Multi-Study Spotlight: Intervention Characteristics and Return-to-Work

Spotlight on article published in

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

IBI Spotlights call attention to important health and productivity findings from peer-reviewed work by external researchers. Unless otherwise stated, the authors are not affiliated with IBI, nor was the research executed on IBI’s behalf. IBI members are encouraged to obtain the original articles from the copyright holder.

What is the Issue?

It is not known what characteristics of return-to-work (RTW) interventions are generally effective at reducing disability durations across multiple target populations.

What are the findings/solutions?

RTW from disability leave is facilitated if interventions begin early, if professionals involved in RTW come from multiple disciplines (e.g. general practitioners, occupational therapists, and social workers), and if interventions include actions designed to stimulate an employee’s RTW, such as gradual exposure to the workplace, modified duty or ergonomic improvements.

Journal Citation

Hoefsmit, N., Houkes, I., & Nijhuis, F. J. (2012) Intervention Characteristics that Facilitate Return to Work After Sickness Absence: a Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 22(4), 462-477.

Objectives

To detect and identify characteristics of RTW interventions that are generally effective at facilitate RTW (i.e., shortening durations of illness absence or increasing work resumption rates).

Method

A systematic review of 18 peer-reviewed articles and 5 reviews that examined the effectiveness of RTW among employees on sickness or disability leave. The overall level of quality of original studies was from good to moderate; the quality level of the reviews was from good to very good.

Results

RTW from disability leave is facilitated by interventions with the following characteristics:

• They start early in a disability leave.
• Professionals involved in RTW come from multiple disciplines (e.g. general practitioners, occupational therapists, and social workers.
• They include actions designed to stimulate an employee’s RTW, such as gradual exposure to the workplace, modified duty or ergonomic improvements.

Neither the intensity of interventions, providing employees with decision-making authority, nor the scheduling of RTW activities according to a pre-defined schedule consistently facilitated RTW.

Conclusion

Early, multi-disciplinary, and stimulating activities can reduce durations of disability leaves.