scholarly journals Comparison of self-reported and register data on sickness absence among Norwegian patients participating in an occupational rehabilitation program

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Øyeflaten ◽  
Stein Atle Lie ◽  
Camilla Ihlebæk ◽  
Søren Brage ◽  
Hege R. Eriksen
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Register Data ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Reported Data

<p><strong><em>Background: </em></strong>Sick leave and return to work are common outcome variables in studies where the aim is to measure the effect of targeted interventions for individuals that are on sick leave benefits or other allowances. Use of official register data is often restricted, and research on sick leave and return to work are often based on the participants self-reports. However, there is insufficient documentation that there is agreement between self-reports and register data on sick leave benefits and allowances.</p><p><strong><em>Aims: </em></strong>The aim of this study was to analyse the individuals' knowledge about states of sick leave benefits or allowances compared with register data from The Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) in Norway.</p><p><strong><em>Method: </em></strong>153 individuals, sick-listed or on allowances, participated in a 4-week inpatient occupational rehabilitation program. 132 (86%) answered a questionnaire on assessments of work, sick leave, and allowances three months after completed rehabilitation. Self-reported data were compared with register data from NAV according to four categories: working, sick-listed, on medical/vocational rehabilitation allowance or disability pension. Agreement between self-reported and register data was evaluated in cross-tabulations and reported with kappa values. Stratified analyses were done for gender, age, education, medical diagnosis and length of sick leave/allowances at baseline.</p><p><strong><em>Results: </em></strong>Good agreement was found for medical/vocational rehabilitation allowance (kappa=.70) and disability pension (kappa=.65). Moderate agreement was found for working (kappa=.49) and fair agreement for sick-listed (kappa=.36). Stratified analyses showed significant better kappa values for individuals that had been sick-listed less than 12 months before entering the rehabilitation program.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusions: </em></strong>Agreements from good to fair were found between self-reported and official register data on sick leave. However, official register data is preferred in research because this will ensure complete data sets. Data on sick leave and other benefits are not absorbing states, and there are often multiple and recurrent episodes. These data may be hard to obtain from self-reports.</p>

scholarly journals Comparing two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs for employees on sick leave: a mixed-method design study protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Eftedal ◽  
Torill H. Tveito ◽  
Ulrik Gensby ◽  
M. Kamrul Islam ◽  
Stein Atle Lie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Interdisciplinary Teams ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs) are the most frequent reasons for long-term sick leave and work disability. Occupational rehabilitation programs are used to help employees return to work (RTW). However, knowledge regarding the effect of these programs is scarce, and even less is known about which programs are best suited for which patients. This study aims to compare the RTW results of two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs in Norway, as well as to examine the delivery and reception of the two programs and explore the active mechanisms of the participants’ RTW processes. Methods/design We will use a mixed-method convergent design to study the main outcome. Approximately 600 participants will be included in the study. Eligible study participants will be aged 18–60 years old and have been on sick leave due to MSDs, CMDs, or both for at least 6 weeks. Interdisciplinary teams at both participating clinics will deliver complex occupational rehabilitation programs. The inpatient rehabilitation program has a duration of 4 weeks and is full time. The outpatient program has a duration of 3 months and involves weekly sessions. The primary outcome is RTW. Secondary outcomes are differences in the incremental cost for an averted sick leave day, cost utility/benefit, and differences between the programs regarding improvements in known modifiable obstacles to RTW. Subgroup analyses are planned. The researchers will be blinded to the intervention groups when analyzing the quantitative RTW data. Discussion This study aims to provide new insights regarding occupational rehabilitation interventions, treatment targets, and outcomes for different subgroups of sick-listed employees and to inform discussions on the active working mechanisms of occupational rehabilitation and the influence of context in the return-to-work process. Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN12033424, 15.10.2014, retrospectively registered.

Supporting People With Stroke to Return to Work in Singapore: Findings From a Pilot Vocational Rehabilitation Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 7406205040p1
Author(s):  
Mohamad Nizar Bin Zainal ◽  
Pauline Koh Pei Wen ◽  
Ng Yee Sien ◽  
Kalya Marisa Kee ◽  
Kam Jin Chieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program

scholarly journals Sustained Attention and Working Memory Predict the Number of Days on Health-Related Benefits in the Year Following Occupational Rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Johansen ◽  
Irene Øyeflaten ◽  
Hege R. Eriksen ◽  
Peter S. Lyby ◽  
Winand H. Dittrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Emotional Functioning ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Work Assessment ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Work And Health

AbstractPurpose The objective of this study was to investigate the association between cognitive and emotional functioning and the number of days on health-related benefits such as sick leave, work assessment allowance and disability pension. We investigated whether cognitive and emotional functioning at the start of rehabilitation and the change from the start to the end of rehabilitation predicted the number of days on health-related benefits in the year after occupational rehabilitation. Methods A sample of 317 individuals (age 19–67 years), mainly diagnosed with a musculoskeletal or mental and behavioural ICD-10 disorder, participated. The sample was stratified depending on the benefit status in the year before rehabilitation. Those receiving health-related benefits for the full year comprised the work assessment allowance and disability pension (WAA) group and those receiving benefits for less than a year comprised the sick leave (SL) group. The participants were administered cognitive and emotional computerised tests and work and health questionnaires at the beginning and end of rehabilitation. The cumulative number of days on health-related benefits during 12 months after rehabilitation was the primary outcome variable and age, gender, educational level, subjective health complaints, anxiety, and depression were controlled for in multiple regression analyses. Results The WAA group (n = 179) was significantly impaired at baseline compared to the SL group (n = 135) in focused attention and executive function, and they also scored worse on work and health related variables. Higher baseline scores and change scores from the start to the end of rehabilitation, for sustained attention, were associated with fewer number of health-related benefit days in the WAA group, while higher baseline scores for working memory were associated with fewer number of health-related benefit days in the SL group. Conclusions New knowledge about attention and memory and return to work in individuals with different benefit status may pave the way for more targeted programme interventions. Rehabilitation programmes could benefit from designing interventions that respectively improve sustain attention and working memory related to working life in individuals on sick leave or work assessment allowance and disability pension.

Designing a Process Evaluation to Examine Mechanisms of Change in Return to Work Outcomes Following Participation in Occupational Rehabilitation: A Theory-Driven and Interactive Research Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrik Gensby ◽  
Tore Norendal Braathen ◽  
Chris Jensen ◽  
Monica Eftedal
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Occupational Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Future Design ◽  
Evaluation Approach

There is a growing consensus that professional action in occupational rehabilitation should be research-based, and that practice-based knowledge is needed to achieve contextual insight and new theoretical understanding. Few study design examples exist to help inform an evaluation plan and develop research-practice interactions to examine process complexity of targeted occupational rehabilitation programs. This study design article is a proposal on a theory-driven and interactive research methodology for a process evaluation of a pragmatic intervention trial, known as STAiR. The aim of the process evaluation is to examine the delivery and implementation of an inpatient and an outpatient occupational rehabilitation program, and explore active mechanisms pertaining to patient experiences of the return to work (RTW) process. Qualitative and interactive data collection methods will include (a) participant observation of program setting and activities; (b) participatory dialogue conferences with program providers to facilitate initial logic modelling; (d) individual patient interviews at program intake and follow up; and (d) focus groups with rehabilitation teams and external stakeholders. The qualitative data will be supplemented with description of program activities and patient questionnaires. Program logic modelling is suggested to inform a logic analysis of how expected RTW outcomes and delivery of program activities are aligned and how contextual characteristics may clarify differences in achieved RTW outcomes. The proposed process evaluation approach may inform future design discussions and theoretical understanding, and it is expected that the applied knowledge gained through this study may help rehabilitation professionals better navigate potential challenges in clinical evaluation efforts.

scholarly journals Integrating vocational rehabilitation and mental healthcare to improve the return-to-work process for people on sick leave with depression or anxiety: results from a three-arm, parallel randomised trial

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2021-107894
Author(s):  
Andreas Hoff ◽  
Rie Mandrup Poulsen ◽  
Jonas Fisker ◽  
Carsten Hjorthøj ◽  
Nicole Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Anxiety Depression

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate an integrated mental healthcare and vocational rehabilitation intervention to improve and hasten the process of return-to-work of people on sick leave with anxiety and depression.MethodsIn this three-arm, randomised trial, participants were assigned to (1) integrated intervention (INT), (2) improved mental healthcare (MHC) or (3) service as usual (SAU). The primary outcome was time to return-to-work measured at 12-month follow-up. The secondary outcomes were time to return-to-work measured at 6-month follow-up; levels of anxiety, depression, stress symptoms, and social and occupational functioning at 6 months; and return-to-work measured as proportion in work at 12 months.Results631 individuals were randomised. INT yielded a higher proportion in work compared with both MHC (56.2% vs 43.7%, p=0.012) and SAU (56.2% vs 45%, p=0.029) at 12-month follow-up. We found no differences in return-to-work in terms of sick leave duration at either 6-month or 12-month follow-up, with the latter being the primary outcome. No differences in anxiety, depression or functioning between INT, MHC and SAU were identified, but INT and MHC showed lower scores on Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale compared with SAU at 12-month follow-up.ConclusionsAlthough INT did not hasten the process of return-to-work, it yielded better outcome with regard to proportion in work compared with MHC and SAU. The findings suggest that INT compared with SAU is associated with a few, minor health benefits. Overall, INT yielded slightly better vocational and health outcomes, but the clinical significance of the health advantage is questionable.Trial registration numberNCT02872051.

Integrating Mental Health care and Vocational Rehabilitation to Improve Return to work rates for People on Sick Leave Because of Common Mental Disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s787-s787
Author(s):  
A. Hoff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Treatment As Usual

IntroductionSick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD) has major negative influence on society because of the lost productivity, social benefits, and treatment costs, and OECD estimates that the cost is equivalent to 3.4% of the Danish gross domestic product.ObjectivesThe Objective is to examine, whether integrating mental health care with vocational rehabilitation, conveys shorter return to work (RTW) time, compared to treatment as usual, after sick leave due to a CMD such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.AimsThe aims of the intervention of are to provide the shortest possible RTW time. Primary outcome is RTW time, and secondary outcomes are (a) time from RTW until recurrent sick leave and (b) symptom level a six months.MethodsPatients are included in one of two randomized controlled studies (anxiety or depression in one RCT, and stress-related disorders in another RCT), after referral from the municipality vocational rehabilitation (VR) center, after sick leave for at least four weeks. Patients, in both trials, are randomized into one of three groups, in a ratio of 1:1:1: (a) control group, where they receive treatment as usual in primary care and municipally located VR, (b) intervention group: mental health care (MHC) in the research project, and municipally located VR (not integrated), and (c) intervention group: MHC in the research project, integrated with a special project VR.ResultsWe are currently including, and as of December 2016, more than 300 are included. The total sample will be 1536 patients.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

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