%0 Journal Article
%T Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary care program on recovery and return to work of patients after gynaecological surgery; design of a randomized controlled trial
%A Antonie Vonk Noordegraaf
%A Judith AF Huirne
%A Hans AM Br£żlmann
%A Mark H Emanuel
%A Paul JM van Kesteren
%A Gunilla Kleiverda
%A Jos P Lips
%A Alexander Mozes
%A Andreas L Thurkow
%A Willem van Mechelen
%A Johannes R Anema
%J BMC Health Services Research
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1472-6963-12-29
%X We designed a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of the multidisciplinary care program on full sustainable return to work in patients after gynaecological surgery, compared to usual clinical care. Two hundred twelve women (18-65 years old) undergoing hysterectomy and/or laparoscopic adnexal surgery on benign indication in one of the 7 participating (university) hospitals in the Netherlands are expected to take part in this study at baseline. The primary outcome measure is sick leave duration until full sustainable return to work and is measured by a monthly calendar of sickness absence during 26 weeks after surgery. Secondary outcome measures are the effect of the care program on general recovery, quality of life, pain intensity and complications, and are assessed using questionnaires at baseline, 2, 6, 12 and 26 weeks after surgery.The discrepancy between expected physical recovery and actual return to work after gynaecological surgery contributes to the relevance of this study. There is strong evidence that long periods of sick leave can result in work disability, poorer general health and increased risk of mental health problems. We expect that this multidisciplinary care program will improve peri-operative care, contribute to a faster return to work of patients after gynaecological surgery and, as a consequence, will reduce societal costs considerably.Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): NTR2087Research on duration of full recovery and Return To Work (RTW) after (laparoscopic) gynaecological surgery has shown large discrepancy between expected physical recovery and actual return to work [1-3]. This may be explained by the fact that duration of recovery and RTW is mainly influenced by the expectations of the patient and employer, rather than by physical factors or the type of surgery [4-6]. However, in most cases there is hardly attention for RTW expectations [7]. In general, gynaecologists do discuss the needs and risks concerning the surgical interve
%K Multidisciplinary care program
%K e-health intervention
%K integrated care management
%K participatory workplace intervention
%K gynaecological surgery
%K hysterectomy
%K laparoscopic adnexal surgery
%K return to work
%K work disability
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/12/29