Validation of performance indicators for rehabilitation of workers with mental health problems

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate content validity and predictive validity of 11 performance indicators for the rehabilitation of workers with mental health problems. Research Design and Subjects: Content validity was assessed by experts who evaluated the validity of the performance indicators in 2 Delphi rounds. Predictive...

Supervisory behaviour as a predictor of return to work in employees absent from work due to mental health problems

Aims: To study supervisory behaviour as a predictive factor for return to work of employees absent due to mental health problems; and to explore the association between conditional factors and supervisory behaviour. Methods: Eighty five supervisors of employees were interviewed by telephone. Questionnaires providing information on person related...

Costs, benefits and effectiveness of worksite physical activity counseling from the employer's perspective

Objectives. This study evaluated the impact of worksite physical activity counseling using cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses. Methods. Civil servants (N=299) were randomly assigned to an intervention (N=131) or control (N=168) group for 9 months. The intervention costs were compared with the monetary benefits gained from reduced sick...

Prognostic factors related to recurrent low-back pain and sickness absence

This study aimed at determining the prognostic factors related to the recurrence of low-back pain and future sickness absence due to low-back pain. Data were used from a prospective cohort study in a working population with a three year follow-up period. They were collected with annual questionnaires. A generalised estimating equation model was...

Participatory ergonomics as a return-to-work intervention: A future challenge?

Background: Participatory ergonomics (PE) are often applied for prevention of low back pain (LBP). In this pilot-study, a PE-program is applied to the disability management of workers sick listed due to LBP. Methods: The process, implementation, satisfaction, and barriers for implementation concerning the PE-program were analyzed quantitatively...

Effects of software programs stimulating regular breaks and exercises on work-related neck and upper-limb disorders

Objectives. This study evaluated the effects on work-related neck and upper-limb disorders among computer workers stimulated (by a software program) to take regular breaks and perform physical exercises. Possible effects on sick leave and productivity were studied as well. Methods. A randomized controlled design was used with cluster...

Ineffective disability management by doctors is an obstacle for return-to-work: A cohort study on low back pain patients sicklisted for 3-4 months

The aim of this article is to determine obstacles for return-to-work in disability management of low back pain patients sicklisted for three till four months. A cohort of 467 low back pain patients was recruited. A questionnaire was sent to their occupational physicians (OPs) concerning the medical management, obstacles to return-to-work, and...

High physical and psychological load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain

Objectives This study investigates the relationship between physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain. Methods A prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 3 years (1994-1998) was performed among a working population. At the beginning of the study, physical load at work was quantified by means of video...

Employment work disability and work days lost in patients with ankylosing spondylitis A cross sectional study of Dutch patients

Objective - To evaluate employment status, work disability, and work days lost in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods - A questionnaire was sent to 709 patients with AS aged 16-60. The results of 658 of the patients could be analysed. Results - After adjustment for age, labour force participation was decreased by 15.4% in male...

The relationship between leisure time, physical activities and musculoskeletal symptoms and disability in worker populations

Objectives: To assess the association between leisure time physical activity and musculoskeletal morbidity, as well as possible interactions with physical activity at work. Methods: A literature search was performed to collect all studies on musculoskeletal disorders in which physical activity was involved as a variable. Next, an analysis was...

Using work, health and sick leave to predict work disability

in the Netherlands, a situation has developed in which there is one permanently disabled person for every seven to eight people active in the workforce. This is an economic emergency, for which countermeasures have been taken. The employer is made in large part financially responsible for employees' sickness absence and work disability and, at...