A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1897 workers. Eight studies included workers with musculoskeletal disorders, five workers with mental health problems, and one workers with cancer.
Workplace interventions significantly improved time until first return to work (RTW) compared to usual care (hazard ratio (HR) 1.55, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.01). Workplace interventions did not considerably reduce time to lasting RTW compared to usual care (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.57). The effect on cumulative duration of sickness absence showed a mean difference of -33.33 (95% CI -49.54 to -17.12), favouring the workplace intervention. One study assessed recurrences of sick leave, and favoured usual care (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.82). Overall, the effectiveness of workplace interventions on work disability showed varying results.
Comment: The evidence is downgraded because of indirectness (a secondary outcome: sickness absence vs. musculoskeletal symptoms).
Primary/Secondary Keywords