title: Prevention program at construction worksites aimed at improving health and work ability is cost-saving to the employer: results from an RCT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prolong sustainable healthy working lives of construction workers, a prevention program was developed which aimed to improve the health and work ability of construction workers. The objective of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness and financial return from the employers' perspective of this program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 293 workers in 15 departments were randomized to the intervention (n = 8 departments) or control group (n = 7). Data on work ability and health were collected using questionnaires. Sick leave data were obtained from the companies. Both the cost-effectiveness analyses and return on investment analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, the absenteeism costs were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. At 12-month follow-up, no significant differences were found with respect to the primary outcomes (work ability, mental and physical health status) and secondary outcomes (musculoskeletal symptoms), meaning that the intervention was not cost-effective in comparison with the control group. The net-benefit was €641 per worker, and the intervention generated a positive financial return to the employer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention in the present study was cost-saving to the employer due to reduced sickness absenteeism costs in the intervention group compared with the control group. However, the intervention cannot be regarded as cost-effective as no significant effects were found for work ability and health.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands; Body@Work, Research Center on Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU/VUmc, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Oude Hengel
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Van Dongen
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bongers
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Van der Beek
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Blatter
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics*; D015995:Prevalence; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: absenteeism; cost-effectiveness; health; return on investment; work ability