Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence

Hans Joergen SoegaardResearch Unit West, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, RisskovBackground: Intervention studies in sickness absence research demonstrate a low effect and ambiguous results in reducing sickness absence and improving work status. The aim of this study was...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Soegaard H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2012-04-01
Series:Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/variation-in-effect-of-intervention-studies-in-research-on-sickness-ab-a9770
_version_ 1811253108469137408
author Soegaard H
author_facet Soegaard H
author_sort Soegaard H
collection DOAJ
description Hans Joergen SoegaardResearch Unit West, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, RisskovBackground: Intervention studies in sickness absence research demonstrate a low effect and ambiguous results in reducing sickness absence and improving work status. The aim of this study was to determine if the effect of interventions is related to type of intervention, target population, inclusion criteria used, and impact of the scientific quality of the studies.Methods: Based on a structured review of 57 studies, short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects were analyzed with regard to the type of intervention, target population, inclusion criteria, and scientific quality of the studies.Results: The overall result was that the effect rate was low, ie, about 20% for short-term effect (up to 6 months) and medium-term effect (6–12 months), and 40% for long-term effect (≥12 months). Interventions using stress reduction were most effective with regard to short-term and medium-term effects, whereas collaborative care was most effective for long-term effects. The effects were related to the inclusion criteria and, to a minor degree, to the scientific quality of the studies.Conclusion: In the field of sickness absence research, more attention should be paid to the interrelationship between the types of interventions, target populations, and inclusion criteria for the studies. Larger studies of high methodological quality are needed. Steps should be taken to standardize outcome measures.Keywords: nonparticipation, sickness absence, return to work, controlled trial, review
first_indexed 2024-04-12T16:45:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-12d89374e54044339da4d0573feb432b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1179-1519
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T16:45:48Z
publishDate 2012-04-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials
spelling doaj.art-12d89374e54044339da4d0573feb432b2022-12-22T03:24:34ZengDove Medical PressOpen Access Journal of Clinical Trials1179-15192012-04-012012default120Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absenceSoegaard HHans Joergen SoegaardResearch Unit West, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, RisskovBackground: Intervention studies in sickness absence research demonstrate a low effect and ambiguous results in reducing sickness absence and improving work status. The aim of this study was to determine if the effect of interventions is related to type of intervention, target population, inclusion criteria used, and impact of the scientific quality of the studies.Methods: Based on a structured review of 57 studies, short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects were analyzed with regard to the type of intervention, target population, inclusion criteria, and scientific quality of the studies.Results: The overall result was that the effect rate was low, ie, about 20% for short-term effect (up to 6 months) and medium-term effect (6–12 months), and 40% for long-term effect (≥12 months). Interventions using stress reduction were most effective with regard to short-term and medium-term effects, whereas collaborative care was most effective for long-term effects. The effects were related to the inclusion criteria and, to a minor degree, to the scientific quality of the studies.Conclusion: In the field of sickness absence research, more attention should be paid to the interrelationship between the types of interventions, target populations, and inclusion criteria for the studies. Larger studies of high methodological quality are needed. Steps should be taken to standardize outcome measures.Keywords: nonparticipation, sickness absence, return to work, controlled trial, reviewhttp://www.dovepress.com/variation-in-effect-of-intervention-studies-in-research-on-sickness-ab-a9770
spellingShingle Soegaard H
Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials
title Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
title_full Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
title_fullStr Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
title_full_unstemmed Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
title_short Variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
title_sort variation in effect of intervention studies in research on sickness absence
url http://www.dovepress.com/variation-in-effect-of-intervention-studies-in-research-on-sickness-ab-a9770
work_keys_str_mv AT soegaardh variationineffectofinterventionstudiesinresearchonsicknessabsence