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Health-related quality of life in patients with Burnout on sick leave: descriptive and comparative results from a clinical study

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), the cause of being ill, and the pharmacological treatment in patients on sick leave because of Burnout. The HRQoL among these patients was also compared with that of individuals who were working full time.

Methods

HRQoL was measured using the SWED-QUAL questionnaire, comprising 67 items grouped into 13 subscales, scored from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) points, and covering aspects of physical and emotional well-being, cognitive function, sleep, general health, social, and sexual functioning. The Burnout group (n = 94), mean age 43 years, were on 50 % sick leave or more. The comparison group consisted of healthy persons (n = 88) of similar age and educational level who were working full time.

Results

The Burnout group had markedly low scores in general. The cause of illness was mainly work-related. Psychotropic medication was prescribed for 55 %. Significantly lower scores were found in the Burnout group than in the comparison group in all subscales, p < 0.001. The median differences in scores ranged from 10 to 56 points. Differences rated by effect size were large, 0.85–2.01.

Conclusions

Patients on sick leave because of Burnout rated their HRQoL as very low in general, their cause of being ill was mainly work-related, and psychotropic medication was prescribed for a majority. Their scores were markedly lower in all subscales in comparison with healthy individuals working full time. The study adds to our understanding of the situation of patients with Burnout. The results can be useful in clinical work and future research.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Emeritus in statistics, Sven-Erik Johansson, and Statistician Robert Szulkin for statistical support; Language Editor Jane Wigertz for useful comments on the text; Research Nurse Kirsti Westerlund for support with administration and laboratory work; the staff at Liljeholmen Primary Health Care Center for support with facilities and laboratory work; and colleagues at the Division of Family Medicine for valuable comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by an Ekhaga Foundation research Grant, 2001-5, and a Stockholm County Council research Grant (Pickup), 2003-7555. Dr. Grensman was partially supported by the Stockholm County Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Stockholm, Sweden

    Astrid Grensman, Bikash Dev Acharya, Per Wändell & Gunnar Nilsson

  2. The Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Sigbritt Werner

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  1. Astrid Grensman
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  2. Bikash Dev Acharya
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Correspondence to Astrid Grensman.

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Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee South at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and it was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association General 2004). All persons gave their informed consent prior to inclusion in the study.

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Grensman, A., Acharya, B.D., Wändell, P. et al. Health-related quality of life in patients with Burnout on sick leave: descriptive and comparative results from a clinical study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 319–329 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1075-5

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