abstract: 'Objective Employees with a chronic physical condition may be hampered in

  job performance due to physical or cognitive limitations, pain, fatigue,

  psychosocial barriers, or because medical treatment interferes with

  work. This study investigates the effect of a group-training program

  aimed at job maintenance. Essential elements of the program are

  exploration of work-related problems, communication at the workplace,

  and the development and implementation of solutions.

  Methods Participants with chronic physical diseases were randomly

  assigned to the intervention (N=64) or control group (N=58).

  Participants were eligible for the study if they had a chronic physical

  disease, paid employment, experienced work-related problems, and were

  not on long-term 100\% sick leave. Primary outcome measures were

  self-efficacy in solving work- and disease-related problems (14-70), job

  dissatisfaction (0-100), fatigue (20-140) and job maintenance measured

  at 4-, 8-, 12- and 24-month follow-up. We used GLM repeated measures for

  the analysis.

  Results After 24 months, loss to follow-up was 5.7\% (7/122).

  Self-efficacy increased and fatigue decreased significantly more in the

  experimental than the control group {[}10 versus 4 points (P=0.000) and

  19 versus 8 points (P=0.032), respectively]. Job satisfaction increased

  more in the experimental group but not significantly {[}6 versus 0

  points (P=0.698)]. Job maintenance was 87\% in the experimental and 91\%

  in the control group, which was not a significant difference. Many

  participants in the control group also undertook actions to solve

  work-related problems.

  Conclusions Empowerment training increases self-efficacy and helps to

  reduce fatigue complaints, which in the long term could lead to more job

  maintenance. Better understanding of ways to deal with work-related

  problems is needed to develop more efficient support for employees with

  a chronic disease.'
affiliation: 'Varekamp, I (Corresponding Author), Univ Amsterdam, Acad Med Ctr, Coronel
  Inst Occupat Hlth, Meibergdreef 9, NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Varekamp, Inge; Verbeek, Jos H.; de Boer, Angela; van Dijk, Frank J. H., Univ Amsterdam,
  Acad Med Ctr, Coronel Inst Occupat Hlth, NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Verbeek, Jos H., Finnish Inst Occupat Hlth, Knowledge Transfer Team, Kuopio, Finland.'
author: Varekamp, Inge and Verbeek, Jos H. and de Boer, Angela and van Dijk, Frank
  J. H.
author-email: i.varekamp@amc.uva.nl
author_list:
- family: Varekamp
  given: Inge
- family: Verbeek
  given: Jos H.
- family: de Boer
  given: Angela
- family: van Dijk
  given: Frank J. H.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3149
eissn: 1795-990X
files: []
issn: 0355-3140
journal: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF WORK ENVIRONMENT \& HEALTH
keywords: 'empowerment; occupational health; psychological distress; RCT; training;

  work-related problem'
keywords-plus: 'INFLAMMATORY-BOWEL-DISEASE; RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS; WORK DISABILITY;

  VOCATIONAL-REHABILITATION; HEALTH; EMPLOYMENT; UNEMPLOYMENT;

  EMPOWERMENT; RETENTION; WORKPLACE'
language: English
month: JUL
number: '4'
number-of-cited-references: '47'
orcid-numbers: 'Verbeek, Jos H.A.M./0000-0002-6537-6100

  de Boer, Angela/0000-0003-1942-6848'
pages: 288-297
papis_id: f252321059316644ef016597d43b7833
ref: Varekamp2011effectjob
researcherid-numbers: 'Verbeek, Jos H.A.M./F-8382-2013

  '
times-cited: '36'
title: Effect of job maintenance training program for employees with chronic disease
  - a randomized controlled trial on self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and fatigue
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000292362000004
usage-count-last-180-days: '5'
usage-count-since-2013: '24'
volume: '37'
web-of-science-categories: Public, Environmental \& Occupational Health
year: '2011'