OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of guideline-based care (GBC) of workers with mental health problems, which promotes counseling by the occupational physician (OP) facilitating return to work (RTW). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial with police workers on sick leave due to mental health problems (n = 240), trained OPs delivered GBC in the intervention group. Time to RTW and recurrences during 1-year follow-up, analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, were compared with usual care (UC) with easy access to a psychologist. RESULTS:GBC by OPs did not result in earlier RTW than UC. Subgroup analysis showed a small effect in favor of GBC for workers with administrative functions and/or "minor" stress-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:GBC did not differ in RTW compared with UC, but may be beneficial for the majority of workers with minor stress-related disorders.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of guideline-based care (GBC) of workers with mental health problems, which promotes counseling by the occupational physician (OP) facilitating return to work (RTW). METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial with police workers on sick leave due to mental health problems (n = 240), trained OPs delivered GBC in the intervention group. Time to RTW and recurrences during 1-year follow-up, analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, were compared with usual care (UC) with easy access to a psychologist. RESULTS: GBC by OPs did not result in earlier RTW than UC. Subgroup analysis showed a small effect in favor of GBC for workers with administrative functions and/or "minor" stress-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: GBC did not differ in RTW compared with UC, but may be beneficial for the majority of workers with minor stress-related disorders.
Authors: Andrea D Furlan; William H Gnam; Nancy Carnide; Emma Irvin; Benjamin C Amick; Kelly DeRango; Robert McMaster; Kimberley Cullen; Tesha Slack; Sandra Brouwer; Ute Bültmann Journal: J Occup Rehabil Date: 2012-09
Authors: Nicole Vogel; Stefan Schandelmaier; Thomas Zumbrunn; Shanil Ebrahim; Wout El de Boer; Jason W Busse; Regina Kunz Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-03-30