Return to work after a workplace-oriented intervention for patients on sick-leave for burnout--a prospective controlled study

• Published in: BMC public health 2010-06, Vol.10 (1), p.301-301, Article 301
• Main Authors: Karlson, Björn, Jönsson, Peter, Pålsson, Birgitta, Abjörnsson, Gunnel, Malmberg, Birgitta, Larsson, Britt, Osterberg, Kai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Burn out (Psychology); Burnout, Professional - therapy; Female; Health Sciences; Humans; Hälsovetenskaper; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Nursing; Occupational Health Services; Omvårdnad; Patient Participation - statistics & numerical data; Prospective Studies; Psychology; Psykologi; Research article; Samhällsvetenskap; Sick Leave; Social Sciences; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden; Workplace - psychology; Workplace accommodation
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-301

In the present study the effect of a workplace-oriented intervention for persons on long-term sick leave for clinical burnout, aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) by job-person match through patient-supervisor communication, was evaluated. We hypothesised that the intervention group would show a more successful RTW than a control group. In a prospective controlled study, subjects were identified by the regional social insurance office 2-6 months after the first day on sick leave. The intervention group (n = 74) was compared to a control group who had declined participation, being matched by length of sick leave (n = 74). The RTW was followed up, using sick-listing register data, until 1.5 years after the time of intervention. There was a linear increase of RTW in the intervention group during the 1.5-year follow-up period, and 89% of subjects had returned to work to some extent at the end of the follow-up period. The increase in RTW in the control group came to a halt after six months, and only 73% had returned to work to some extent at the end of the 1.5-year follow-up. We conclude that the present study demonstrated an improvement of long-term RTW after a workplace-oriented intervention for patients on long-term sick leave due to burnout. Current Controlled Trials NCT01039168.