Effective return-to-work interventions after acquired brain injury: A systematic review.

Objective: To gather knowledge about effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions for patients with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Methods: A database search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library using keywords and Medical Subject Headings. Studies were included if they met inclusion criteria: adult patients with non-progressive ABI, working pre-injury and an intervention principally designed to improve RTW as an outcome.

Barriers and facilitators for return to work in cancer survivors with job loss experience: a focus group study.

Over 50% of cancer survivors lose their job or quit working. Cancer survivors who experience job loss may face different challenges regarding return to work, compared to cancer survivors with employers. This qualitative study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators for return to work in cancer survivors with job loss and in insurance physicians who assist cancer survivors in their return to work.

Role models in a preventive program for hand eczema among healthcare workers: a qualitative exploration of their main tasks and associated barriers and facilitators.

Background: Role models often play a role when implementing guidelines in healthcare. However, little is known about how role models perform their respective roles, or about which factors may hamper or enhance their functioning. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate how role models perform there role as a part of a multifaceted implementation strategy on the prevention of hand eczema, and to identify barriers and facilitators for the performing of their role.

Work disability assessment of cancer survivors: insurance physicians' perspectives.

Background: Assessing work disability in cancer survivors is a complex decision-making process. In the Netherlands, physicians employed by the Dutch Social Security Agency (SSA) play a key role in assessing work disability of cancer survivors on long-term sick leave.

Aims: To investigate the aspects physicians consider in assessing work disability in cancer survivors, their experiences related to the use of guidelines and their needs related to the use of a prediction rule that aims to support work disability assessments.

Prognostic factors of return to work after traumatic or non-traumatic acquired brain injury.

Purpose: To investigate and to determine evidence of prognostic factors for return to work (RTW) after acquired brain injury (ABI).

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed (2008-2014), applying terms for ABI and RTW. In addition, studies published after 2003 of a previous review on the same topic were added.

A search strategy to identify studies on the prognosis of work disability: a diagnostic test framework.

Objective: Searching the medical literature for evidence on prognosis is an important aspect of evidence-based disability evaluation. To facilitate this, we aimed to develop and evaluate a comprehensive and efficient search strategy in PubMed, to be used by either researchers or practitioners and that will identify articles on the prognosis of work disability.

Methods: We used a diagnostic test analytic framework.

High prevalence of early onset mental disorders among long-term disability claimants.

Purpose: To provide information on prevalence, comorbidity, age-of-onset and severity of mental disorders among persons claiming disability after long-term sickness absence.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of Dutch disability claimants (n = 346). Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.

Productivity at work and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine which combination of personal, disease-related and environmental factors is best associated with at-work productivity loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine whether at-work productivity loss is associated with the quality of life for these patients.

Methods: This study is based on cross-sectional data. Patients completed a questionnaire with personal, disease-related and environmental factors (related to the work environment), and clinical characteristics were obtained from patient medical records.

The effectiveness of the "Brainwork Intervention" in reducing sick leave for unemployed workers with psychological problems: design of a controlled clinical trial.

Background: Among the working population, unemployed, temporary agency and expired fixed-term contract workers having psychological problems are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence and prolonged work disability. Studies investigating the effectiveness of return-to-work (RTW) interventions on these workers, who are without an employment contract, are scarce. Therefore, a RTW intervention called 'Brainwork' was developed.

Return to work in sick-listed cancer survivors with job loss: design of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite long-term or permanent health problems, cancer survivors are often motivated to return to work. For cancer survivors who have lost their job, return to work can be more challenging compared to employed survivors, as they generally find themselves in a more vulnerable social and financial position. Cancer survivors with job loss may therefore be in need of tailored return to work support.

Offering a tailored return to work program to cancer survivors with job loss: a process evaluation.

Background: In Europe, 1.7 million persons of working age are diagnosed with cancer each year. During or after treatment, cancer survivors (CSs) are vulnerable for job loss, and many CSs struggle with return to work (RTW).

Interventions to improve return to work in depressed people.

Background: Work disability such as sickness absence is common in people with depression.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing work disability in employees with depressive disorders.

Search Methods: We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO until January 2014.

Non-pharmacological interventions for preventing job loss in workers with inflammatory arthritis.

Background: Work participation of patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) is important not only economically but also for physical and psychological health. There is no Cochrane Review to date on studies of non-pharmacological interventions specifically aimed at preventing job loss in people with IA.

Objectives: To assess the effects of non-pharmacological interventions that aim to prevent job loss, work absenteeism or improve work functioning for employees with IA (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), other spondylarthritis (SpA) or IA associated with connective tissue diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)).

Hands4U: the effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy on behaviour related to the prevention of hand eczema-a randomised controlled trial among healthcare workers.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of a multifaceted implementation strategy on behaviour, behavioural determinants, knowledge and awareness of healthcare workers regarding the use of recommendations to prevent hand eczema.

Methods: The Hands4U study is a randomised controlled trial. A total of 48 departments (n=1649 workers) were randomly allocated to the multifaceted implementation strategy or the control group (minimal implementation strategy).

Development and validation of the Diagnostic Interview Adjustment Disorder (DIAD).

Adjustment disorders (ADs) are under-researched due to the absence of a reliable and valid diagnostic tool. This paper describes the development and content/construct validation of a fully structured interview for the diagnosis of AD, the Diagnostic Interview Adjustment Disorder (DIAD). We developed the DIAD by partly adjusting and operationalizing DSM-IV criteria.

Physical and psychosocial problems in cancer survivors beyond return to work: a systematic review.

Objective: Attention for the expanding group of cancer survivors at work, and the late effects they are confronted with while working, has been limited. The objective of this systematic review is to identify and summarize studies, exploring ongoing physical and/or psychosocial problems related to functioning of employees with a history of cancer, beyond their return to work.

Methods: Publications were identified through computerized Medline, Psychinfo, Embase, and Cinahl searches (January 2000-March 2013).

Prevention of disability: the opinion of claimants applying for a disability benefit.

Background: A great number of workers suffer from problems to continue their work due to chronic health conditions. This leads to a large number of workers applying for a disability benefit. In order to prevent the application of a disability benefit, insight in the background of these applicants is needed.

The performance of the K10, K6 and GHQ-12 to screen for present state DSM-IV disorders among disability claimants.

Background: Screening for mental disorders among disability claimants is important, since mental disorders seem to be seriously under-recognized in this population. However, performance of potentially suitable scales is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of three scales, the 10- and 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10, K6) and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), to predict present state mental disorders, classified according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4thEdition (DSM-IV) among disability claimants.

Development and qualitative evaluation of an adapted return to work guideline for the sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with minor psychological problems.

Background: Among the working population, unemployed and temporary agency workers with psychological problems are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence and prolonged work disability. There is a need for the development of a new protocol for this group, because the existing return to work (RTW) interventions, including practice guidelines, do not address the situation when there is no workplace to return to. The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the adaptations needed in the practice guideline for employed workers to enable its use by insurance physicians (IPs) for counselling of sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with minor psychological problems; and (2) evaluate the experiences of IPs when using the new guidance document for minor psychological problems (MPP guidance document).

Prognostic factors for the work participation of sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with psychological problems.

Introduction: Among the working population, unemployed and temporary agency workers are a particularly vulnerable group, at risk for sickness absence due to psychological problems. Knowledge of prognostic factors for work participation could help identify sick-listed workers with a high-risk for work disability and provide input for sickness absence counseling. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors for the work participation of medium- and long-term sick-listed unemployed and temporary agency workers with psychological problems.

What promotes sustained return to work of employees on long-term sick leave? Perspectives of vocational rehabilitation professionals.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to (i) explore promoting factors for sustained return to work (RTW), according to vocational rehabilitation professionals (VRP) that are amenable to change for employees who have been on sick leave >18 months and (ii) gain insight into crucial aspects of interventions.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 23 VRP. All interviews were transcribed fully verbatim.

Illness perceptions and work participation: a systematic review.

Purpose: Self-regulatory processes play an important role in mediating between the disease and the health outcomes, and potentially also work outcomes. This systematic review aims to explore the relationship between illness perceptions and work participation in patients with somatic diseases and complaints.

Methods: The bibliographic databases Medline, PsycINFO and Embase were searched from inception to March 2008.

Vocational interventions for unemployed: effects on work participation and mental distress. A systematic review.

Introduction: Unemployment is a growing problem worldwide. Unemployment or job loss is one of the most stressful of life events and can lead to diminished social status, disturbed social role patterns, financial debt, reduced self-esteem and feelings of guilt. The purpose of this review was to determine the effectiveness of vocational interventions on work participation and mental distress for unemployed adults and to provide an overview of the characteristics of these interventions.

Return to work of breast cancer survivors: a systematic review of intervention studies.

Background: Breast cancer management has improved dramatically in the past three decades and as a result, a population of working age women is breast cancer survivor. Interventions for breast cancer survivors have shown improvements in quality of life and in physical and psychological states. In contrast, efforts aimed at stimulating re-employment and return-to-work interventions for breast cancer survivors have not kept pace.

Evaluation of a workshop on evidence-based medicine for social insurance physicians.

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM), a comprehensive method to support clinical decision making by using evidence, has been instrumental in clinical specialties but not yet in insurance medicine.

Aims: We developed and evaluated a workshop on EBM for Dutch social insurance physicians who perform disability evaluations.

Methods: Sixty-six social insurance physicians followed a 1-day introductory workshop that focused on teaching two EBM core skills: to ask answerable questions and to search for the best evidence.