Objectives This study examines the short- and long-term effects of a multidisciplinary preventive program on perceived work ability in a population with no severe medical problems.

Methods Altogether 859 public sector employees who participated in the program in 1997–2005 and their 2426 propensity-score-matched controls were studied prospectively. Propensity scores for probability of being granted participation in the program were calculated based on the data on health, health-risk behaviors, and work-related characteristics that were gathered from repeat responses to a survey, national health registers, and employers’ records. Mean scores of perceived work ability (PWA) and prevalence ratios (PR) of suboptimal PWA were calculated after a short-term (mean 1.7 years, up to 4.6 years) and a long-term (mean 5.8 years, up to 9.2 years) follow-up.

Results No beneficial effects were observed with respect to work ability. In comparison to controls, the participants’ risk of suboptimal PWA was actually slightly higher after both the short-term [PR 1.23, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.10–1.39] and long-term (PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06–1.31) follow-ups.

Conclusions These data suggest that the vocationally oriented multidisciplinary preventive program was ineffective in improving work ability among participants with no severe medical problems.

Key terms Finland; Finnish Public Sector Study; multidisciplinary preventive program; primary prevention; propensity score; vocational rehabilitation; work ability; work ability index; work disability