rss
Occup Environ Med 2004;61:924-929 doi:10.1136/oem.2003.009746
  • Original article

An occupational health intervention programme for workers at risk for early retirement; a randomised controlled trial

  1. A G E M de Boer1,
  2. J-C van Beek2,
  3. J Durinck3,
  4. J H A M Verbeek1,
  5. F J H van Dijk1
  1. 1Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. 2Medicum Consult, Organisation for Occupational Medicine, Valkenswaard, Netherlands (formerly Arbo Management Group, Eindhoven, Netherlands)
  3. 3Arbo Management Group, Eindhoven, Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr A G E M de Boer
 Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, Netherlands; a.g.deboeramc.uva.nl
  • Accepted 10 May 2004

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate an occupational health intervention programme for workers at risk for early retirement.

Methods: Between April 1997 and May 1998, 116 employees of a large company who were older than 50 years indicated that they would not be able to work up to their retirement. They were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 61) or control group (n = 55). The intervention programme lasted six months and was executed by an occupational physician. Job position and number of sick leave days after two years were collected from the company’s computer database. A questionnaire was sent to the employees at baseline, after six months, and after two years; it included the Work Ability Index, the Utrecht Burn Out Scale, and the Nottingham Health Profile measuring quality of life.

Results: Fewer employees (11%) in the intervention group retired early than in the control group (28%). The total average number of sick leave days in two years was 82.3 for the intervention group and 107.8 for the control group. Six months after baseline, employees in the intervention group had better work ability, less burnout, and better quality of life than employees in the control group. Two years after randomisation no differences between the two groups were found.

Conclusions: This occupational health intervention programme proved to be a promising intervention in the prevention of early retirement.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.

    Latest occupational, public, community health jobs

    Latest occupational, public, community health jobs

    Show me all >>