Abstract
BackgroundIn the present study the effect of a workplace-oriented intervention for persons on long-term sick leave for clinical burnout, aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) by job-person match through patient-supervisor communication, was evaluated. We hypothesised that the intervention group would show a more successful RTW than a control group.MethodsIn a prospective controlled study, subjects were identified by the regional social insurance office 2-6 months after the first day on sick leave. The intervention group (n = 74) was compared to a control group who had declined participation, being matched by length of sick leave (n = 74). The RTW was followed up, using sick-listing register data, until 1.5 years after the time of intervention.ResultsThere was a linear increase of RTW in the intervention group during the 1.5-year follow-up period, and 89% of subjects had returned to work to some extent at the end of the follow-up period. The increase in RTW in the control group came to a halt after six months, and only 73% had returned to work to some extent at the end of the 1.5-year follow-up.ConclusionsWe conclude that the present study demonstrated an improvement of long-term RTW after a workplace-oriented intervention for patients on long-term sick leave due to burnout.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials NCT01039168.
Highlights
In the present study the effect of a workplace-oriented intervention for persons on long-term sick leave for clinical burnout, aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) by job-person match through patient-supervisor communication, was evaluated
Only one study has involved workplace interventions, showing a clearly favourable effect on RTW when added to a brief cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention [6]
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect on return to work of a workplace intervention with patients being treated for burnout
Summary
In the present study the effect of a workplace-oriented intervention for persons on long-term sick leave for clinical burnout, aimed at facilitating return to work (RTW) by job-person match through patient-supervisor communication, was evaluated. Since the late 1990 s, long-term sick leaves have increased rapidly in Sweden, due to mental illnesses, and constitute for the period 2003-2008 around 35% of all long-term sick leaves for white-collar employees in Sweden [2] These sick leaves often seem to be related to long-term work stress and exhaustion, similar to the core dimension in various definitions of burnout. A few controlled studies evaluating treatment programs for persons on sick leave due to work stress-related mental illness have been published [3,4]. Only one study has involved workplace interventions, showing a clearly favourable effect on RTW when added to a brief CBT intervention [6]
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