Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years an increasing number of patients have been referred to the medical sector with stress symptoms. Moreover, these conditions imply increased sickness absence. This indicates a need for treatment programmes in general me...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/658 |
| _version_ | 1811285296281550848 |
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| author | Bech Per Netterstrøm Bo |
| author_facet | Bech Per Netterstrøm Bo |
| author_sort | Bech Per |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years an increasing number of patients have been referred to the medical sector with stress symptoms. Moreover, these conditions imply increased sickness absence. This indicates a need for treatment programmes in general medical practice. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work (RTW) rate in persons with work-related stress and establish predictive factors for this outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During a two-year period 63 out of 73 referrals to the Stress Clinic (a section of a Clinic of Occupational Medicine) completed a stress treatment programme consisted of the following:</p> <p>1) Identification of relevant stressors. 2. Changing the coping strategies of the participants. 3. Evaluating/changes in participant workload and tasks. 4. Relaxation techniques. 5. Physical exercise. 6. Psychiatric evaluation when indicated by depression test score.</p> <p>On average each patient attended six one-hour sessions over the course of four months.</p> <p>A group of 34 employees referred to the Clinic of Occupational Medicine by their general practitioners served as a control group. Each participant had a one-hour consultation at baseline and after four months. A specialist in occupational medicine carried out all sessions.</p> <p>Return To Work (RTW), defined as having a job and not being on sick leave at the census, was used as outcome measure four months after baseline, and after one and two years.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The level of sick leave in the stress treatment group dropped from 52% to 16% during the first four months of follow-up and remained stable. In the control group, the reduction in sick leave was significantly smaller, ranging from 48% at baseline to 27% after four months and 24% after one year. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed after one and two years. Age below 50 years and being a manager increased the odds ratio for RTW after one and two years, while gender and depression had no predictive value.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The stress treatment programme showed a significant effect on the return to work rate. The stress treatment programme seems feasible for general practitioners.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN04354658</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:42:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44806455cb4e43dba0475984e3d6c939 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:42:58Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-44806455cb4e43dba0475984e3d6c9392022-12-22T03:06:09ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582010-11-0110165810.1186/1471-2458-10-658Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinicBech PerNetterstrøm Bo<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years an increasing number of patients have been referred to the medical sector with stress symptoms. Moreover, these conditions imply increased sickness absence. This indicates a need for treatment programmes in general medical practice. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work (RTW) rate in persons with work-related stress and establish predictive factors for this outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During a two-year period 63 out of 73 referrals to the Stress Clinic (a section of a Clinic of Occupational Medicine) completed a stress treatment programme consisted of the following:</p> <p>1) Identification of relevant stressors. 2. Changing the coping strategies of the participants. 3. Evaluating/changes in participant workload and tasks. 4. Relaxation techniques. 5. Physical exercise. 6. Psychiatric evaluation when indicated by depression test score.</p> <p>On average each patient attended six one-hour sessions over the course of four months.</p> <p>A group of 34 employees referred to the Clinic of Occupational Medicine by their general practitioners served as a control group. Each participant had a one-hour consultation at baseline and after four months. A specialist in occupational medicine carried out all sessions.</p> <p>Return To Work (RTW), defined as having a job and not being on sick leave at the census, was used as outcome measure four months after baseline, and after one and two years.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The level of sick leave in the stress treatment group dropped from 52% to 16% during the first four months of follow-up and remained stable. In the control group, the reduction in sick leave was significantly smaller, ranging from 48% at baseline to 27% after four months and 24% after one year. No statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed after one and two years. Age below 50 years and being a manager increased the odds ratio for RTW after one and two years, while gender and depression had no predictive value.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The stress treatment programme showed a significant effect on the return to work rate. The stress treatment programme seems feasible for general practitioners.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ISRCTN04354658</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/658 |
| spellingShingle | Bech Per Netterstrøm Bo Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic BMC Public Health |
| title | Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| title_full | Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| title_fullStr | Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| title_short | Effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work-related stress. A non-randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| title_sort | effect of a multidisciplinary stress treatment programme on the return to work rate for persons with work related stress a non randomized controlled study from a stress clinic |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/658 |
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