Bas J de Weerd1, Maarten K van Dijk2, Jolijn N van der Linden3, Corné A M Roelen4, Marc J P M Verbraak5. 1. Pro Persona, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 2. Dimence Mental Health Care Centre, Deventer, The Netherlands. 3. GGz Breburg, Breda, The Netherlands. 4. ArboNed Occupational Health Service, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 5. Radboud Centre Social Sciences, Radboud University and Pro Persona, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dialogue between supervisor and employee is of great importance for occupational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting (CDM) of employee, therapist and supervisor aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) as part of cognitive-behavioural treatment. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial including 60 employees sick-listed with common mental disorders and referred for specialized mental healthcare. Employees were randomly allocated either to an intervention group (n = 31) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy plus CDM or a control group (n = 29) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy without CDM. RESULTS: The time to first RTW was 12 days shorter (p = 0.334) in the intervention group, although full (i.e., at equal earnings as before reporting sick) RTW took 41 days longer (p = 0.122) than the control group. The odds of full RTW at the end of treatment were only 7% higher (p = 0.910) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS:CDM did not significantly reduce the time to RTW. We recommend that therapists who are trained on CDM focus on barriers and solutions for RTW.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Dialogue between supervisor and employee is of great importance for occupational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a convergence dialogue meeting (CDM) of employee, therapist and supervisor aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) as part of cognitive-behavioural treatment. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial including 60 employees sick-listed with common mental disorders and referred for specialized mental healthcare. Employees were randomly allocated either to an intervention group (n = 31) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy plus CDM or a control group (n = 29) receiving work-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy without CDM. RESULTS: The time to first RTW was 12 days shorter (p = 0.334) in the intervention group, although full (i.e., at equal earnings as before reporting sick) RTW took 41 days longer (p = 0.122) than the control group. The odds of full RTW at the end of treatment were only 7% higher (p = 0.910) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS:CDM did not significantly reduce the time to RTW. We recommend that therapists who are trained on CDM focus on barriers and solutions for RTW.
Authors: Anthony Venning; Tassia K Oswald; Jeremy Stevenson; Nicci Tepper; Leva Azadi; Sharon Lawn; Paula Redpath Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-11-25 Impact factor: 3.295