Effectiveness of work ability interventions on productivity: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Productivity Management

Background:

• Work ability interventions are crucial for maintaining employee productivity.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of their effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the effectiveness of work ability interventions on productivity outcomes.
• To identify evidence-based interventions that positively impact productivity.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO.
• Comprehensive database searches (EBSCO, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) from 2000 onwards.
• Independent screening, quality assessment, and data extraction by two reviewers, with a third resolving disagreements.

Main Results:

• Out of 29 eligible articles (24 RCTs, 5 non-RCTs) involving 33 interventions, only 5 showed a statistically significant effect on productivity.
• Four interventions effectively reduced absenteeism, with one also demonstrating cost-effectiveness.
• Conversely, one intervention was found to increase absenteeism.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of work ability interventions (28 out of 33) did not demonstrate a positive effect on productivity.
• There is limited evidence supporting work ability interventions that effectively enhance productivity.
• Further research is needed to identify and validate effective, evidence-based interventions for decision-makers aiming to improve workplace productivity.