Frequency of Participation in a Return-to-Work Program Predicts Successful Work Restoration but Not Maintenance

Abstract

Several predictors for work restoration and maintenance of restoration have been examined among employees with mood and/or anxiety disorders, but whether frequency of participation in a return-to-work (RTW) program can predict successful work restoration and maintenance remains unclear. In the present study, we attempted to investigate the hypothesis that the frequency of RTW program participation can predict successful work restoration and maintenance. Among seventy-seven patients attending an RTW program, the frequency of participation was positively associated with work restoration but not with maintenance. The result was in partial agreement (restoration) and partial disagreement (maintenance of restoration) with our hypothesis. Thus, the present study suggests that the frequency of participation in an RTW program can predict successful work restoration but not maintenance.

Effects of a rework program in a university hospital and predictors of work restoration and maintenance in the participants

“…This difference was significant (χ 2 = 38.4, p < 0.0001), and patients who were absent from work were significantly more successful in restoring their job status than unemployed patients. As a reference, we considered a previously reported restoration rate of 84% among patients absent from work (7), which was comparable to that in the present study.…”

“…In addition, the mean (SD) frequency of rework program participation was 64.2 (64.9). As a reference, we used the mean (SD) frequency of participation in another rework program, which was 67.8 (41.2) (7); this was comparable to that in the case of the participants in the present study.…”

“…In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of a rework program and to examine whether cognitive function and mental state at the end of the rework program predict the probability of work restoration and maintenance; further, we aimed to investigate whether the frequency of rework program participation predicts successful work restoration but not work maintenance similar to the findings of Hoaki and Terao (7).…”

Return-to-work interventions for persons/employees with mental illnesses

“…Regarding interventions addressing the individual we found eight different interventions [15,16 ▪ ,19,24–26,27 ▪ ,30] from Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan. Most of them were complex and elaborate interventions being based on cognitive behavioural therapy and/or vocational rehabilitation.…”

“…Hoaki et al [24] offered a mean of 68 sessions of a RTW-program (consisting of e.g. office work, meeting, yoga, CBT, social skill training, light sports) within a rehabilitation unit, whereas Ohki's et al [25] re-work program consisted of vocational rehabilitation, CBT and other group programs in the framework of psychiatry day-care divisions.…”