Minor long-term effects 3-4 years after the ReDO™ intervention for women with stress-related disorders: A focus on sick leave rate, everyday occupations and well-being

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Eklund, Mona

Affiliations: Department of Health Sciences, Mental Health, Activity and Participation, Lund University, Box 157 SE 221 00 Lund, Sweden. Tel.: +46 46 222 1957; E-mail: mona.eklund@med.lu.se

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The Redesigning Daily Occupations (ReDO™) work rehabilitation method has been found effective, compared with care as usual (CAU), for women with stress-related disorders. OBJECTIVE:To conduct a long-term follow-up of former ReDO™ and CAU participants with respect to sick leave, well-being and everyday occupations 3-4 years after completed work rehabilitation. METHODS:Forty-two women in each group participated. An index day was decided to estimate sick-leave rate, retrieved from register data. Fifty-five women also participated in a telephone interview addressing well-being, everyday occupations and life events. RESULTS:Both groups had reduced their sick-leave rate further, but no difference between the groups was established. The ReDO™ women perceived a better balance in the work domain of everyday occupations, whereas the CAU group reported more over-occupation. No differences were found on well-being. The groups had experienced similar important life events, affecting the women’s work and private lives. Previous stress and anxiety predicted sick leave at the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:Although the ReDO™ intervention had speeded up return to work in the immediate follow-up perspective, the CAU had caught up in the longer term. Still, the ReDO™ women exhibited better balance in the work domain.

Keywords: Work rehabilitation, employment, female, long-term outcomes Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01234961. Registered September 2007.

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-172639

Journal: Work, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 527-536, 2017