ArticleBMJ open2019
The association between having a coordinator and return to work: the rapid-return-to-work cohort study.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on human musculoskeletal pathologies in clinical studies: a systematic review.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Pooled it
- Systematic Review of the Impact on Return to Work of Return-to-Work Coordinators.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2021Pooled it
- Receiving Return-To-Work Coordination at Swedish Primary Healthcare Clinics: A Register-Based Study Among People on Sickness Absence.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2025Article
- No longer alone.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2025Article
- Exploring the Role of Sickness Absence Coordinators in Implementing Interventions to Reduce Sickness Absence in Public Sector Workplaces in Denmark.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Web-enhanced return-to-work coordination for employees with common mental disorders: reduction of sick leave duration and relapse.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Rehabilitation coordinator - managers' experiences of a new function in health care.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Article
- Healthcare professionals' perceptions of the contributions of rehabilitation coordinators to patients in Swedish psychiatric care: a qualitative descriptive study.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Promoting labour market inclusion of the chronically ill: a scoping review of Scandinavian countries' efforts.Scandinavian journal of public health · 2023Article
- "That's probably how you would want care to be" - experiences of sick leave teams at a health center, a mixed method study.BMC primary care · 2023Article
- Coordination and Perceived Support for Return to Work: A Cross-Sectional Study among Patients in Swedish Healthcare.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- 'Return to Work' Coordinator Model and Work Participation of Employees: A Natural Intervention Study in Finland.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2021Article
- Returning to work in lung cancer survivors-a multi-center cross-sectional study in Germany.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe aim of this study was to assess if the reported provision of a coordinator was associated with time to first return to work (RTW) and first full RTW among sick-listed employees who participated in different rapid-RTW programmes in Norway.
designThe study was designed as a cohort study.
settingRapid-RTW programmes financed by the regional health authority in hospitals and Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration in Norway.
participantsThe sample included employees on full-time sick leave (n=326) who participated in rapid-RTW programmes (n=43), who provided information about the coordination of the services they received. The median age was 46 years (minimum-maximum 21-67) and 71% were female. The most common reported diagnoses were musculoskeletal (57%) and mental health disorders (14%).
interventionsThe employees received different types of individually tailored RTW programmes all aimed at a rapid RTW; occupational rehabilitation (64%), treatment for medical or psychological issues, including assessment, and surgery (26%), and follow-up and work clarification services (10%). It was common to be provided with a coordinator (73%). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were measured as time to first RTW (graded and 100%) and first full RTW (100%).
resultsEmployees provided with a coordinator returned to work later than employees who did not have a coordinator; a median (95% CI) of 128 (80 to 176) days vs 61 (43 to 79) days for first RTW, respectively. This difference did not remain statistically significant in the adjusted regression analysis. For full RTW, there was no statistically significant difference between employees provided with a coordinator versus those who were not.
conclusionsThe model of coordination, provided in the Norwegian rapid-RTW programmes was not associated with a more rapid RTW for sick-listed employees. Rethinking how RTW coordination should be organised could be wise in future programme development.
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