1 Department of Education and Pedagogy, Career Counseling, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. corbiere.marc@uqam.ca.
2 Research Centre, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. corbiere.marc@uqam.ca.
3 Research Chair in Mental Health and Work, Foundation of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. corbiere.marc@uqam.ca.
4 Department of Education and Pedagogy, Career Counseling, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
5 Research Centre, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
6 Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
7 Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
8 School of Criminology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
9 John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are highly prevalent in workplace settings, and have become a significant public health challenge. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of PRATICA^dr, a web application facilitated by a Return-to-Work Coordinator (RTW-C), with a focus on reducing sick leave duration and preventing relapse in individuals with CMDs.

Methods: PRATICA^dr, designed to enhance collaboration among Return-to-Work (RTW) stakeholders and provide systematic support throughout the RTW process, was evaluated in a quasi-experimental study. Survival analyses were used to compare sick leave durations and relapses between the experimental group (PRATICA^dr with RTW-C), and control groups (RTW-C only). Both conditions had equal distribution of 50% from large public health organizations (n = 35) and 50% from a large private financial organization (n = 35). Mixed linear models were used to observe changes in clinical symptoms over time, especially for the experimental group.

Results: The experimental group demonstrated significantly shorter sick leave durations and fewer relapses compared to the control group. Notably, the average absence duration was close to 3 months shorter in the experimental group. This difference was found when the RTW-C intervention (rehabilitation care) began 2 months after the onset of sick leave. Relapses occurred only in the control group (13.2%). The absence of relapses in the experimental group is noteworthy, along with the significant decrease in depressive and anxious symptoms over time.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that incorporating PRATICA^dr into RTW-C intervention can lead to substantial cost savings by facilitating coordination among stakeholders and guiding the RTW process with validated tools. Initiation of RTW-C intervention alongside PRATICA^dr within the first month of absence is recommended for optimal health and work outcomes.