Introduction
Methods
Study Population
Sick-Listed Workers
OHC Professionals
Case Managers of Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
The Participatory Supportive RTW Program
Steps | Explanation |
---|---|
Step 1. Consult RTW coordinator
| The RTW coordinator examines the sickness benefit claim |
The sick-listed worker receives a take-home-assignment to list and prioritize obstacles for RTW | |
Step 2. Consult insurance physician
Within 2 weeks after allocation to the intervention team | The insurance physician performs a medical assessment |
The insurance physician contacts the sick-listed worker’s healthcare provider(s) in order to agree upon RTW options | |
Step 3. Inventory of obstacles for RTW
| The labor expert supports the sick-listed worker in identifying and prioritizing obstacles for RTW, from the sick-listed worker’s point of view |
The labor expert supports the RTW coordinator in identifying and prioritizing obstacles for RTW, from a professional point of view | |
Step 4. Brainstorm session
Within 2 weeks after meeting the insurance physician | The labor expert summarizes the three main obstacles for RTW identified by the sick-listed worker and the three main obstacles identified by the RTW coordinator |
The sick-listed worker and the RTW coordinator think of solutions to overcome each obstacle for RTW | |
The sick-listed worker and the RTW coordinator think of suitable work | |
The labor expert tries to reach consensus between the sick-listed worker and the RTW coordinator about solutions and suitable work | |
The labor expert summarizes the proposed solutions and suggestions for suitable work in a RTW action plan | |
Step 5. Preparation for implementation
Within 1 week after the brainstorm session | The insurance physician considers whether the RTW action plan is in line with the physical and mental work capacities of the participant |
Comments of the insurance physician are integrated into the RTW action plan | |
The labor expert sends the final action plan to the sick-listed worker, RTW coordinator and insurance physician | |
The labor expert underlines the sick-listed worker’s own responsibility in the search for suitable work | |
The labor expert refers the sick-listed worker to a vocational rehabilitation agency for support in the search for a suitable job | |
Step 6. Placement in a matching competitive workplace
Within 4 weeks after contracting the vocational rehabilitation agency | The case manager offers the sick-listed worker at least two suitable workplaces |
The sick-listed worker is placed in a suitable workplace | |
Step 7. Evaluation
Four weeks after contracting the vocational rehabilitation agency | The RTW coordinator contacts the sick-listed worker and the case manager of the vocational rehabilitation agency to inquire if the sick-listed worker has found/been placed in a suitable workplace |
The sick-listed worker will be supported in the job search by two more vocational rehabilitation agencies, in case the first agency has not been able to place the participant in a suitable job. Support in the job search will be continued for two more months | |
The case manager of the vocational rehabilitation agency informs the RTW coordinator on the progress of the job search/placement in a suitable job |
Data Collection
Process Measures
Recruitment
Reach
Dosage
Fidelity
Barriers and Facilitators for Realization of RTW and Implementation of the Program
Satisfaction and Experiences
Data Analysis
Results
Recruitment
Sick-Listed Workers
Recruitment procedures | Explanation |
---|---|
1. Invitation by Dutch SSA | Workers without a (permanent) employment contract who had applied for a sickness benefit at the SSA because of mental health problems and were belonging to one of the participating SSA offices, received an invitation package from the medical advisor of the SSA 1–2 weeks after sick-listing |
The package included an invitational letter, a flyer with information about the study, a consent form for contact, a screening questionnaire and a return envelope | |
The sick-listed workers were invited to fill out the forms, and send these back to the researchers | |
2. First check of eligibility by screening questionnaire | The returned screening questionnaires were assessed by the researcher or a research assistant for a first check of eligibility |
3. Screening for in- and exclusion criteria by telephone | The sick-listed workers with a positive screening result were contacted by the researcher by telephone to give more information about the study and to screen for (other) in- and exclusion criteria |
Sick-listed workers who were screened positive and were willing to participate, were invited to an intake meeting at the SSA | |
4. Intake meeting at SSA office | Prior to the intake meeting, the sick-listed workers received a brochure with detailed information about the study procedures |
The sick-listed worker was included in the study, after signing informed consent and completion of the baseline questionnaire | |
After inclusion, randomization and allocation of the sick-listed worker to the control- or intervention group was performed |
OHC Professionals
Case Managers of Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Reach
Sick-Listed Workers
OHC Professionals
Dosage
Variable | All intervention group participants (n = 94)c
| Intervention group participants who actually participated in the intervention (n = 36) |
---|---|---|
Gender, n (%) female | 45 (48 %) | 18 (50 %) |
Age in years, mean (SD) | 45.7 (10.6) | 44.3 (9.1) |
Type of worker | ||
N (%) unemployed worker | 88 (94 %) | 34 (94 %) |
N (%) temporary agency worker | 4 (4 %) | 1 (3 %) |
N (%) fixed-term contract worker whose employment ended during sickness absence | 2 (2 %) | 1 (3 %) |
Educationa
| ||
N (%) low | 26 (28 %) | 10 (28 %) |
N (%) middle | 50 (53 %) | 20 (56 %) |
N (%) high | 18 (19 %) | 6 (17 %) |
Temporary employment contract in last job, n (%) | 60 (64 %) | 24 (67 %) |
Work schedule in last job | ||
N (%) day work | 72 (77 %) | 28 (78 %) |
N (%) irregular work/flexible schedules | 18 (19 %) | 7 (19 %) |
N (%) shift work | 4 (4 %) | 1 (3 %) |
Working hours per week in last job, mean (SD) | 32.6 (11.6) | 34.3 (9.0) |
Years worked in last job, mean (SD) | 10.0 (10.0) | 8.3 (9.8) |
4DSQb
| ||
Distress scale score, mean (SD) | 25.8 (5.1) | 25.8 (4.6) |
Depressive scale score, mean (SD) | 6.6 (3.7) | 6.3 (3.3) |
Anxiety scale score, mean (SD) | 10.7 (6.0) | 10.4 (5.8) |
Somatic scale score, mean (SD) | 14.9 (6.0) | 15.7 (6.2) |
Fidelity
General Level
Steps | Duration of intervention (in days) according to | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protocol (max) | Practice (study) | ||||
Mean | Median | SD | Range | ||
Allocation to intervention team → Consult insurance physician (n = 35)a
| 14 | 33.7 | 15.0 | 38.7 | 1–144 |
Consult insurance physician → Brainstorm session (n = 31)a
| 14 | 26.0 | 20.0 | 21.5 | 1–80 |
Brainstorm session → Referral to vocational rehabilitation agency (n = 29)a
| 7 | 16.7 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 1–62 |
Referral to vocational rehabilitation agency → First suitable job offered by agency (n = 22)a
| 28 | 25.6 | 25.0 | 18.8 | 2–84 |