title: Health-related effects of early part-time sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders: a randomized         controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previously we reported that early part-time sick leave enhances return to work (RTW) among         employees with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This paper assesses the health-related effects of this intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged 18-60 years who were unable to perform their regular work due to MSD were randomized to         part- or full-time sick leave groups. In the former, workload was reduced by halving working time. Using validated         questionnaires, we assessed pain intensity and interference with work and sleep, region-specific disability due to MSD,         self-rated general health, health-related quality of life (measured via EuroQol), productivity loss, depression, and         sleep disturbance at baseline, 1, 3, 8, 12, and 52 weeks. We analyzed the repeated measures data (171-356         observations) with the generalized estimating equation approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention (part-time sick leave) and         control (full-time sick leave) groups did not differ with regard to pain intensity, pain interference with work and         sleep, region-specific disability, productivity loss, depression, or sleep disturbance. The intervention group reported         better self-rated general health (adjusted P=0.07) and health-related quality of life (adjusted P=0.02) than the         control group. In subgroup analyses, the intervention was more effective among the patients whose current problem began         occurring <6 weeks before baseline and those with ≤30% productivity loss at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings         showed that part-time sick leave did not exacerbate pain-related symptoms and functional disability, but improved         self-rated general health and health-related quality of life in the early stage of work disability due to         MSD.
authors.affiliation: Disability Prevention Centre, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. rahman.shiri@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Rahman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiri
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kausto
authors.forename: Kari-Pekka
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Martimo
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaila-Kangas
authors.forename: Esa-Pekka
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Takala
authors.forename: Eira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viikari-Juntura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult