Effects of Workplace Intervention in Occupational Rehabilitation on Return to Work

Effects of Workplace Intervention in Inpatient Occupational Rehabilitation on Return to Work for Persons With Somatic and/or Common Mental Health Problems. A Randomised Controlled Trial

Aim is to study the effect of a work place intervention during a multicomponent return-to-work rehabilitation program on return-to-work. The intervention is compared with inpatient rehabilitation only, and participants will be recruited from the diagnostic groups dominating the sick-leave statistics, namely musculoskeletal disorders, common mental disorders (e.g. stress, depression and anxiety), and unspecific disorders including chronic fatigue.

Long-term sick-listing from work has considerable impact on social function, on the families of the sick-listed persons, the companies they work for, and society as a whole. Hence, the need for documented effective vocational rehabilitation programs is pressing. Vocational rehabilitation services described in the scientific literature have been specific to one single or a specific group of medical conditions (e.g.low back pain). In contrast, most people on sick leave have several health complaints, and many of the factors influencing sick leave are shared regardless of disorder (e.g. social surroundings, workplace environment), calling for rehabilitation programs that can be employed for both musculoskeletal, unspecific and common mental disorders. Research indicates that interventions on the work place might facilitate return to work. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the effect of a work place intervention during a multicomponent return-to-work rehabilitation program on return-to-work.

Meeting at the work place including the patient, the employer and the rehabilitation therapist. Aim of meeting is to discuss challenges and possibilities in the patient's return to work process and to make a plan for return to work.

Use of health services. Questionnaire. "How much of this health/social service have you used during the last 4 months?"

160 participants. "How much of this health/social service have you used during the last 4 months?" Somatic and mental health specialized care (in-patient and outpatient), general practitioner, psychologist, group therapy, physiotherapist, chiropractor, occupational rehabilitation, welfare services, complementary practitioner, emergency unit, ambulatory services, occupational health services, other treatment.

Acceptance and action questionnaire and work acceptance and action questionnaire (AAQ2). 160 participants

160 participants. "How will you rate your work ability?" (scale from 0 (no ability) to 10 (my best ability)).

Inclusion Criteria: Resident of Central Norway Sick-listed due to common mental disorders, musculoskeletal pain/problems, unspecific disorders and/or fatigue Sick-listed more than 50 % Sick-listed longer than 8 weeks Has employer and is willing to participate in a work place intervention during the rehabilitation program Exclusion Criteria: is self-employed has, or is currently examined for, a serious somatic or psychiatric disorder suffers from substance abuse has trouble with participating in a group is in a rehabilitation process that will interfere with the occupational rehabilitation program function level is to weak to participate in the rehabilitation program

Rise MB, Skagseth M, Klevanger NE, Aasdahl L, Borchgrevink P, Jensen C, Tenggren H, Halsteinli V, Jacobsen TN, Loland SB, Johnsen R, Fimland MS. Design of a study evaluating the effects, health economics, and stakeholder perspectives of a multi-component occupational rehabilitation program with an added workplace intervention - a study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2018 Feb 5;18(1):219. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5130-5.

Skagseth M, Fimland MS, Rise MB, Johnsen R, Borchgrevink PC, Aasdahl L. Effectiveness of adding a workplace intervention to an inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation program: A randomized clinical trial. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2020 Jul 1;46(4):356-363. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3873. Epub 2019 Dec 13.

Klevanger NE, Fimland MS, Rise MB. Aligning stakeholders' understandings of the return-to-work process: a qualitative study on workplace meetings in inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2021 Dec;16(1):1946927. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2021.1946927.