Predictors of time until return to work and duration of sickness absence in sick-listed precarious workers with common mental disorders: a secondary data-analysis of two trials and one cohort study

Abstract

Common mental disorders (CMD) are highly prevalent among sick-listed precarious workers and often lead to long-term sickness-absence, work disability and unemployment. This study aimed to identify predictors of a longer time until return to work (RTW) and prolonged duration of sickness absence in sick-listed precarious workers with CMD. We conducted a secondary Cox regression analysis using existing data from two Dutch randomized controlled trials and one cohort study among sick-listed precarious workers with CMD (N = 681). Age, gender, baseline employment status, study allocation, severity of psychological symptoms and RTW self-efficacy were evaluated for their predictive value on time until sustainable (≥ 28 days) RTW and duration of sickness absence during 12-month follow-up. In this study, time until sustainable RTW and duration of sickness absence are distinct dependent variables, because they are not mutually exclusive. Age above 50 years (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39–0.82), severe psychological symptoms (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43–0.93), unemployment (HR 0.19 95% CI 0.11–0.33) and loss of employment contract during sickness absence (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.14–0.47) were predictive of a longer time until RTW. Male gender (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.97), severe psychological symptoms (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46–0.87), unemployment (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27–0.84) and loss of employment contract (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.90) predicted a prolonged duration of sickness absence. Unemployment at the moment of sick-listing, loss of employment contract during sickness absence, and severe psychological symptoms are predictors of both a longer time until RTW and prolonged duration of sickness absence among sick-listed precarious workers with CMD. This knowledge assists occupational health and mental health professionals in the early identification of workers at risk of long-term sickness absence, enabling them to arrange targeted occupational rehabilitation support and mental health care. The included randomized controlled trials were prospectively registered in the Dutch national trial register under NTR4190 (September 27, 2013) and NTR3563 (August 7, 2012).