gms | German Medical Science

Background: With regard to psychosomatic rehabilitation vocational orientation is becoming more important [1]. When developing innovative aftercare concepts, Internet- and mobile-based applications are increasingly being used. Their effectiveness is well documented [2], however it is unclear whether they positively influence work ability.

Aim: In the Viadukt project, an Internet-based aftercare intervention for depressed men was developed and examined with regard to feasibility, satisfaction and effectiveness [3].

Method: 178 study participants were assigned to an experimental and a control group in a controlled random design. The primary outcome criterion was the depressive symptom score, using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), work ability was measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI). Measurement points were at discharge from the clinic (T0), 4 (T1) and 10 months (T2) after inpatient treatment. The data were evaluated with an intention to treat-approach using regression analyses.

Results/findings: In the aftercare period, a small improvement of the WAI scores was found in both groups. The testing for intervention effects was not significant (t0-t1: t=,262, p=,793; t0-t2: t=-,064, p=,949).

For the BDI, after a significant improvement during inpatient treatment, a slight increase of depression scores was registered in the aftercare period, but the group comparisons were not significant here either (t0-t1: t=-1,731, p=,083; t0-t2: t=-,520, p=,603).

Also no significant intervention effects were found with regard to objective data on work ability (incapacity days) (t0-t1: t=,094, p=,925; t0-t2: t=-,961, p=,337).

Discussion and conclusions: Future research should detect predictors for the successful application of internet-based aftercare interventions and develop systematic interventions to improve the ability to work.