[5-Year-Follow-up of the MEmbeR Multicenter Study on Medical-Occupational Rehabilitation]. / 5-Jahres-Follow-Up der multizentrischen Evaluationsstudie zur medizinisch-beruflichen Rehabilitation (MEmbeR).

In Germany, medical-occupational rehabilitation represents an essential link between rehabilitation programs focusing either on medical or occupational rehabilitation. Its main objective is return to work. The current study presents the vocational integration 5 years after medical-occupational rehabilitation and determines possible prognostic factors for long-term occupational integration. To evaluate the effectiveness of medical-occupational rehabilitation, a 5-year-follow-up interview was conducted with participants (n=105) of the multicenter study on medical-occupational rehabilitation (MEmbeR). As a main result, 76% of the participants were still employed 5 years after medical-occupational rehabilitation and the return to work rate was 57%. Prognostic factors for long-term occupational integration could not be identified. However, a low degree of disability, an unrestricted capacity for teamwork as well as an unrestricted ability to judge might be beneficial factors for a successful reintegration. The high amount of participants who returned to work 5 years after medical-occupational rehabilitation, supports the concept of medical-occupational rehabilitation. However, more studies are needed to identify further factors influencing the outcome.

[The MEmbeR Multicenter Study on medical-occupational rehabilitation]. / Multizentrische Evaluationsstudie zur medizinisch-beruflichen Rehabilitation (MEmbeR).

INTRODUCTION: MEmbeR is a prospective multi-center study on medical-occupational rehabilitation in Germany. METHODS: 196 neurological, psychiatric, orthopaedic, and internal medicine patients from 21 rehabilitation centres all across Germany have been enrolled and followed-up for 2 years after discharge. Primary outcome parameter was defined as return to work. Further, the SF-12 and a Mini-ICF-Rating have been used. RESULTS: Mean age was 34.1 (9.9) years, length of stay 150.0 (223.5) days. Prior to occupational rehabilitation, 69.9% were unable to work, 2 years after discharge only 5.6%. Rate of participants seeking a job was reduced from 19.7% to 3.1%. In summary, 78.1% returned to work. Employed participants were younger (32.8 [9.7] vs. 38.5 [9.4] years, p=0.001) and less disabled (Degree of Disablement [GdB]: 20.0 [31.2] vs. 36.1 [33.7], p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The multicenter cohort study MEmbeR provides further knowledge about the outcome of medical-occupational rehabilitation in Germany.

[Effects of a programme for structured outpatient follow-up care after inpatient rehabilitation of obese children and adolescents--a multicentre, randomized study]. / Effekte eines strukturierten ambulanten Weiterbehandlungsprogrammes nach stationärer medizinischer Rehabilitation bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Adipositas - Multizentrische, randomisierte, kontrollierte Studie.

INTRODUCTION: Inpatient rehabilitation is an important contributor to the treatment of child and adolescent obesity with comorbidity in Germany. Thus far outpatient follow-up care has not been subject to research. The main goal of this study is the development and longer-term evaluation of a programme for structured outpatient follow-up care by primary care physicians after inpatient rehabilitation of obese children and adolescents. METHODS: This multicentre, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial enrolled 521 children and adolescents aged 9 - 16 (avg. 13.3) years in 7 cooperating specialized rehabilitation facilities. The patients were randomized at the end of their multimodal inpatient treatment that lasted for 5.9 (+/- 1.2) weeks. The intervention consisted of 12 half-hour outpatient consultations by the primary care physicians utilizing a modular consultation guideline and an internet-based training programme. The control group received standard care. Outcome variables included anthropometric measures, questionnaires on eating behaviour, physical activity, quality of life, self-efficacy and subjective rating of the intervention. Measurements were performed at the beginning (t1) and end (t2) of inpatient rehabilitation as well as 6 (t3) and 12 (t4) months after discharge. RESULTS: There was a highly significant improvement of BMI-z-score (standard deviation score of the Body Mass Index), relevant behaviour, quality of life and self-efficacy between t1 and t4. On intention to treat analysis no differences were detected between intervention and control groups. The intervention was utilized by only 50 % of entitled. The BMI-z-score reached a minimum at t3 (6-month follow-up). Predictors of longer-term BMI-z-score decline were psychological suffering, poor eating behaviour, low physical activity and high socio-economic status. In multivariate linear regression improvement of eating behaviour and physical activity correlated with the improvement of BMI-z-score. DISCUSSION: This low-level outpatient intervention did not improve the demonstrated longer-term effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation. An interdisciplinary outpatient follow-up care in groups with inclusion of the parents is recommended.