title: The effectiveness of the "Brainwork Intervention" in reducing sick leave for unemployed workers with psychological problems: design of a controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the working population, unemployed, temporary agency and expired fixed-term contract workers having psychological problems are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence and prolonged work disability. Studies investigating the effectiveness of return-to-work (RTW) interventions on these workers, who are without an employment contract, are scarce. Therefore, a RTW intervention called 'Brainwork' was developed. The objective of this paper is to describe the 'Brainwork Intervention' and the trial design evaluating its effectiveness in reducing the duration of sick leave compared to usual care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 'Brainwork Intervention' is designed to assist unemployed, temporary agency and expired fixed-term contract workers who are sick-listed due to psychological problems, with their return to work. The 'Brainwork Intervention' uses an activating approach: in the early stage of sick leave, workers are encouraged to exercise and undertake activities aimed at regaining control and functional recovery while job coaches actively support their search for (temporary) jobs. The content of the intervention is tailored to the severity of the psychological problems and functional impairments, as well as the specific psychosocial problems encountered by the sick-listed worker. The intervention study is designed as a quasi-randomized controlled clinical trial with a one-year follow-up and is being conducted in the Netherlands. The control group receives care as usual with minimal involvement of occupational health professionals. Outcomes are measured at baseline, and 4, 8 and 12 months after initiation of the program. The primary outcome measure is the duration of sick leave. Secondary outcome measures are: the proportion of subjects who returned to work at 8 and 12 months; the number of days of paid employment during the follow-up period; the degree of worker participation; the level of psychological complaints; and the self-efficacy for return to work. The cost-benefit analysis will be evaluated from an insurer's perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methodological considerations of the study design are discussed. In this trial we evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in real occupational health practice, rather than under highly controlled circumstances. The results will be published in 2015.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NTR4190. Date of registration: September 27(th) 2013.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health/ Research Center for Insurance Medicine, University of Amsterdam, PO BOX 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.s.audhoe@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Selwin S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Audhoe
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health/ Research Center for Insurance Medicine, University of Amsterdam, PO BOX 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. k.nieuwenhuijsen@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuijsen
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health/ Research Center for Insurance Medicine, University of Amsterdam, PO BOX 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.l.hoving@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hoving
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health/ Research Center for Insurance Medicine, University of Amsterdam, PO BOX 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.sluiter@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health/ Research Center for Insurance Medicine, University of Amsterdam, PO BOX 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.frings@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Monique H W
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Frings-Dresen
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D016272:Occupational Health; D012107:Research Design; D062707:Return to Work / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*