["They'll never come back...""--Expectations and reality of occupational reintegration of teachers unfit for service]

The reactivation of teachers with experience of both life and the profession who have become unfit for work is regarded by politicians not only as a suitable measure against the imminent lack of teaching staff, but also as a promising strategy for reducing the cost of health care. The aim of our study was to gather new evidence- based information on the occupational reintegration of teachers who took early retirement and to investigate to what extent official medical reactivation examinations are an effective instrument of tertiary prevention. DATABASE AND METHODS: In a prospective total assessment (the entire state of Bavaria) over the period of 1997 - 1999 all official medical examinations in the public health centres (Gesundheitsamter und Medizinische Untersuchungsstellen der Bezirksregierungen) were evaluated with regard to the reactivation of teachers unfit for work. The analysis included e. g. socio-demographic/occupational factors, the morbidity spectrum, rehabilitation and the assessment of performance. The answers given in a standardised, anonymous questionnaire provided the database. Evaluation was carried out by means of descriptive statistics.

Of the 1465 teachers studied, 64 % (n = 939) were women and 36 % (n = 526) were men. The median age was 53 years (range: 31 - 63 years), and the proportion of over 60-year-olds was 5.5 %. 22 % of those who took early retirement were recognised as being severely disabled. In 77 % of cases, examination of unfitness for work was carried out at the order of the authorities. 57 % (n = 835) of the teachers had taken part in at least one medical rehabilitation measure, 13 % (n = 190) in at least one occupational rehabilitation measure. Within the morbidity spectrum, psychic and psychosomatic illnesses (F-ICD10) took first place with a share of 59 % the prevalence in female teachers of such illnesses was significantly higher than that in male teachers (p < 0.05). Among the psychiatric diagnoses, depressive illnesses dominated (share: 35 %). The most frequent somatic diseases were muscular/skeletal disorders (M-ICD10) in 12 % of cases, then cardiovascular disorders (I-ICD10) in 7 % and malignant tumours (C-ICD 10) in 5 % of cases. In 33 % of cases multi-morbidity was found. 93 % (n = 1,360) of the teachers investigated in follow-up examinations were again classified as unfit for work. In only 7 % (n = 105) reactivation was recommended by the physician; the lowest reactivation quotas were found among teachers with psychic illnesses and grammar school teachers. In who teachers that returned to work, compared to those still unfit for work, a lower age and lower prevalence of severe disability, multi-morbidity and psychic disturbances were objectified.

Teachers who take early retirement return to the profession only in exceptional cases. The time and expense needed for reactivation examinations should be critically compared with the benefits. The same applies to the quality of the results of intervention and rehabilitation measures for restoring psychological and physical health. In this context problem-oriented disability management appears superfluous.