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Return to Work Expectations of Workers on Long-Term Non-Work-Related Sick Leave

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Abstract

Introduction Despite suggestions that worker perception might be the best predictor of return to work (RTW), there still is limited research on time to RTW in workers with lengthy non-work-related sick leave. Methods Prospective cohort study of 663 workers with a current long-term non-work-related sick leave episode recruited during the first medical visit in a mutua (Spanish health insurance company) and followed until their sick leave episode ended. Workers completed a baseline questionnaire regarding their perceptions of sick leave episode and expectations of RTW (i.e., health status, work ability, expectations and time required to RTW, self-efficacy and self-perceived connection between health and job). Time to RTW was established based on the mutua’s register. Cox regression models were used to examine the associations of worker perception and expectation of RTW with time to RTW within the study population as a whole as well as in three diagnostic subgroups (i.e., musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders and other physical conditions). Results As a whole, time to RTW was longer for workers reporting poor health [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.71, 95%CI 0.59–0.85], extremely reduced work ability (HR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.53–0.88), a longer period of time required to RTW (HR = 0.36, 95%CI 0.25–0.52) and lack of expectation of returning to the same job (HR = 0.13, 95%CI 0.06–0.31). Workers with musculoskeletal and other physical conditions showed a similar pattern to whole study population, while workers with mental disorders did not. Conclusion Self-required time and RTW expectations are important prognostic factors in sick listed workers by all types of health conditions certified as non-work-related. Questioning the workers on their perceptions and expectations of RTW during medical visits could help health care professionals to identify individuals at risk of long-term sickness absence and facilitate triage and management of the patient.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the medical team responsible for managing non-work-related sick leave episodes at MC MUTUAL for their contributions in recruiting participants: Dr. Francisco Javier Sánchez, Dr. Joaquima Jorge, Dr. Jorge Rubio, D. Agustín Pumarola, Dr. Mª Soledad Prats, Dr. Mª del Carmen Del Campo, Dr. Enrique Ubinyana, Dr. María Fernández, Dr. Roser Porta, Dr. Mª del Mar Boada, Dr. Mª Auxiliadora Fernández, Dr. Gabriel Cid, Dr. Esperanza Acosta, Dr. Luisa Casado, Dr. Sonia López, Dr. Xavier Espadas, Dr. Mercedes Degano, Dr. Ignacio Martínez, Dr. Berta Morales y Dr. Helena Aleixandre. This study is part of a larger project called RAT-IT “Return to work after an episode of temporary sickness absence”, funded by a grant from the Health Research Fund (FIS 04/1062) and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Spain (FIPROS/2006/78) and discretionary funds from The University of Texas School of Public Health.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical and Health Care Services Division, Mutual Midat Cyclops (MC-MUTUAL), C/ Provença 321, 08037, Barcelona, Spain

    Maite Sampere, Manel Plana & Juan Carlos López

  2. Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Center for Research in Occupational Health (CISAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Maite Sampere, David Gimeno, Consol Serra, José Miguel Martínez, George L. Delclos & Fernando G. Benavides

  3. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio, TX, USA

    David Gimeno

  4. CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

    David Gimeno, Consol Serra, José Miguel Martínez, George L. Delclos & Fernando G. Benavides

  5. Servicio de Prevención, Parc de Salut MAR, Barcelona, Spain

    Consol Serra

  6. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA

    George L. Delclos

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  1. Maite Sampere
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Correspondence to Maite Sampere.

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Sampere, M., Gimeno, D., Serra, C. et al. Return to Work Expectations of Workers on Long-Term Non-Work-Related Sick Leave. J Occup Rehabil 22, 15–26 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-011-9313-5

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