Minnesota RETAIN Program for Occupational Injury or Illness

Overseen By Amaka Osuoha, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Disqualifiers: Legal representation, Informed consent, RETAIN employees, Worker's compensation

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

3200 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is a randomized control trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of RETAIN program expansion and services on workforce retention and reduction of future workplace disability in the state of MN. Collaboration between partners to implement best practices in early intervention to support injured or ill employees in stay at work and return to work will be implemented.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Minnesota RETAIN treatment for occupational injury or illness?

Research on similar programs, like RETAIN Kentucky, shows that return-to-work and stay-at-work strategies can help people with injuries or illnesses continue working. Additionally, studies on rehabilitation programs indicate that multidisciplinary approaches improve work participation and reduce sickness absence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Minnesota RETAIN treatment different from other treatments for occupational injury or illness?

The Minnesota RETAIN treatment is unique because it focuses on helping people return to work and stay at work after an injury or illness by using a network of coordinators who provide personalized support and resources, rather than just medical treatment. This approach is different from traditional treatments that primarily focus on medical recovery without addressing employment retention. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Research Team

Jill Berk, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Minnesota residents who are at least 18 years old, have been unable to work due to injury or illness for no more than 6 months, and are currently in the labor force. Ideal candidates should not be involved in legal action related to their condition, lack a return-to-work program through their employer, or have a QRC or DCM via worker's compensation.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have been unable to work for no more than 6 months prior enrollment; 80% of participants must be within 3 months of their last day of work

Must work in Minnesota

I have an injury or illness from work or personal life affecting my job, or I've had or will have surgery affecting my job.

Exclusion Criteria

Employed by a RETAIN healthcare recipient or subrecipient with an existing return to work program for employees (i.e. Mayo Clinic employees)

Worker's compensation recipients that have a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) or a disability case manager (DCM)

Legal representation/litigation at the time of enrollment related to their medical condition

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants in the experimental group receive the full set of RETAIN intervention activities

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for workforce retention and disability reduction outcomes

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Minnesota RETAIN

Trial Overview The study tests the RETAIN program's effectiveness in helping Minnesotans stay at work or return quickly after an occupational injury/illness. It involves collaboration among partners using best practices for early intervention and will randomly assign participants to either receive these services or not.

Participant Groups

Group I: RETAIN Programming Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The experimental group receives the full set of RETAIN intervention activities.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group does not receive the full set of RETAIN intervention activities.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

68

Recruited

31,130,000+

Social Security Administration

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

8,400+

Department of Labor and Industry

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

3,200+

Minnesota Department of Health

Collaborator

Trials

9

Recruited

179,000+

Workforce Development, Inc.

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

8,400+

Findings from Research

The RETAIN Kentucky program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to help individuals with non-work-related injuries and illnesses return to work or stay employed, utilizing RTW Coordinators for support.

After nearly 3 years of Phase 1, the program is transitioning to Phase 2, which will last 30 months and build on the insights gained to improve employment retention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

RETAIN Kentucky: A return-to-work and stay-at-work program for people with disabilities grounded in the conservation of resources theory. Rumrill, P., Sheppard-Jones, K., Collett, JW., et al.[2022]

Workers who have low job satisfaction, longer disability periods, or feel unsupported are at higher risk for poor outcomes in early return to work programs after on-the-job injuries.

To improve the success of these programs, it's important to identify at-risk workers, design modified job roles, and ensure effective communication of support from the company.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Employee experiences with early return to work programs. Williams, JR.[2014]

The articles highlight the potential for early intervention strategies to help workers with medical conditions avoid prolonged work disability, based on analyses of disability claims data and case studies from 50 employers.

By improving systems to identify and support these workers promptly, stakeholders can significantly influence their job retention and overall outcomes, suggesting a need for evidence-based interventions in the workplace.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Opportunities for Early Intervention to Avoid Prolonged Work Disability: Introduction to the Special Section. Ben-Shalom, Y., Schimmel Hyde, J.[2019]

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs significantly improve work participation and reduce sickness absence in patients with conditions like back pain, depression, and cancer, as shown by randomized controlled trials across various countries.

In Germany, work-related medical rehabilitation has been confirmed to enhance sustainable work participation and decrease sickness absence compared to standard rehabilitation, highlighting the importance of integrating workplace involvement and graded return-to-work strategies for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Rehabilitation and work participation]. Bethge, M.[2018]

The Vocational Improvement Project, a 5.5-year pilot program in Washington State, successfully reduced repeat referrals and delays in vocational rehabilitation for injured workers, while also increasing worker choice and establishing partnerships to enhance outcomes.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain, as retraining plan completion rates are below 60% and only half of the workers earned wages within two years after completing their plans, indicating a need for further enhancements in the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving vocational rehabilitation services for injured workers in Washington State. Sears, JM., Wickizer, TM., Schulman, BA.[2022]

The Early Return to Work Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital led to a significant 55% reduction in lost workday cases over a 10-year period, indicating its effectiveness in managing work-related injuries.

The program not only decreased the average number of lost workdays from 26.3 to 12.0 per 100 employees but also highlighted the importance of including ergonomics expertise to enhance job placement for injured workers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A facilitated early return to work program at a large urban medical center. Bernacki, EJ., Guidera, JA., Schaefer, JA., et al.[2019]

Only 41% of Finnish occupational health services (OHS) provide structured return-to-work (RTW) services for employees on sick leave, indicating a significant gap in support for these workers.

The services offered vary widely, with only a small percentage facilitating joint discussions or work trial periods, highlighting the need for standardized guidelines to improve RTW practices in line with scientific evidence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Return-to-work policies in Finnish occupational health services. Kivistö, S., Verbeek, JH., Hirvonen, M., et al.[2022]

The concept of Maintenance of Work Ability (MWA) has gained significant popularity in Finland over the past decade, becoming a central focus for promoting workplace well-being and is now a key service offered by occupational health services (OHS).

While MWA is recognized for its positive impacts on workplace productivity and employee health, it has not yet been fully integrated into daily work processes, indicating a need for improved trust, communication, and collaboration, especially in smaller workplaces.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occupational health services and maintenance of work ability at workplaces. Peltomäki, P., Husman, K.[2016]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

RETAIN Kentucky: A return-to-work and stay-at-work program for people with disabilities grounded in the conservation of resources theory. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Employee experiences with early return to work programs. [2014]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Opportunities for Early Intervention to Avoid Prolonged Work Disability: Introduction to the Special Section. [2019]

4. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Rehabilitation and work participation]. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving vocational rehabilitation services for injured workers in Washington State. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A facilitated early return to work program at a large urban medical center. [2019]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Return-to-work policies in Finnish occupational health services. [2022]

8. Croatia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occupational health services and maintenance of work ability at workplaces. [2016]