Purpose: In Japan, mental health problems due to work stress among white-collar workers have become an important topic which needs to be addressed. As for the support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave, reliable findings have not yet been reported. The purpose of the present study was to obtain findings concerning support for workers who are returning to work after sick leave. Method: We analyzed cases studies of white-collar workers between Jan. 1983 and May 2009. Results: We identified 9 types of support; sick leave, change of work place, change of boss, change of work, decreasing work load, introduction of a decreased work load period, limiting work, consultation with corporate health care staff, and intervention by a party other than the company. Discussion: Generally speaking, it has been revealed that each support has both positive and negative influences upon employees returning to work. In addition, consulting with corporate health care staff (p<0.01) showed significantly higher rates of no relapse into depression than in the absence of such consulting. However, this finding might be accompanied with a problem of potential bias with respect to published articles, and the relationship between health care professionals (i.e., physicians, occupational nurses, counselors, etc.) and a depressive worker. In addition, the content and date of a company's support for a worker returning to work might vary significantly. Thus, we need to be very careful in interpreting these findings.
(San Ei Shi 2010; 52: 267-274)

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Background: Sleep hygiene education has been important health issue in the health promotion and the prevention of lifestyle-related deseases. A feasible and effective method is necessary for population approach. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a non-face-to-face brief behavioral program for a sleep improvement in workplaces. Methods: Research design was a cluster control trial. Three hundred and thirty participants were allocated to the bibliotherapy group (BTG; n=130) or self-control group (SCG; n=200). Two groups were recruited from separated local sections of a Japanese company each other. There was no eligibility criteria and the intervention was open to every worker in the workplaces. All participants received a self-help booklet and information on recent topics of insomnia-related health problems. SCG participants set several behaviors for habit improvement and monitored those behaviors for 4 wk additionally. The replies to the questionnaire showed that almost all of them had any sleep disturbances. Results: A total of 158 participants in SCG (79%) and a total of 106 participants in BTG (82%) responded to the post questionnaire. Sleep parameters of pre and post questionnaires were compared between SCG and BTG. Overall, sleep onset latency was reduced and sleep efficiency was improved. The significant changes were found in only SCG. Re-analysis of pre and post 3-days' sleep diaries showed that the subjects in both group improved significantly in the main variables (total sleep time, number of awakenings, time spent awake, sleep efficiency). Sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, and daytime sleepiness improved significantly in only SCG. Conclusion: These results suggest that an additional target setting and self-monitoring could promote the effectiveness for sleep improvement of a bibliotherapy.
(San Ei Shi 2010; 52: 276-284)

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[in Japanese]

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