ’ and ‘ Arts & Humanities Citation Index ’ ) . Manual search es will also be performed . We will include r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) and non- RCTs reported in English in which ( 1 ) participants are adult workers with MSD , ( 2 ) interventions are aim ing at rehabilitating pain symptoms of MSD or preventing the consequences of MSD and ( 3 ) interventions are initiated and /or carried out at the workplace . The review will adhere to the ‘ Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review s and Meta-Analyses ’ ( PRISMA ) guidelines for reporting systematic review s and the Institute for Work and Health ( IWH ) guidelines for workplace-based interventions . For the primary evaluation of the review , the quality assessment and evidence synthesis will conform to the IWH guidelines . Secondary evaluation will include a meta- analysis ( unless the included studies do not allow this due to heterogeneity ) and employ the risk of bias domains recommended by Cochrane along with the Grading of Recommendations , Assessment , Development and Evaluations ( GRADE ) approach on the studies with pain intensity as an outcome . Discussion This systematic review will provide knowledge on effective workplace-based interventions among physical and sedentary workers with MSD . RCTs are considered the most powerful experimental design in clinical trials , but solely including these may be too restrictive to underst and effective workplace-based interventions where r and omised and carefully controlled trials ( RCTs ) are not always possible . In order to maximize practical relevance , the selection process will , therefore , include both RCTs and non- RCTs and the quality assessment and evidence synthesis will conform to IWH guidelines focusing on developing practical guidelines for stakeholders . The result of this work will form the basis for industry-specific evidence -based recommendations on effective workplace-based interventions for rehabilitation of MSDs and its consequences that will later be operationalised into concrete and user-friendly practical tools for workplaces . Systematic review registration International Prospect i ve Register of Systematic Review s ( PROSPERO ) number CRD42018116752 Introduction In Denmark , the magnitude and impact of work disability on the individual worker and society has prompted the development of a new “ coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation ” ( CTWR ) approach . The aim of this study was to compare the effects of CTWR with conventional case management ( CCM ) on return-to-work of workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders ( MSDs ) . Methods The study was a r and omized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave for 4–12 weeks due to MSDs . CTWR consists of a work disability screening by an interdisciplinary team followed by the collaborative development of a RTW plan . The primary outcome variable was registered cumulative sickness absence hours during 12 months follow-up . Secondary outcomes were work status as well as pain intensity and functional disability , measured at baseline , 3 and 12 months follow-up . The economic evaluation ( intervention costs , productivity loss , and health care utilization costs ) was based on administrative data derived from national registries . Results For the time intervals 0–6 months , 6–12 months , and the entire follow-up period , the number of sickness absence hours was significantly lower in the CTWR group as compared to the control group . The total costs saved in CTWR participants compared to controls were estimated at US $ 1,366 per person at 6 months follow-up and US $ 10,666 per person at 12 months follow-up . Conclusions Workers on sick leave for 4–12 weeks due to MSD who underwent “ CTWR ” by an interdisciplinary team had fewer sickness absence hours than controls . The economic evaluation showed that — in terms of productivity loss — CTWR seems to be cost saving for the society Purpose Sickness absence and exclusion from the labour market due to mental health problems ( MHPs ) is a growing concern in many countries . Knowledge about effective return-to-work ( RTW ) intervention models is still limited , but a multidisciplinary , coordinated and tailored approach has shown promising results in the context of musculoskeletal disorders . The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this approach as implemented among sickness absence beneficiaries with MHPs . Methods In a quasi-r and omised , controlled trial , we assessed the intervention ’s effect in terms of time to RTW and labour market status after 1 year . We used two different analytical strategies to compare time to RTW between participants receiving the intervention ( n = 88 ) and those receiving conventional case management ( n = 80 ) : ( 1 ) a traditional multivariable regression analysis controlling for measured confounding , and ( 2 ) an instrumental variable ( IV ) analysis controlling for unmeasured confounding . Results The two analytical approaches provided similar results in terms of a longer time to RTW among recipients of the intervention ( HR = 0.50 ; 95 % CI 0.34–0.75 ) , although the estimate provided by the IV- analysis was non-significant ( HR = 0.70 ; 95 % CI 0.23–2.12 ) . After 1 year , more recipients of the intervention than of conventional case management were receiving sickness absence benefits ( p = 0.031 ) . Conclusion The intervention  delayed RTW compared to conventional case management , after accounting for measured confounding . The delayed RTW may be due to either implementation or program failure , or both . It may also reflect the complexity of retaining employees with mental health problems in the workplace Introduction Within the labour force workers without an employment contract represent a vulnerable group . In most cases , when sick-listed , these workers have no workplace/employer to return to . Therefore , the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness on return-to-work of a participatory return-to-work program compared to usual care for unemployed workers and temporary agency workers , sick-listed due to musculoskeletal disorders . Methods The workers , sick-listed for 2–8 weeks due to musculoskeletal disorders , were r and omly allocated to the participatory return-to-work program ( n = 79 ) or to usual care ( n = 84 ) . The new program is a stepwise procedure aim ed at making a consensus-based return-to-work plan , with the possibility of a temporary ( therapeutic ) workplace . Outcomes were measured at baseline , 3 , 6 , 9 and 12 months . The primary outcome measure was time to sustainable first return-to-work . Secondary outcome measures were duration of sickness benefit , functional status , pain intensity , and perceived health . Results The median duration until sustainable first return-to-work was 161 days in the intervention group , compared to 299 days in the usual care group . The new return-to-work program result ed in a non-significant delay in RTW during the first 90 days , followed by a significant advantage in RTW rate after 90 days ( hazard ratio of 2.24 [ 95 % confidence interval 1.28–3.94 ] P = 0.005 ) . No significant differences were found for the measured secondary outcomes . Conclusions The newly developed participatory return-to-work program seems to be a promising intervention to facilitate work resumption and reduce work disability among temporary agency workers and unemployed workers , sick-listed due to musculoskeletal disorders Purpose . The main aim of this study was to describe the thoughts and feelings of future working life related to return to work ( RTW ) in sick-listed persons due to musculoskeletal disorders ( MSD ) . Further aim was to compare these descriptions with the person 's actual working situation 1 , 5 and 10 years after a rehabilitation period . Methods . This study consisted of two parts . The first part had an explorative design , and qualitative content analysis was chosen in order to analyse the response to an open question regarding future working life answered before , persons sick-listed due to MSD ( n = = 320 ) , took part in a rehabilitation programme 10 years ago . The second part had a prospect i ve design and quantitative analysis was used to compare the results of the qualitative analysis with RTW and the working situation 1 , 5 and 10 years after baseline . Results . Three categories emerged from the data with a total of nine subcategories . In the categories Motivation and optimism and Limitations to overcome , there were significantly more persons who had RTW 1 year after baseline when compared with the category Hindrance and hesitation . There were also some significant differences between the subcategories . Conclusions . The question , regarding thoughts and feelings of future working life , may be a simple screening method to predict RTW in persons sick-listed with MSD . This will guide the rehabilitation team to adjust the rehabilitation to each person 's needs and facilitating RTW OBJECTIVE Validation of a salutogenic theory for return to work ( RTW ) and an associated program process theory . METHODS A longitudinal non-r and omized one-year trial study design was used with a two-year follow-up and with comparison to a reference group . Changes in attitudes and active behaviour in the intervention group and at the workplace were supported by cognitive and behavioural approaches . PARTICIPANTS The intervention group included 118 unskilled Danish public employees and privately employed house-cleaners on sick leave due to musculoskeletal and /or common mental illnesses . RESULTS Significant improvements of work ability index and perceived health ( SF36 subgroups ) were reported . A significantly higher RTW and a shorter sick leave than in the reference group also emerged . Positive predictors of RTW were keeping the pre-sick-leave job and improving work ability index and physical impairment/role physical . Decline in self-efficacy was a negative predictor . CONCLUSIONS Support for the theory and associated program process theory was found . The intervention seemed to influence RTW and the employees ' attitudes , behaviour and health by affecting comprehensibility , meaningfulness and manageability . Sustainable RTW emerged from a synergism of support from the work place and improved personal re sources , especially such as concern mental health . The approach is consistent with integrating health promotion in RTW Objectives To support return to work ( RTW ) among cancer patients , a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme was developed which combined occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme during chemotherapy . The aim was to investigate RTW rates of cancer patients and to evaluate changes in work-related quality of life and physical outcomes . Design Longitudinal prospect i ve intervention study using a one-group design . Setting Two hospitals in the Netherl and s. Participants Of the eligible patients , 56 % participated ; 93 patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer receiving chemotherapy and on sick leave were included . Patients completed question naires on RTW , the importance of work , work ability ( WAI ) , RTW self-efficacy , fatigue ( MFI ) , and quality of life ( EORTC QLQ C-30 ) at baseline and 6 , 12 and 18 months follow-up . Before and after the exercise programme 1-repetition maximum ( 1RM ) muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness ( VO2 peak ) were assessed . Results Six months after the start of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme that combined occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme , 59 % of the cancer patients returned to work , 86 % at 12 months and 83 % at 18 months . In addition , significant improvements ( p<0.05 ) in the importance of work , work ability , RTW self-efficacy , and quality of life were observed , whereas fatigue levels were significantly reduced . After completing the exercise programme , 1RM muscle strength was significantly increased but there was no improvement in VO2 peak level . Conclusions RTW rates of cancer patients were high after completion of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme . A multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme which combines occupational counselling with a supervised physical exercise programme is likely to result in RTW , reduced fatigue and increased importance of work , work ability , and quality of life Introduction It was postulated that workers , at the sub-acute stage after injury , respond differently to clinical and occupational interventions offered in a workers ’ compensation environment . Individual worker risk of disability , it was further believed , would influence the effectiveness of early intervention . The objective of the current pilot study was to evaluate return to work ( RTW ) outcomes following proactive , combined clinical , occupational and case management-based interdisciplinary early intervention , provided in a workers ’ compensation environment 4–10 weeks of onset of back pain , to workers with medium and high risk for disability . Methods The project was a controlled study comparing conventional workers ’ compensation case management with integrated , interdisciplinary and multimodal early intervention ( hereinafter referred to as “ EI ” ) . At baseline , risk status was determined by a vali date d Risk for Disability Question naire by Carragee et al. ( Spine 5(1):24–35 , 2005 ) . Seventeen workers at high risk of protracted disability and 20 workers at moderate risk of disability received conventional case management , and 17 workers assessed at high risk of protracted disability and 18 workers at moderate risk of disability received the Early Intervention . Results At 3 months post back pain onset , no statistically significant differences were identified in RTW outcomes between conventional case management and the Early Intervention . However , by 6 months post back pain onset , workers at high risk of work disability who received the Early Intervention were significantly more likely to RTW than high risk workers who received conventional case management . In contrast , moderate risk workers continued to exhibit no statistically significant differences in RTW outcomes . Conclusion Multimodal Early Intervention in the workers ’ compensation case management context is likely effective for workers with sub-acute back pain who are at high risk of occupational disability . The comprehensive Early Intervention is , however , likely redundant for workers who are not at high risk for disability and should not be applied indiscriminately . Further studies are required to determine longer-term Early Intervention outcomes , and to replicate the findings using a r and omized control design . Also , with a larger sample size , it will be possible to determine predictors of occupational outcomes Background Multidisciplinary intervention is recommended for rehabilitation of employees sick-listed for 4 - 12 weeks due to low back pain ( LBP ) . However , comparison of a brief and a multidisciplinary intervention in a r and omised comparative trial of sick-listed employees showed similar return to work ( RTW ) rates in the two groups . The aim of the present study was to identify subgroups , primarily defined by work-related baseline factors that would benefit more from the multidisciplinary intervention than from the brief intervention . Methods A total of 351 employees sick-listed for 3 - 16 weeks due to LBP were recruited from their general practitioners . They received a brief or a multidisciplinary intervention . Both interventions comprised clinical examination and advice by a rehabilitation doctor and a physiotherapist . The multidisciplinary intervention also comprised assignment of a case manager , who made a rehabilitation plan in collaboration with the patient and a multidisciplinary team . Using data from a national data base , we defined RTW as no sickness compensation benefit disbursement for four consecutive weeks within the first year after the intervention . At the first interview in the clinic , it was ensured that sick leave was primarily due to low back problems . Question naires were used to obtain data on health , disability , demographic and workplace-related factors . Cox hazard regression analyses were used with RTW as outcome measure and hazard rate ratios ( HRR = HRmultidisciplinary/HRbrief ) were adjusted for demographic and health-related variables . An interaction term consisting of a baseline variable*intervention group was added to the multivariable regression model to analyse whether the effects of the interventions were moderated by the baseline factor . Subsequently , a new study was performed that included 120 patients who followed the same protocol . This group was analyzed in the same way to verify the findings from the original study group . Results The multidisciplinary intervention group ensured a quicker RTW than the brief intervention group in a subgroup with low job satisfaction , notably when cl aim ants were excluded . The opposite effect was seen in the subgroup with high job satisfaction . When cl aim ants were excluded , the effect was also in favour of the multidisciplinary intervention in subgroups characterised by no influence on work planning and groups at risk of losing their job . Inversely , the effect was in favour of the brief intervention in the subgroups who were able to influence the planning of their work and who had no risk of losing their job due to current sick leave . Interaction analysis of the data in the new study displayed similar or even more pronounced differences between subgroups in relation to intervention type . Conclusions Multidisciplinary intervention seemed more  effective than brief intervention in subgroups of patients with low job satisfaction , no influence on work planning and feeling at risk of losing their jobs due to their sick leave as compared with subgroups not fulfilling these criteria Abstract . Return to work ( RTW ) is the primary goal in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain . In spite of expensive rehabilitative efforts , many patients do not RTW . To increase cost effectiveness , predictive tests for non-RTW are needed to select patients for rehabilitation . The reliability of these tests must be high , to prevent exclusion of patients who might improve . This study evaluates the reliability and predictive validity of four tests and the following psychosocial factors for non-RTW : nationality , off-work duration , unemployment and work load . It was design ed as a prospect i ve cohort study of 99 patients with chronic low back pain . Upon entry , physical work load , time off work , unemployment and nationality were recorded . The study investigated four tests with an anticipated prognostic value for non-RTW : the  Numeric Pain Rating Scale ( NRS , 9–10 of a maximum of 10 ) , the  Step Test and Pseudo Strength Test ( precipitous cessation ) and  Behavioural Signs .  After 12 months , the RTW rate was obtained from the physicians responsible for sick-listing by postal survey . The response rate regarding RTW was 91 % at 1 year . The RTW rate at 1 year was 20 % . All investigated tests significantly correlated with non-RTW . Regression analysis showed that the best prediction of non-RTW was obtained when at least two out of the four tests were positive ( positive predictive value 0.97 , sensitivity 0.45 ) . Unemployment , time off work , nationality and physical work load were less predictive . The results show that the combination of the four prognostic tests allows a very reliable prognosis of non-RTW . The cost effectiveness of rehabilitation aim ing at RTW will , therefore , be increased by excluding patients with two or more positive tests OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore what characterizes patients receiving clinical interventions vs combined clinical and work-related interventions in a cohort of sick-listed subjects with musculoskeletal or mental disorders . Factors associated with return-to-work were also analysed . DESIGN A prospect i ve cohort study . METHODS A total of 699 newly sick-listed patients responded to a question naire on sociodemographics , measures of health , functioning , work ability , self-efficacy , social support , work conditions , and expectations . The 3-month follow-up question naire included patients ' self-reported measures of return-to-work , work ability and type of interventions .  The most frequent International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnoses for patients ' musculoskeletal disorders were dorsopathies ( M50 - 54 ) and soft tissue disorders ( M70 - 79 ) , and for patients with mental disorders , depression ( F32 - 39 ) and stress reactions ( F43 ) . RESULTS Patients with mental disorders who received combined interventions  returned to work to a higher degree than those who received only clinical intervention . The prevalence of work-related interventions  was higher for those who were younger and more highly educated . For patients with musculoskeletal disorders better health , work ability and positive expectations of return-to-work were associated with return-to-work . However , combined interventions did not affect return-to-work in this group . CONCLUSION Receiving combined interventions increased the probability of return-to-work for patients with mental disorders , but not for patients with musculoskeletal disorders . Better health , positive expectations of return-to-work and better work ability were associated with return-to-work for patients with musculoskeletal disorders OBJECTIVES This study aims to explore the trajectories of  return to work ( RTW )  and examine the predictors of different trajectories among workers following traumatic limb injury . METHODS A total of 804 participants were recruited during hospital admission for a 2-year prospect i ve study . The RTW outcome was repeatedly assessed at 1 , 3 , 6 , 12 , 18 , and 24 months after the injury . A group-based trajectory model ( GBTM ) was employed to identify trajectories of RTW among the participants . Comparisons of group characteristics of different trajectories were performed based on a multinomial logistic regression . RESULTS GBTM identified three distinct trajectories of RTW : ( i ) fast RTW consisted of workers with early and stable RTW status from the first month after the injury ; ( ii ) average RTW consisted of workers who achieved and remained at a stable RTW status within 6 months ; and ( iii ) slow RTW consisted of workers who had slow and unsustainable RTW status within the 2-year follow-up period . The estimated proportions were 21.5 % , 50.7 % , and 27.8 % , respectively . Workers with slow and unsustainable RTW after injury were found to be older , married , less educated , employed as repair personnel/operators/laborers , seriously injured , and depressed ; they were also found to feel more disturbance in daily life , have lower self-efficacy , and believe they experience a poorer quality of life . CONCLUSION Following traumatic limb injury , individual workers showed three distinct RTW trajectories , each of which was associated with different categories of biopsychosocial factors . An underst and ing of how different factors contribute to increasing the likelihood of RTW for injured workers in each trajectory group should aid policy-making in worker-oriented vocational rehabilitation programs Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a participatory workplace intervention compared with usual care for sick-listed employees with distress , with regard to return to work ( RTW ) within the 12-month follow-up . Methods Employees with distress and sick-listed for 2–8 weeks were r and omised to a  workplace intervention ( n=73 ) or to usual care  ( n=72 ) . The participatory workplace intervention is a stepwise process involving the sick-listed employee and their supervisor , aim ed at reducing obstacles for RTW by reaching consensus about an action plan for RTW . Outcome variables were lasting RTW , cumulative sickness absence and stress-related symptoms . Results Overall , an HR of 0.99 ( 95 % CI 0.70 to 1.39 ) indicated no effect of the workplace intervention on lasting RTW . However , the workplace intervention significantly reduced the time until lasting RTW for employees who at baseline intended to return to work despite symptoms with an HR of 2.05 ( 95 % CI 1.22 to 3.45 ) . Employees who intended to return to work despite symptoms returned to work after 55 days in the workplace intervention group and 120 days in the usual care group . No such effect of the intervention was found for employees without baseline intentions to return to work despite symptoms ( HR=0.78 , 95 % CI 0.47 to 1.28 ) . Conclusions No overall effect of the participatory workplace intervention on lasting RTW was found . The workplace intervention appeared effective on lasting RTW for employees who at baseline intended to return to work despite symptoms . For employees who showed no baseline intention to return to work , the intervention did not have any effect . Other approaches are needed for this subgroup . This trial has been registered at the Dutch National Trial Register IS RCT N92307123 Purpose This study aim ed to identify self-perception variables which may predict return to work ( RTW ) in orthopedic trauma patients 2 years after rehabilitation . Methods A prospect i ve cohort investigated 1,207 orthopedic trauma in patients , hospitalised in rehabilitation , clinics at admission , discharge , and 2 years after discharge . Information on potential predictors was obtained from self administered question naires . Multiple logistic regression models were applied . Results In the final model , a higher likelihood of RTW was predicted by : better general health and lower pain at admission ; health and pain improvements during hospitalisation ; lower impact of event ( IES-R ) avoidance behaviour score ; higher IES-R hyperarousal score , higher SF-36 mental score and low perceived severity of the injury . Conclusion RTW is not only predicted by perceived health , pain and severity of the accident at the beginning of a rehabilitation program , but also by the changes in pain and health perceptions observed during hospitalisation Background Common mental disorders ( CMD ) have a major impact on both society and individual workers , so return to work ( RTW ) is an important issue . In The Netherl and s , the occupational physician plays a central role in the guidance of sick-listed workers with respect to RTW . Evidence -based guidelines are available , but seem not to be effective in improving RTW in people with CMD . An intervention supporting the occupational physician in guidance of sick-listed workers combined with specific guidance regarding RTW is needed . A blended E-health module embedded in collaborative occupational health care is now available , and comprises a decision aid supporting the occupational physician and an E-health module , Return@Work , to support sick-listed workers in the RTW process . The cost-effectiveness of this intervention will be evaluated in this study and compared with that of care as usual . Methods This study is a two-armed cluster r and omized controlled trial , with r and omization done at the level of occupational physicians . Two hundred workers with CMD on sickness absence for 4–26 weeks will be included in the study . Workers whose occupational physician is allocated to the intervention group will receive the collaborative occupational health care intervention . Occupational physicians allocated to the care as usual group will give conventional sickness guidance . Follow-up assessment s will be done at 3 , 6 , 9 , and 12 months after baseline . The primary outcome is duration until RTW . The secondary outcome is severity of symptoms of CMD . An economic evaluation will be performed as part of this trial . Conclusion It is hypothesized that collaborative occupational health care intervention will be more (cost)-effective than care as usual . This intervention is innovative in its combination of a decision aid by email sent to the occupational physician and an E-health module aim ed at RTW for the sick-listed worker OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of early part-time sick leave on return to work ( RTW ) and sickness absence among patients with musculoskeletal disorders . METHODS A r and omized controlled trial was conducted in six occupational health units of medium- and large-size enterprises . Patients aged 18 - 60 years with musculoskeletal disorders ( N=63 ) unable to perform their regular work were r and omly allocated to part- or full-time sick leave . In the former group , workload was reduced by restricting work time by about a half . Remaining work tasks were modified when necessary , as specified in a " fit note " from the physician . The main outcomes were time to return to regular work activities and sickness absence during 12-month follow-up . RESULTS Time to RTW sustained for ≥4 weeks was shorter in the intervention group ( median 12 versus 20 days , P=0.10 ) . Hazard ratio of RTW adjusted for age was 1.60 [ 95 % confidence interval ( 95 % CI ) 0.98 - 2.63 ] and 1.76 ( 95 % CI 1.21 - 2.56 ) after further adjustment for pain interference with sleep and previous sickness absence at baseline . Total sickness absence during the 12-month follow-up was about 20 % lower in the intervention than the control group . Compliance with the intervention was high with no discontinuations of part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal reasons . CONCLUSIONS Early part-time sick leave may provide a faster and more sustainable return to regular duties than full-time sick leave among patients with musculoskeletal disorders . This is the first study to show that work participation can be safely increased with early part-time sick leave OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcome of a brief vocational-oriented intervention aim ing to motivate disability pensioners with back pain to return to work , and to evaluate prognostic factors for having entered a return to work process during the following year . DESIGN A r and omized controlled trial was conducted . SUBJECTS Participants ( n = 89 ) ( mean age 49 years , 65 % women ) who had received disability pension for more than one year were r and omized into an intervention group ( education , reassurance , motivation , vocational counselling , n = 45 ) and a control group ( n = 44 ) . METHODS Primary outcome measures were return to work or having entered a return to work process . Secondary outcome measures were life satisfaction , disability , fear avoidance behaviour and expectancy . RESULTS The intervention had no statistically significant effect on return to work or having entered a return to work process at 1-year follow-up . Twice as many in the intervention group ( n = 10 , 22 % ) had entered a return to work process compared with the controls ( n = 5 , 11 % ) . The number needed to treat was 9.2 ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) = 3.4 , Inf ) . Only minor differences in secondary outcome measures were demonstrated . Positive expectancy , better physical performance and less pain were related to return to work . CONCLUSION The effort of returning disability pensioners to work by a brief vocational-oriented intervention may be of clinical relevance . The effect needs to be explored further in larger sample s of disability pensioners
There was strong evidence that duration away from work from both MSK or pain-related conditions and MH conditions were significantly reduced by multi-domain interventions encompassing at least two of the three domains .
There was moderate evidence that these multi-domain interventions had a positive impact on cost outcomes .
There was strong evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy interventions that do not also include workplace modifications or service coordination components are not effective in helping workers with MH conditions in RTW .
Evidence for the effectiveness of other single-domain interventions was mixed , with some studies reporting positive effects and others reporting no effects on lost time and work functioning .
Purpose The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of workplace-based return-to-work ( RTW ) interventions and work disability management ( DM ) interventions that assist workers with musculoskeletal ( MSK ) and pain-related conditions and mental health ( MH ) conditions with RTW .