Non-pharmacological interventions to promote work participation in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the EULAR taskforce on healthy and sustainable work participation
Authors' conclusion
In people with RMDs, empirical evidence shows that non-pharmacological interventions have small effects on work participation.
Study context
- Population
- People with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs)64 studies (37 RCTs, 27 longitudinal observational studies (LOS))
- Comparison
- Non-pharmacological interventions vs comparator
- Outcome
- Work participation (sick leave, work status and presenteeism)
Methodological detailsqualitative (RCTs/LOS) and quantitative (RCTs) evidence syntheses, mixed-effects restricted maximum likelihood models, SMD summary measure; negative SMD favours intervention, subgroup analyses by RMD type, baseline risk status and intervention characteristics, Interventions mostly in clinical settings (44 of 71, 62%)
- Qualitative (RCTs/LOS) and quantitative (RCTs) evidence syntheses
- Mixed-effects restricted maximum likelihood models
- SMD summary measure; negative SMD favours intervention
- Subgroup analyses by RMD type, baseline risk status and intervention characteristics
- Interventions mostly in clinical settings (44 of 71, 62%)
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Work participation (quantitative synthesis, 37 RCTs; k=43 treatment comparisons); negative SMD favours intervention over comparator
SMD sick leave
−0.23
95% CI −0.33 to −0.13; k=42
SMD work status
−0.38
95% CI −0.63 to −0.12; k=9
SMD presenteeism
−0.25
95% CI −0.39 to −0.12; k=13
Further pooled results
Qualitative synthesis: interventions with clear beneficial effects
- Sick leave
- 7 of 64 (11%)
- Work status
- 1 of 18 (6%)
- Presenteeism
- 1 of 17 (6%)
Original publication
Non-pharmacological interventions to promote work participation in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the EULAR taskforce on healthy and sustainable work participation. RMD Open. Published 3 January 2023. doi:10.
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