COVID-19 infection and later risk of sickness absence by socioeconomic status: a cohort study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant health risk and resulted in increased sickness absence during the pandemic. This study examines whether a history of COVID-19 infection is associated with a higher risk of subsequent sickness absence.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 32,124 public sector employees responded to a survey on COVID-19 infection and lifestyle factors in 2020 and were linked to sickness absence records before (2019) and after (2021-2022) the survey.

Psychosocial risks and resources at work and employee wellbeing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: time series of cross-sections.

Objective: We examined the relationships between psychosocial factors and employee wellbeing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Survey data were from Finnish public sector employees from 2018 (T1 = before), 2020 (T2 = during), and 2022 (T3 = after the pandemic) (n = 29,360). Employee wellbeing was measured with self-rated health, work ability, and recovery from work.

Trajectories of work ability and associated work unit characteristics from pre-COVID to post-COVID pandemic period.

Objectives: To identify trajectories of work ability from pre-COVID to post-COVID-19 pandemic period and to examine work unit characteristics associated with these trajectories.

Methods: The study population was a cohort of Finnish public sector employees (n=54 651) followed from 2016 until 2022. We used trajectory analysis to identify trajectories of work ability and multinomial regression to examine their associations with prepandemic work unit characteristics and pandemic-related changes at workplaces.

Psychotherapy duration and work disability: A prospective Finnish register study.

Introduction: The influence of psychotherapy duration on common mental disorder (CMD) outcomes remains a topic of ongoing debate. Whereas most research has focused on CMD symptom change, the evidence on the psychotherapy duration of subsequent CMD-related work disability and the change in psychotropic drug purchases is scarce.

Methods: We used a register-based cohort representing 33% of the Finnish population.

Main activity trajectory clusters of unemployed people with partial work ability and cluster features.

Background: The early identification of different subgroups of individuals with partial work ability is important for the development of appropriate and effective services in order to prevent exclusion from working life and prolongation of unemployment.

Aims: This study aimed to identify different main activity trajectory clusters of people with partial work ability before their participation in work ability support services and to examine sociodemographic, health, work ability and functioning features of the identified clusters.

Methods: The sample consisted of clients who had participated in the Finnish Work Ability Programme during 2020-2022.

Associations between the Abilitator, a self-reported measurement tool of work ability and functioning, and national register-based indicators of health and employment.

Objectives: The Abilitator is a recently developed self-reported measurement tool for work ability and functioning of people in a weak labour market position. The aim of this study was to describe how self-reported information gathered with the Abilitator corresponds to information drawn from national registers.

Design, Setting And Participants: Participants (n=669, mean age 44 years, 55% women) took part in the Work Ability Programme (2020-2023) that provided services for unemployed people with reduced work ability.

Sociodemographic Factors as Predictors of the Duration of Long-term Psychotherapy: Evidence from a Finnish Nationwide Register Study.

Objective: The role of sociodemographic factors in determining psychotherapy duration has been largely unexplored despite their known association with treatment use. We examined the association between sociodemographic factors and rehabilitative psychotherapy treatment duration, as well as any changes in duration over time.

Method: We used three register-based nationally representative cohorts.

Occupational Grade, Mental Distress, and the Use of Psychotherapy.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that manual workers use less psychotherapy than non-manual workers. However, little is known about the match between the use and the need of psychotherapy in different occupational grades. Our study investigates how the prevalence of mental distress corresponds to psychotherapy use rate in different occupational grades by gender.

The association of sociodemographic characteristics with work disability trajectories during and following long-term psychotherapy: a longitudinal register study.

Purpose: This register-based study examined the trajectories of depression or anxiety disorder-related work disability during and following long-term psychotherapy and identified sociodemographic factors that indicate membership in different trajectory groups.

Methods: Data were drawn from national registers (Statistics Finland, Social Insurance Institution of Finland). Participants included a random sample of Finnish working-age individuals (18-55 years) who started psychotherapy treatment between 2011 and 2014 and were followed for 5 years: 1 year before and 4 years after the onset of psychotherapy (N = 3 605 individuals; 18 025 person-observations across five time points).

Income gradient in psychotherapy use and psychotropic drug purchases: A longitudinal register study in Finnish employed population.

Objective: We examined the income gradient changes in the use of long-term rehabilitative psychotherapy and psychotropic drug purchases in men and women during a 9-year follow-up.

Methods: We used register data from a random sample of the working-age population (18-64 years) with information on annual income, psychotherapy use and psychotropic drug purchases from 2011 to 2019 (N = 736 613, 49.7% women).

Psychotherapy and change in mental health-related work disability: a prospective Finnish population-level register-based study with a quasi-experimental design.

Background: Mental disorders are a major cause of work disability among the working-age population. Psychotherapy has shown to be an effective treatment for mental disorders, but the evidence is mainly based on small-scale randomised trials with relatively short follow-ups. We used population-based register data to examine the association between statutory rehabilitative psychotherapy and change in depression or anxiety-related work disability.

The Effect of Employee-Oriented Flexible Work on Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

The effect of flexible work on mental health is not well known. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of employee-oriented flexible work on mental health problems and associated disability. Literature searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, ProQuest and EconPapers databases from their inception through October-November 2020.

Evaluation of a guidelines implementation intervention to reduce work disability and sick leaves related to chronic musculoskeletal pain: a theory-informed qualitative study in occupational health care.

Background: Guidelines for pain management and sick leave prescription were formulated and implemented in an occupational health services (OHS) in Finland to reduce work disability and sick leaves related to musculoskeletal pain. We investigated how the guidelines implementation intervention may have produced its effects, how the number of prescribed sick leave days varied before and after the launch of the guidelines, and which factors beyond physician behaviour were seen to influence sick leaves.

Methods: Seventeen physicians, two occupational physiotherapists and one occupational health care nurse were interviewed.

Intervention targeted at physicians' treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and sickness certification: an interrupted time series analysis.

Objective: An intervention was carried out at the occupational healthcare services (OHS) of the City of Helsinki beginning in 2016. We investigated the association between the intervention and employee sick leaves using interrupted time series analysis.

Design: Register-based cohort study with a quasi-experimental study design.

Sickness absence and return to work among employees with knee osteoarthritis with and without total knee arthroplasty: a prospective register linkage study among Finnish public sector employees.

Objective: This study aimed to examine duration of sickness absence due to knee osteoarthritis (OA) and sustained return to work (RTW) among municipal employees, who had at least one compensated sickness absence period due to knee OA. The contribution of sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes and previous sickness absence were assessed. We differentiated between participants with and without total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Alternative duty work as workplace-initiated procedure to reduce sickness absence.

Purpose: Alternative duty work is a procedure that enables an employee with a short-term disability to perform modified duties as an alternative to sickness absence. We examined whether the implementation of an alternative duty policy was associated with reduced sickness absence in the Finnish public sector.

Methods: Two city administrations (A and D) that implemented an alternative duty work policy to their employees (n = 5341 and n = 7538) served as our intervention cities, and two city administrations (B and C) that did not implement the policy represented the reference cities (n = 6976 and n = 6720).

'Return to Work' Coordinator Model and Work Participation of Employees: A Natural Intervention Study in Finland.

Purpose Employers increasingly use 'return to work' (RTW) coordinators to support work ability and extend working careers, particularly among employees with reduced work ability. We examined whether applying this model was associated with changes in employee sickness absence and disability retirements. Methods We used data from the Finnish Public Sector study from 2009 until 2015.

Timing of Entry into Paid Employment, Adverse Physical Work Exposures and Health: The Young Helsinki Health Study.

It is not well known how the timing of entry into paid employment and physical work exposures contribute to different health outcomes in young employees. Thus, we determined the associations of age at entry into paid employment and physical work exposures with general and mental health in young employees and determined whether associations differ by behavior-related risk factors. Data were collected via online and mailed surveys in autumn 2017 from employees of the City of Helsinki aged 18-39 years (n = 5897; 4630 women and 1267 men, response rate 51.

Labor Market Participation Before and After Long-Term Part-Time Sickness Absence in Finland: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: To examine trends in labor market participation among those with long-term part-time or long-term full-time sickness absence.

Methods: Finnish population-based cohort study including 3406 individuals with greater than 30-day part-time sickness absence in 2011 and 42,944 individuals with greater than 30-day full-time sickness absence in 2011.

Results: Compared to previous years, the rates of sickness absence and vocational rehabilitation increased after 2011 in both groups.

Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People.

The contribution of physically demanding work to the developmental trajectories of sickness absence (SA) has seldom been examined. We analyzed the associations of 12 physical work exposures, individually and in combination, with SA trajectories among the occupationally active in the Finnish nationally representative Health 2000 survey. We included 3814 participants aged 30-59 years at baseline, when exposure history to work-related factors was reported.

Self-certification versus physician certification of sick leave for reducing sickness absence and associated costs.

Background: From the societal and employers' perspectives, sickness absence has a large economic impact. Internationally, there is variation in sickness certification practices. However, in most countries a physician's certificate of illness or reduced work ability is needed at some point of sickness absence.

A screening tool for the risk of disability retirement due to musculoskeletal disorders.

Objective This study aimed to develop and validate a risk screening tool using a points system to assess the risk of future disability retirement due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Methods The development population, the Health 2000 Survey, consisted of a nationally representative sample of Finnish employees aged 30-60 years (N=3676) and the validation population, the Helsinki Health Study, consisted of employees of the City of Helsinki aged 40-60 years (N=6391). Both surveys were linked to data on disability retirement awards due to MSD from national register for an 11-year follow-up.

Legislative change enabling use of early part-time sick leave enhanced return to work and work participation in Finland.

Objectives The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the use of part-time sick leave at the early (first 12 weeks) stage of work disability due to mental disorder or musculoskeletal disease on sustained return to work (RTW) and overall work participation. Methods In a nation-wide register-based quasi-experimental study, we compared sustained RTW (ie, ≥28 consecutive days at work) and 2-year work participation between the part- and full-time sickness absence (SA) benefit groups (N=1878 in each group) using propensity-score matching. Persons who received partial or full SA benefit due to musculoskeletal diseases or mental disorders between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 were eligible as cases or controls, respectively.

Length of sickness absence and sustained return-to-work in mental disorders and musculoskeletal diseases: a cohort study of public sector employees.

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the length of sickness absence and sustained return to work (SRTW) and the predictors of SRTW in depression, anxiety disorders, intervertebral disc disorders, and back pain in a population-based cohort of employees in the Finnish public sector. Methods We linked data from employers' registers and four national population registers. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with a cluster option was applied.

Work ability index and perceived work ability as predictors of disability pension: a prospective study among Finnish municipal employees.

Objectives: We analyzed the work ability index (WAI) and its first item (work ability score, WAS) - and subsequent four-year changes thereof - as predictors of disability pension (DP).

Methods: We linked survey responses of 5251 Finnish municipal employees, aged 44-58 years, to pension and death register data until 2009. Job content (physical, mental, or mixed) was based on observation.