Networking of occupational health care units promotes reduction of permanent disability pensions among workers they care: A register‐based study controlled by benchmarking with a 5‐year follow‐up

OBJECTIVES: Early retirement due to disability is a problem in Finland. That causes pension costs that are heavy for the society. This study was designed to find out whether a quality network can support the reduction in incident disability pensions and promote a shift from full to partial disability pensions. METHODS: The study population (N = 41 472 in 2016) consisted of municipal employees whose occupational health care (OHC) was provided by the members of the Finnish Occupational Health Quality Network (OQN). The comparison population consisted of all municipality employees whose OHC was provided by non‐members of the OQN (N = 340 479 in 2016). The outcomes were measured by comparing the trends in incident disability pensions of full and partial permanent pension and full and partial provisional pension, partial/full pension indexes from 2011 to 2016 according to the principles of Benchmarking Controlled Trials. Linear regression models were used to explore the dynamics of different pension forms. Regression coefficients were calculated to show the average change per year. RESULTS: The incidence of permanent disability pensions decreased faster in the study population (P for trend .03) and the study group showed a stronger shift from full to partial permanent pensions (P for trend <.001). CONCLUSION: Quality networking between OHC units including common goal setting, systematic quality improvement, and repeated quality measurements decreased new permanent disability pensions and increased partial permanent pensions. Such changes are important while thriving for increased work participation.