title: Sickness absence among peer-supported drivers after occupational trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychological first aid is a common approach for providing support after potentially traumatic events (PTEs). In Germany, a peer support model is recommended by the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) to reduce sickness absence after occupational accidents, especially in public transportation. However, data on the effectiveness of peer support are very sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse whether peer support has an impact on sickness absence after work-related traumatic events in public transportation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis was conducted in two German public transportation corporations. Due to ethical requirements, we used a historical cohort study comparing peer support by colleagues (VAG-1), peer support at supervisor level (VGF) and a non-intervention group (VAG-0). The study period was from March 2003 to December 2012. We used a negative binominal regression model to estimate the relative risk associated with the interventions and potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 259 incident PTEs in employees were observed. A regression analysis identified the severity of PTE (severe and fatal events), VGF and age as significant factors in predicting duration of post-event sickness absence. In a stratified analysis, the mode of peer support (VGF) and age predicted sickness absence for less severe PTEs but this was not significant for severe PTEs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe and fatal PTEs had the strongest impact on sickness absence after PTEs. For less severe PTE, peer support provided by colleagues may be superior to supervisor support.
authors: Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Clarner
authors: Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Uter
authors: Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ruhmann
authors: Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Wrenger
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, 42097 Wuppertal, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Martin
authors: Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Drexler
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Accidents; peer influence; sickness absence.