Workplace rehabilitation and supportive conditions at work: a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Sociology of Work

Background:

• Long-term sick leave poses challenges for women's return to work (RTW).
• Workplace rehabilitation is a key intervention, but its effectiveness may depend on accompanying supportive conditions.
• Understanding the interplay between rehabilitation and workplace support is crucial for improving RTW outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of rehabilitation measures on work ability and RTW among women on long-term sick leave.
• To specifically investigate the association between workplace rehabilitation, supportive work conditions, and changes in work ability and RTW over time.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal cohort study involving 324 women on long-term sick leave.
• Questionnaire data collected at baseline, 6, and 12 months.
• Linear mixed models used to analyze changes in Work Ability Index (WAI), work ability score, and working degree over time, considering workplace rehabilitation and supportive conditions as explanatory variables.

Main Results:

• Women receiving both workplace rehabilitation and supportive conditions showed significant increases in WAI and work ability score over time.
• These individuals demonstrated higher work ability compared to those receiving rehabilitation alone or no intervention.
• Working degree also increased significantly more over time in the group with both rehabilitation and supportive conditions.

Conclusions:

• Integrating workplace rehabilitation with supportive work conditions is essential for enhancing work ability.
• This combined approach significantly improves the return to work (RTW) process for women experiencing long-term sick leave.
• Supportive conditions amplify the benefits of workplace rehabilitation for sustained work capacity.