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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.


BACKGROUND
Current Controlled Trials NCT01039168.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. bjorn.karlson@med.lu.se
Björn
B
Karlson
Peter
P
Jönsson
Birgitta
B
Pålsson
Gunnel
G
Abjörnsson
Birgitta
B
Malmberg
Britt
B
Larsson
Kai
K
Osterberg
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*