Locking-in effects due to early interventions? An evaluation of a multidisciplinary screening programs for avoiding...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health Policy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Long-term sickness absence poses significant societal and economic challenges.
• Early intervention programs aim to mitigate prolonged work disability.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is a key strategy in managing sick-listed individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the effect of a multidisciplinary collaboration program on sickness absence duration.
• To evaluate the program's impact on individuals at risk of long-term sickness absence.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in preventing prolonged sick leave.

Main Methods:

• Utilized register information for eligibility criteria.
• Employed Cox regression models and a nonparametric matching estimator.
• Conducted a small-scale randomized experiment for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• The randomized experiment did not yield statistically significant results.
• Observational and experimental data indicated a prolongation of sickness absence spells by approximately three months.
• The program's point estimate suggests it may lengthen, not shorten, absence duration.

Conclusions:

• The program's focus on rehabilitation may inadvertently discourage return to work.
• A re-evaluation of program strategies is needed to promote timely reintegration into the workforce.
• Findings highlight the complexity of interventions for sickness absence management.