Meta-analysis results describing pooled effect of workplace mental health screening followed by advice or treatment on outcomes of interest
| N studies | Cohen’s d (95% CI) | P value | Heterogeneity (I2) | Certainty rating (GRADE)* | ||
| Screening+advice | Mental health symptoms (combined) | 3 | −0.07 (–0.29 to 0.15) | 0.560 | 0 | ⊕⊕ΟΟ LOW†‡ |
| Work-related (sickness absence duration) | 2 | 0.06 (–0.22 to 0.34) | 0.675 | 75.88 | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡§ | |
| Work-related (impairment) | 2 | −0.27 (–0.49 to –0.05) | 0.018 | 0 | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡§¶ | |
| Work-related (positive) | 2 | −0.03 (–0.42 to 0.36) | 0.881 | 68.81 | ||
| User satisfaction | 2 | – | – | – | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡¶ | |
| Positive mental health (combined) | 2 | 0.06 (–0.20 to 0.31) | 0.659 | 0 | ⊕⊕ΟΟ LOW†‡ | |
| QoL and functioning | 1 | Not reported | – | – | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡ | |
| Help-seeking** | 1 | −0.18 (–0.49 to 0.13) | 0.250 | – | ⊕⊕ΟΟ LOW‡¶ | |
| Adverse effects | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Screening+treatment | Mental health symptoms (combined) | −0.22 (–0.42 to –0.02) | 0.029 | 57.59 | ⊕⊕ΟΟ LOW†§ | |
| Work-related (sickness absence duration)†† | 1 | −0.38 (–0.71 to –0.04) | 0.029 | – | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡ | |
| Work-related (impairment) | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Work-related (positive) | 3 | 0.24 (–0.04 to 0.52) | 0.093 | 75.62 | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡§¶ | |
| User satisfaction | 1 | – | – | – | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW‡¶ | |
| Positive mental health (combined) | 2 | 0.14 (–0.04 to 0.33) | 0.135 | 0 | ⊕⊕ΟΟ LOW†‡ | |
| QoL and functioning | 1 | Not reported | – | – | ⊕ΟΟΟ VERY LOW†‡ | |
| Help-seeking | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
| Adverse effects | 0 | – | – | – | – | |
*GRADE Levels of Certainty: HIGH ⨁⨁⨁⨁: Very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. MODERATE ⨁⨁⨁◯: Moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. LOW ⨁⨁◯◯: Confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. VERY LOW ⨁◯◯◯: Very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.
†Downgraded due to risk of bias.
‡Downgraded due to imprecision.
§Downgraded due to inconsistency.
¶Downgraded due to indirectness.
**Effect size at 6-month follow-up tabulated, however, at 3 months, d=0.32 (0.02–0.62); p=0.036.
††12 months data reported. Effect attenuated at 5-year follow-up, d=0.11 (−0.34 to 0.55); p=0.634. Longest follow-up period reported by each study contributed to meta-analysis across all outcomes. Outcomes with only one study were not meta-analysed, but raw data were extracted and converted into a standardised mean difference (Cohen’s d) from that single study.
GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.