title: Effect of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme on perceived health among employees at increased risk of incapacity for work: a controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a four-week primary prevention programme on change in perceived health among employees at increased risk of incapacity for work.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected from survey responses and registered data on demographic, work and health characteristics, and health-related behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred and seventy-two participants and their 2440 propensity score-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multidisciplinary preventive programme of physical training and psychological education to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and to achieve greater aerobic capacity, muscle strength and endurance, as well as better self-management of stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychological distress, anxiety and suboptimal self-rated health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of suboptimal self-rated health, psychological distress and anxiety did not differ between the participants and controls before the intervention (22.6% vs. 22.8%, 26.6% vs. 29.0%, and 33.0% vs. 33.8%, respectively). Similarly, after the intervention, there were no group differences in the prevalence of self-rated health problems at the time of the short-term (mean 1.7 years, up to 4.6 years) or long-term (mean 5.8 years, up to 9.2 years) follow-up. Figures for prevalence of suboptimal self-rated health, psychological distress and anxiety in participants and controls at the time of the long-term follow-up were 33.8% vs. 28.9%, 25.1% vs. 24.9%, and 34.7% vs. 33.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No beneficial effects on perceived health were observed for a four-week primary prevention programme widely used in Finland to reduce early retirement on health grounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. mikhail.saltychev@tyks.fi
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saltychev
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laimi
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oksanen
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pentti
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vahtera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004651:Employment; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D016272:Occupational Health; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011322:Primary Prevention; D057216:Propensity Score; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D016526:Workload