The promotion of employees’ well-being and productivity is crucial for our society as well as organizations, pointing to the need of research on interventions that can enhance work ability, physical health, and mental health (23, 24). With technological advancements, digital prevention interventions have become accessible to large segments of the population who may not have access to conventional prevention services (25). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a digital prevention intervention with a conventional prevention program, BETSI/RV Fit, regarding work ability, physical health, and mental health in professionals experiencing initial impairments, as well as to examine the role of age and gender on the effectiveness of the interventions.
The findings of this study suggest that both digital and conventional prevention programs were effective in terms of improving work ability. This is in line with previous research that has shown that digital interventions can lead to improvements in work ability (26). The initial steep increase in work ability in both groups during the first 12 weeks of the intervention is also consistent with previous studies that have reported rapid improvements in work ability following workplace interventions (27). The deceleration in the rate of enhancement of work ability, especially among the control group, over the ensuing 12-week period is consistent with earlier observations, indicating that continued interventions and aid may be necessary to sustain improvements in work ability. The standard regimen of Betsi/RV Fit incorporates a self-directed training phase in the latter half of the program, which may not offer an equivalent degree of direction and assistance as the supervised program during the initial 12 weeks. These findings are in accordance with previous research, which suggests that enduring advancements in work capacity may require ongoing support and intervention (28). The age-specific effects found in this study are also consistent with previous research, suggesting that age can influence the effectiveness of workplace interventions on work ability (29).
The present study did not find a significant effect for either time, group, or interaction on physical health, even when age and gender were included in the analyses. These results suggest that the effects of preventive interventions, whether digital or conventional, may require more time to develop an impact on physical health. Therefore, longer-term interventions and observations may be necessary to uncover any potential effects on physical health. This finding is consistent with previous research that has highlighted the importance of long-term interventions in improving physical health outcomes (30). Moreover, it has been suggested that digital interventions may have the potential to improve physical health outcomes over a longer period of time (31). Nonetheless, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of preventive interventions on physical health.
For mental health, the results of the present study revealed a significant time effect in the form of both a linear and a quadratic trend. Specifically, there was an initial steep increase in mental health during the first 12 weeks of the prevention programs, followed by a slower increase in the second half of the programs. These findings suggest that the first 12 weeks of the interventions are crucial for achieving significant improvements in mental health. Moreover, the linear trend remained significant even when age and gender were included in the analysis of variance. This finding is consistent with prior research suggesting a linear relationship between the duration of interventions and mental health outcomes (32).
The present study's findings demonstrated that the effects of digital and conventional prevention interventions on work ability and mental health were moderated by age. Specifically, younger participants exhibited a greater improvement in work ability and mental health following the digital prevention intervention, while older participants benefited more from the conventional prevention intervention. These findings are in line with prior research that has identified age as a significant factor influencing the efficacy of digital interventions for mental health (33). It is possible that older adults may experience more barriers to using mobile-based mental health interventions, such as concerns about technology literacy, privacy, and security, and may prefer more conventional, face-to-face interventions (34). Conversely, younger adults may be more comfortable and familiar with digital technology and therefore may benefit more from digital interventions. Nonetheless, these findings highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to different age groups in order to maximize their effectiveness and reach. Future studies could explore how to further adapt digital interventions to meet the unique needs and preferences of older adults as well as how to overcome potential barriers to their use.
The present study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of a digital and conventional prevention program on work ability, physical health, and mental health outcomes. However, there are limitations to consider. Firstly, the quasi-experimental design of the study may limit its generalizability. A randomized controlled trial would have been more appropriate to test the effectiveness of the prevention program rigorously. Secondly, the absence of a control group without any prevention program may have allowed unknown factors to influence the interventions' effects, and therefore, the effects cannot be solely attributed to the interventions. Thirdly, the small sample size may have impacted the study's statistical power. Increasing the sample size would have allowed for greater precision in estimating the effects of the prevention programs. Lastly, the lack of follow-up assessments is an important limitation, as it is unclear whether the improvements in work ability and mental health observed during the intervention phase would persist over time. Future research should conduct long-term follow-up assessments to determine the sustainability of the prevention program's effects.
This study on the effectiveness of digital and conventional prevention programs has important implications for both research and practice. For research, the study highlights the importance of utilizing rigorous research designs, such as randomized controlled trials, and increasing sample sizes to improve the validity and generalizability of study findings. Future research should also incorporate follow-up assessments to examine the sustainability of intervention effects over time. For practice, the study suggests that both digital and conventional prevention programs can be effective in improving work ability and mental health. However, it is important for practitioners to carefully consider the characteristics of their target population and to select the most appropriate prevention program for their needs. The findings indicate that a digital intervention shows particular promise for younger individuals, while older individuals are more likely to benefit from conventional interventions. Nonetheless, it is possible that age-specific effects will diminish as older populations become more accustomed to digital technologies.