Review of the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Interventions, Strategies, Programmes and Policies to reduce the number of employees who take long-term sickness absence on a recurring basis

Rick J, Carroll C, Hillage J, Pilgrim H, Jagger N | Document 6 | National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence | Apr 2008

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked by the Department of Health to develop guidance for primary care services and employers on the management of long-term sickness and incapacity. The guidance provides recommendations for good practice that are based on the best available evidence of effectiveness and cost effectiveness.

This report is one in a series of reviews of the literature covering primary studies ofinterventions, strategies, programmes and policies to reduce the number of employees who take long-term sickness absence on a recurring basis.

As such, the report aims to inform the guidance on managing long-term sickness absence through two linked systematic reviews of the literature on the effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent the reoccurrence of long-term sickness absence.

Specifically, this review addressed the following primary research question:

  • What work or primary care-based interventions, programmes, policies or strategies are effective and cost-effective in helping to reduce the number of employees who take long-term sickness absence on a recurring basis?