Effectiveness of multidisciplinary primary prevention in decreasing the risk of work disability in a low-risk population

Does perceived work ability improve after a multidisciplinary preventive program in a population with no severe medical problems – the Finnish Public Sector Study

“…However, these studies were limited to short periods of follow-up (up to 1 year) and small study samples (87 -122 participants). The lack of effectiveness of VOMR found in our present study is in line with previous reports from this cohort, the finding being no reduction in the risk of work disability after VOMR (11,13). An inadequate selection of participants is a potential reason for an observed lack of effectiveness of VOMR.…”

“…We also included the baseline self-rated work ability score divided into tertiles (0-7, 8-9, and 10) and 24 other pre-treatment characteristics and their interactions with gender, socioeconomic status, and age group as dependent variables for all 96 terms in the model. [For the associations between the baseline characteristics and the subsequent receipt of VOMR, see Saltychev et al (11).] For each person, the modeling gives a score ranging from 0-1 (ie, his or her probability to be a case as a function of the predictor terms).…”

“…First, this score has previously been found to correlate with work disability (21,22), and, second, we have previously assessed and reported effects of the intervention on "hard" outcomes of work disability (11,12). In the present study we were interested in assessing the effectiveness of VOMR from another point of view -participants' subjective work ability -as it is possible that workers do not always apply for (or get) sick leave even though they feel their work ability is declining.…”

“…Existing data on the effectiveness of this program are limited and inconsistent (11,12). Previously, we have found no beneficial effect of VOMR on the sickness absence or perceived health of rehabilitants (11,12). Instead, the VOMR selection process is likely to fail to recognize workers with higher risks of work disability and favors those with lower risks (13).…”

“…The theoretical base for this transition is the assumption that intervention is more efficient if it is applied at a very early stage of disease, before persistent incapacity for work forms. Existing data on the effectiveness of this program are limited and inconsistent (11,12). Previously, we have found no beneficial effect of VOMR on the sickness absence or perceived health of rehabilitants (11,12).…”