Effects of Presenteeism in Chronic Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders: Stay at Work is Validated

Objective: The present study takes a new approach to understanding how presenteeism relates to chronic pain or disability patient outcomes. Methods: The sample consisted of 2191 consecutive chronic disabling musculoskeletal disorder patients, classified as either presentees (N = 704), or absentees (N = 1487), who were admitted to a functional restoration program. The measures included medical evaluations, demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses at admission, an I year follow-up socioeconomic outcome assessment and validated questionnaires evaluating pain, depression, and function. Results: The findings revealed that Patients classified as presentees were significantly more likely to complete the prescribed functional restoration treatment program, to return to work (full-duty or full-time), to retain work 1-year posttreatment, and not to have a decrease in job demand from preinjury to posttreatment. Conclusions: Both employees and employers will benefit if the ill or injured employee stays at. work postinjury in lieu of short- or long-term disability. (J Occup Environ Med. 2009;51:724-731)