Abstract
Background: Chronic and prognostically doubtful diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) often lead to reduced work ability. Whether self-management-interventions have positive effects on work related outcomes is so far unclear. Methods: Data from a randomized controlled trial of adult members of a German statutory health insurance with medically confirmed IBD were reanalyzed. We focused on 337 gainfully employed study participants. They completed a screening questionnaire enquiring about 22 disease-related bio-psycho-social problems. The intervention group (IG) received individualized (problem-adapted) written recommendations; the control group remained under usual care. 12 months later a follow-up questionnaire was employed, data on sick leave were made available by the health insurance. Results: The IG showed beneficial effects in all primary outcomes (EuroQol visual analog scale score, index for measuring participation restriction and number of self-reported disability days). At baseline one in four of the employed participants reported a negative subjective prognosis of their work capacity (assessed by means of a 3-item Likert scale, SPE scale). No positive intervention effects on work-related outcomes (subjective prognosis of gainful employment, episodes and days of sick leave) could be detected. Conclusions: In IBD patients work and earning capacity is often at risk and should be regularly assessed. Effective interventions to protect or restore gainful employment are needed. Medical-vocational rehabilitation could be a treatment option; its efficacy and benefit (in IBD) are still to be demonstrated.
Translated title of the contribution | Employees with chronic diseases - Additional results of randomized controlled trial among adult members of a German statutory health insurance with inflammatory bowel diseases |
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Original language | German |
Journal | Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 139-145 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0044-2771 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01.02.2016 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Research Area: Center for Population Medicine and Public Health (ZBV)