Recover Working Life - Back on the Job After Acute Illness

The project will examine the validity of identification of patients in risk of decreased work ability during and after hospitalisation and the effect of early intervention on the physical and mental functional level. The project consists of a pilot study and two clinical studies investigating the following:

• The validity of work ability assessments by a self-administered questionnaire during hospitalisation.
• The development in the inflammatory response after discharge in relation to the development in self-rated health.
• The effect of a labour oriented training program measured in inflammatory response and functional level.
• The effect of a labour oriented training program on work ability after discharge.

The self-administered questionnaire Work Ability Index will be tested and evaluated during the pilot study.

Study 1 is a prospective cohort study testing the identification tool for decreased work ability including inflammatory biomarkers and functional levels after discharge.

Study 2 is a randomised controlled intervention study of the effect of a labour oriented training program initiated within 2 weeks after discharge on functional level and self-rated health.

Primary aim of study 1: testing the validity of Work Ability Index in relation to observations on functional level and measurement of inflammatory biomarkers after discharge.

Primary aim of study 2: examine the effect of labour oriented training on functional level and work ability.

Following measuring tools will be used during the project: Work Ability Index, hand grip strength, gait speed (6M), Major Depression Inventory (MDI), Self-rated health (EQ-5D) and inflammatory biomarkers including markers for inflammatory receptors, cytokines and chemokines.

Hand grip strength:

The project manager and trained clinical staff will test participants included in study 1. Participants are tested for physical capacity measured by grip strength. This is assessed twice by a hand dynamometer for 5 seconds with his dominant hand and an average is calculated.

Gait speed (6M):

Physical function is measured by a walking test of 6 m. The participants are measured from a starting line with the message to go in for them normal pace on a marked field of 8 m. The time is measured when the first foot reaches the 6m point and the test is repeated, after which an average is calculated.

Major Depression Inventory (MDI):

MDI is a depression questionnaire to 10 symptoms, which is part of the World Health Organization's definition of depression. The table focuses on the patient's current experience of symptoms within the last two weeks and the changes that the disease extent and rehabilitation can cause. MDI is used in the study as a rating scale with a theoretical sum score from 0 (no depression) to 50 (maximum depression).

EQ-5D:

EQ-5D is a validated questionnaire to measure health status by a simple descriptive profile and a single index value, which is evaluated for clinical and health economic studies of self-rated health. The questionnaire was approved by the EuroQol Group, and includes questions about mobility, personal care, activity, depression and pain.

Biomarkers:

At admission, 2 - and 12 weeks after discharge blood sample is taken for analysis of inflammatory receptors, cytokines and chemokines. The analyses will be carried out as batch after sample collection by ELISA and / or Luminex technology.

Total duration of the test, instruction and replies to the questionnaires represent a total of 45 minutes per. participant Patients who submit a written informed consent to participate based on an interview are randomised into an intervention or control group. The groups are stratified for hospitalisation due to medical and surgical reasons, physical work load and education to ensure an equitable distribution among participant receiving the intervention.

The intervention is performed in public-private collaboration with a health care provider specialised in labour oriented training. The program consists of a physical training program, individual motivational talks and guidance on labour market-oriented topics. Each program is customised to the patient's physical resources and conditions. The scope of the intervention is physical activity 1-2 hours 3 times weekly with concurrent motivational talks for an overall of max. 9 weeks.

The project aims to include 120 patients giving an interventions size of 50 participants and an estimated drop-out rate of 20%. The studies are carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.

Participants are covered by Amager Hvidovre Hospital Patient Insurance. The collected data will be kept in accordance to the Data Protection Agency guidelines.

The Project Manager will work with the clinical staff from the participating departments responsible for contacts with all patients who meet the inclusion criteria for the studies. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will receive written and verbal information about the project including the advantages, disadvantages, risks and patient rights by participation in the project. The patient contacted by the project manager the day after the verbal and written information. If the patient wishes to participate in the project obtained accepted consent form and schedule time for tests and blood sampling.

Results:

The project will help to focus attention on an overlooked task in health care, where the patient after treatment can still be at risk of losing their ability to work. The project will also mean greater knowledge about the use of biomarkers and how these may reflect the development of the individual's refund and the current level of functioning.

Inclusion criteria

• Acute medical/surgical patients between 18 to 60 years
• Patients who have been hospitalised for at least 12 hours
• Are entitled to sickness or unemployment benefits either from the employer or municipality
• Patients who have an increased risk of loss of earning capacity of> 50% relative for the total group of patients in the pilot study

Exclusion criteria

• Patients unable to cooperate
• Patients with end-stage disease
• Patients with major trauma