Workplace problem-solving intervention,
does it really help with Reduced registered sickness-absence days among workers with occupational stress or common mental disorders?
research showsThe grade is C with 56 points. In a Swedish cluster-randomized trial of 100 employees, summing the monthly means in the 12-month table gives about 65.6 registered days in the problem-solving group and 96.5 in active usual care. The model found an approximately 15-day advantage across four middle months, but no annual between-group confidence interval was reported. The small sample and unclear handling of consultant-level clustering prevent a firm conclusion.
ads claimThe tested package combined separate employee and manager interviews, a joint problem-solving meeting, work adjustment, stress-management advice, and at least three follow-ups over three months. Korean employee-assistance marketing should not reduce this to a generic counseling session.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Occupational-health consultants received one day of training and were advised to conduct separate interviews, a joint meeting, and at least three follow-ups.
- Administrative records reduce recall error but did not capture the first 14 days of a Swedish sickness-absence spell.
- Partial absence was converted to net days, while informal or unregistered short absence could still be missed.
What the research actually shows
In the original September 28, 2015 entry for `NCT02563743`, the first two primary outcomes were (1) ‘Change from Baseline in Return to Work (RTW) at 12 months,’ defined as 0 to 365 total sick-leave days in registry data, and (2) ‘Change from Baseline in Return to Work (RTW) during a follow-up period of 12 months,’ defined by monthly self-report as time to any increase in work level at 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%. On December 2, 2016, registered sickness-absence days became the single primary outcome, while self-reported absence and partial or full return-to-work outcomes moved to secondary status. The paper matched the amended single primary outcome. An independent statistician used computer-generated numbers stratified by occupational-health unit. Employees were blinded to the possibility of another trial intervention, and statisticians and researchers were blinded only at the initial primary analysis. Separate outcome-assessor blinding was not reported. Registry outcomes were available for all 41 and 59 assigned employees, but the public paper and registration did not establish explicit handling of consultant-level intracluster correlation.
Why this is classified as C (56)
A publicly funded trial found fewer registered absence days, but one 100-person cluster trial with unclear consultant-level clustering supports only C with 56 points.
Counterpoint. Delivery may differ under Korean workplace authority, privacy protections, and sickness-absence systems.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Positive registered primary outcome tempered by small size and unclear consultant-level cluster handling
| Endpoint | H | Hard endpoint - actual events such as death |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I2 | Decisive evidence is publicly or non-profit funded |
| Effect size | E+ | Meets the clinically important threshold |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (C).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction in registered sickness-absence days over 12 months | C | One small cluster trial was positive, but no annual between-group confidence interval was reported. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Cluster-randomized trial at occupational-health consultant level | 59 | Original wording: “Primary sponsor: The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (registration number 2014-0742). Secondary sponsor: The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (registration number 027552-2015).” | Registered net sickness-absence days over 12 months | Summed monthly raw means about 65.6 versus 96.5 days; group-by-time P=0.033; modeled months 5-8 differed by about 15 days; no annual between-group CI reported | Pivotal single trial |
Receipt — 2 References
All 2 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-08).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-08 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Workplace problem-solving intervention x reduced registered sickness absence — Evidence Grade C·56. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/mood/workplace-problem-solving-intervention-sickness-absence/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
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