Strengthened General Self-Efficacy with Multidisciplinary Vocational Rehabilitation in Women on Long-Term Sick Leave: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The outcome was general self-efficacy, not return to work or work-specific self-efficacy. The TEAM intervention was multimodal, including physician, occupational therapist, social worker, psychologist, later physiotherapist, individual plans, weekly meetings, cooperation with insurance and employment services, and ACT for many participants, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. Self-efficacy and anxiety or depression were measured after randomisation, so group assignment may have influenced baseline scores. Follow-up missing data were substantial, and 52 participants were excluded from analyses based on imputed data. Non-responders at 12 months had lower baseline self-efficacy and higher anxiety and depression, which may bias results. Participants had been on sick leave for a mean of 7.8 years, so results may not apply to shorter sick leave periods. The TEAM assessment changed between phases, from occupational therapist, psychologist, social worker, and physician assessment to physiotherapist and physician assessment.

The study was funded by REHSAM. No other conflicts of interest are reported.

Do not read the self-efficacy gain as evidence that return to work improved. The study measured general self-efficacy only, not return to work or work-specific self-efficacy.