Chronic Diseases and Employment: Which Interventions Support the Maintenance of Work and Return to Work among Workers with Chronic Illnesses? A Systematic Review

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

The increase of chronic diseases worldwide impact quality of life, cause economic and medical costs, and make it necessary to look for strategies and solutions that allow people with chronic diseases (PwCDs) to lead an active working life. As part of the CHRODIS Plus Joint European Action project, a systematic review was conducted to identify studies of interventions that support the maintenance of work and return to work (RTW) among workers with chronic illnesses. These interventions should target employees with the following conditions: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic vascular syndrome, respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, and neurological disorders. An extensive search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for English language studies. Included in this review were 15 randomized controlled trials (RCT) for adult employees (aged 18+). We found that workplace-oriented and multidisciplinary programs are the most supportive to RTW and reducing the absence due to illness. In addition, cognitive behavioral therapies achieve positive results on RTW and sick leave. Finally, coaching is effective for the self-management of chronic disease and significantly improved perceptions of working capacity and fatigue.

Related collections

Most cited references 26

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Workplace interventions to prevent work disability in workers on sick leave.

Myrthe van Vilsteren, Sandra van Oostrom, Henrica de Vet … (2015)

Work disability has serious consequences for individuals as well as society. It is possible to facilitate resumption of work by reducing barriers to return to work (RTW) and promoting collaboration with key stakeholders. This review was first published in 2009 and has now been updated to include studies published up to February 2015.

0 comments Cited 99 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Randomised controlled trial of integrated care to reduce disability from chronic low back pain in working and private life

Ludeke Lambeek, Willem van Mechelen, Dirk Knol … (2010)

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated care programme, combining a patient directed and a workplace directed intervention, for patients with chronic low back pain. Design Population based randomised controlled trial. Setting Primary care (10 physiotherapy practices, one occupational health service, one occupational therapy practice) and secondary care (five hospitals). Participants 134 adults aged 18-65 sick listed for at least 12 weeks owing to low back pain. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to usual care (n=68) or integrated care (n=66). Integrated care consisted of a workplace intervention based on participatory ergonomics, involving a supervisor, and a graded activity programme based on cognitive behavioural principles. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the duration of time off work (work disability) due to low back pain until full sustainable return to work. Secondary outcome measures were intensity of pain and functional status. Results The median duration until sustainable return to work was 88 days in the integrated care group compared with 208 days in the usual care group (P=0.003). Integrated care was effective on return to work (hazard ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.8, P=0.004). After 12 months, patients in the integrated care group improved significantly more on functional status compared with patients in the usual care group (P=0.01). Improvement of pain between the groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion The integrated care programme substantially reduced disability due to chronic low back pain in private and working life. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN28478651.

0 comments Cited 93 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Intervention Characteristics that Facilitate Return to Work After Sickness Absence: A Systematic Literature Review

Nicole Hoefsmit, Inge Houkes, Frans Nijhuis (2012)

Introduction In many Western countries, a vast amount of interventions exist that aim to facilitate return to work (RTW) after sickness absence. These interventions are usually focused on specific target populations such as employees with low back pain, stress-related complaints or adjustment disorders. The aim of the present study is to detect and identify characteristics of RTW interventions that generally facilitate return to work (i.e. in multiple target populations and across interventions). This type of knowledge is highly relevant to policy makers and health practitioners who want to deliver evidence based care that supports the employee’s health and participation in labour. Methods We performed a keyword search (systematic literature review) in seven databases (period: 1994–2010). In total, 23 articles were included and assessed for their methodological quality. The characteristics of the interventions were evaluated as well. Results Early interventions, initiated in the first 6 weeks of the RTW process were scarce. These were effective to support RTW though. Multidisciplinary interventions appeared effective to support RTW in multiple target groups (e.g. back pain and adjustment disorders). Time contingent interventions in which activities followed a pre-defined schedule were effective in all physical complaints studied in this review. Activating interventions such as gradual RTW were effective in physical complaints. They have not been studied for people with psychological complaints. Conclusions Early- and multidisciplinary intervention and time-contingent-, activating interventions appear most effective to support RTW.

0 comments Cited 87 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijerph

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Print): 1661-7827

ISSN (Electronic): 1660-4601

Publication date (Electronic): 27 May 2019

Publication date (Print): May 2019

Volume: 16

Issue: 10

Electronic Location Identifier: 1864

Affiliations

[1 ]Health Sciences/Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; soja.nazarov@ 123456tu-dresden.de (S.N.); ulf.manuwald@ 123456tu-dresden.de (U.M.)

[2 ]Neurologia, Salute Pubblica e Disabilità, FONDAZIONE IRCCS ISTITUTO NEUROLOGICO CARLO BESTA, 20133 Milan, Italy; matilde.leonardi@ 123456istituto-besta.it (M.L.); fabiola.silvaggi@ 123456istituto-besta.it (F.S.); erika.guastafierro@ 123456istituto-besta.it (E.G.); Chiara.Scaratti@ 123456istituto-besta.it (C.S.)

[3 ]Institut National du Cancer (INCa), 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France; jfoucaud@ 123456institutcancer.fr (J.F.); kristopher.lamore@ 123456gmail.com (K.L.)

[4 ]Health Education and Practices Laboratory (LEPS EA 3412), Paris 13, University—UFR SMBH—74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017 Bobigny, France

[5 ]Université de Paris, LPPS, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France

[6 ]Department of Public Health Solutions, Public Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, 00271 Helsinki, Finland; jaana.lindstrom@ 123456thl.fi

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: ulrike.rothe@ 123456tu-dresden.de ; Tel.: +0049-3513-177-231

Author information

Soja Nazarov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7548-4308

Ulf Manuwald https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6240-9475

Matilde Leonardi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0552-8923

Fabiola Silvaggi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3745-632X

Jérôme Foucaud https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9246-7721

Kristopher Lamore https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8878-2662

Article

Publisher ID: ijerph-16-01864

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101864

PMC ID: 6572561

PubMed ID: 31137817

SO-VID: d9d348ed-3279-45f9-944e-421066b242ca

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Chronic Diseases and Employment: Which Interventions Support the Maintenance of Work and Return to Work among Workers with Chronic Illnesses? A Systematic Review

Read this article at

Abstract

Related collections

Jiangsu Journal of Preventive Medicine

Most cited references 26

Workplace interventions to prevent work disability in workers on sick leave.

Randomised controlled trial of integrated care to reduce disability from chronic low back pain in working and private life

Intervention Characteristics that Facilitate Return to Work After Sickness Absence: A Systematic Literature Review

Author and article information

Journal

Affiliations

Author notes

Author information

Article

History

Categories

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 373

Cited by 37

Most referenced authors 733