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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Carolyn S Dewa, MPH, PhD, Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Clarke Division, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada, (416) 535-8501 x4101, carolyn_dewa@camh.net, Jeffrey S. Hoch, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, UWO School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kresge Building, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada, Paula N Goering, RN, PhD, Health Systems Research & Consulting Unit/Dept of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health/University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada, Elizabeth Lin, PhD, Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada, and Michael Paterson, MSc, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, NA, Toronto, ON NA, Canada.
Research Objective: To examine the association between the length of depression-related short-term disability and pharmacological guideline recommended use of antidepressants. Methods: The study uses 1996-1998 administrative data from the short-term disability claims, prescription drug benefit claims, and occupational health department records of three Canadian financial institutions. These employers had nationwide employee bases representing approximately 12% (63,000 workers) of the Finance/Insurance sector; about 2.4% (n=1,492) of these workers experienced a depression-related short-term disability episode. The association between guideline recommended use of antidepressants and the length of short-term disability leave was examined using a multiple regression model. Pharmacological guideline recommended treatment was measured with regard to use of first-line agents, length and duration of antidepressant use as well as timeliness of treatment. The model was adjusted for potentially confounding variables including sex, age, symptom severity and occupational status. Principle Findings: Pharmacological guideline recommended treatment was associated with a significant and negative impact on the length of short-term disability leave for a sub-group of employees. There was on average a 3-week decrease in the short-term disability leave for employees receiving treatment within 30-days of the start of their short-term disability episode. This was equivalent to an average of approximately $3,000 in savings per employee. Conclusions: The study findings support the need for timely intervention for employees who go on short-term disability leave. These results can help payers (e.g., insurance companies, employers, government) develop drug benefits and disability management programs that assist disabled populations return to work.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
Keywords: Depression, Occupational Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.