Abstract
Objectives: This paper reviews the current state of the published peer-reviewed literature related to returnto-work (RTW) interventions that incorporate workrelated problem-solving skills for workers with sickness absences related to mental disorders. It addresses the question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of these RTW interventions? Design: Using a multiphase screening process, this systematic literature review was based on publically available peer-reviewed studies. Five electronic databases were searched: (1) Medline Current,(2) Medline Inprocess,(3) PsycINFO,(4) Econlit and (5) Web of Science. Setting: The focus was on RTW interventions for workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Participants: Workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Interventions: RTW intervention included workfocused problem-solving skills. Primary and secondary outcome measures: RTW rates and length of sickness absences. Results: There were 4709 unique citations identified. Of these, eight articles representing a total of six studies were included in the review. In terms of bias avoidance, two of the six studies were rated as excellent,two as good and two as weak. Five studies were from the Netherlands; one was from Norway. There was variability among the studies with regard to RTW findings. Two of three studies reported significant differences in RTW rates between the intervention and control groups. One of six studies observed a significant difference in sickness absence duration between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: There is limited evidence that combinations of interventions that include work-related problem-solving skills are effective in RTW outcomes. The evidence could be strengthened if future studies included more detailed examinations of intervention adherence and changes in problem-solving skills. Future studies should also examine the long-term effects of problem-solving skills on sickness absence recurrence and work productivity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | e007122 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
The effectiveness of return-to-work interventions that incorporate work-focused problem-solving skills for workers with sickness absences related to mental disorders : A systematic literature review. / Dewa, Carolyn S; Loong, Desmond; Bonato, Sarah; Joosen, Margot C.W.
In: BMJ Open, Vol. 5, No. 6, e007122, 2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effectiveness of return-to-work interventions that incorporate work-focused problem-solving skills for workers with sickness absences related to mental disorders
T2 - A systematic literature review
AU - Dewa, Carolyn S
AU - Loong, Desmond
AU - Bonato, Sarah
AU - Joosen, Margot C.W.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Objectives: This paper reviews the current state of the published peer-reviewed literature related to returnto-work (RTW) interventions that incorporate workrelated problem-solving skills for workers with sickness absences related to mental disorders. It addresses the question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of these RTW interventions? Design: Using a multiphase screening process, this systematic literature review was based on publically available peer-reviewed studies. Five electronic databases were searched: (1) Medline Current,(2) Medline Inprocess,(3) PsycINFO,(4) Econlit and (5) Web of Science. Setting: The focus was on RTW interventions for workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Participants: Workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Interventions: RTW intervention included workfocused problem-solving skills. Primary and secondary outcome measures: RTW rates and length of sickness absences. Results: There were 4709 unique citations identified. Of these, eight articles representing a total of six studies were included in the review. In terms of bias avoidance, two of the six studies were rated as excellent,two as good and two as weak. Five studies were from the Netherlands; one was from Norway. There was variability among the studies with regard to RTW findings. Two of three studies reported significant differences in RTW rates between the intervention and control groups. One of six studies observed a significant difference in sickness absence duration between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: There is limited evidence that combinations of interventions that include work-related problem-solving skills are effective in RTW outcomes. The evidence could be strengthened if future studies included more detailed examinations of intervention adherence and changes in problem-solving skills. Future studies should also examine the long-term effects of problem-solving skills on sickness absence recurrence and work productivity.
AB - Objectives: This paper reviews the current state of the published peer-reviewed literature related to returnto-work (RTW) interventions that incorporate workrelated problem-solving skills for workers with sickness absences related to mental disorders. It addresses the question: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of these RTW interventions? Design: Using a multiphase screening process, this systematic literature review was based on publically available peer-reviewed studies. Five electronic databases were searched: (1) Medline Current,(2) Medline Inprocess,(3) PsycINFO,(4) Econlit and (5) Web of Science. Setting: The focus was on RTW interventions for workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Participants: Workers with medically certified sickness absences related to mental disorders. Interventions: RTW intervention included workfocused problem-solving skills. Primary and secondary outcome measures: RTW rates and length of sickness absences. Results: There were 4709 unique citations identified. Of these, eight articles representing a total of six studies were included in the review. In terms of bias avoidance, two of the six studies were rated as excellent,two as good and two as weak. Five studies were from the Netherlands; one was from Norway. There was variability among the studies with regard to RTW findings. Two of three studies reported significant differences in RTW rates between the intervention and control groups. One of six studies observed a significant difference in sickness absence duration between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: There is limited evidence that combinations of interventions that include work-related problem-solving skills are effective in RTW outcomes. The evidence could be strengthened if future studies included more detailed examinations of intervention adherence and changes in problem-solving skills. Future studies should also examine the long-term effects of problem-solving skills on sickness absence recurrence and work productivity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937231358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84937231358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007122
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007122
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26078309
AN - SCOPUS:84937231358
VL - 5
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
SN - 2044-6055
IS - 6
M1 - e007122
ER -