scholarly journals The Readiness for Return to Work Scale; Does it Help in Evaluation of Return to Work?

Author(s):  
Lene Aasdahl ◽  
Marius Steiro Fimland ◽  
Cecilie Røe

AbstractPurpose The Readiness for Return to Work (RRTW) scale is used to evaluate workers’ readiness to resume work after sick leave. Previous research has questioned the RRTW scale’s constructs and stages. The aim of this study was to assess the unidimensionality of the RRTW scale and its six subscales by evaluating its fit to the Rasch model, and furthermore to assess if Rasch-based scaling would improve its predictive value, compared with the conventional use of the scale. Methods A prospective cohort study with 12 months of follow-up. Individuals (n = 397) sick-listed due to musculoskeletal, unspecified, or common mental health disorders undergoing rehabilitation were included: 191 were full-time sick-listed (not working), and 206 were part-time sick-listed (working). A Rasch analysis was applied to evaluate the measurement properties of the RRTW scale in the working and not working participants at baseline. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess how well Rasch-based scaling predicted future work participation during the 12 months of follow-up. Results The RRTW subscales had too few items to represent underlying dimensions properly, and the items fitted poorly within the subscales. A constructed variable based on the items that fit together for not working individuals poorly predicted future work participation. The individuals’ scores across stages were disordered, indicating a lack of ordered stages. Conclusions This study reveals poor measurement properties of the Norwegian version of the RRTW scale in individuals with musculoskeletal and common mental disorders, with neither the subscales nor the stages closely associated with return to work.

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Landsverk Hagtvedt ◽  
Tine Schauer Eri

<p>Newly qualified midwives’ self-assessment of education, clinical competence and working conditions</p><p>In Norway, post-graduate nursing programmes are being transformed into master programmes. This occurs without previous evaluation of the study programmes. The level of competence and the requirements of newly qualified are being discussed, and a mentoring programme has been suggested to ensure follow-up and development of clinical competence. In central parts of the country, newly qualified midwives have difficulties getting a permanent full time position, which affects their possibilities to develop clinical competence. An evaluation study of the midwifery program at Vestfold University College has been performed to assess its relevance for professional work, as well as mapping the respondents’ working conditions and their self-assessment of clinical competence. The method used was a survey. The respondents rate the program as good. They lack competence to manage complicated conditions related to the perinatal period, and are inadequate when it comes to issues related to women’s sexual heath. These midwives work part-time, and it may take years to get a permanent position. They rate the follow-up as newly qualified as satisfying, yet they do not feel sufficiently confident during clinical practice. Comprehensive national midwifery competence will require more full time positions and better follow-up of newly qualified. To lay the basis for the content in master programmes, there is a need for a national evaluation of the midwifery programmes and a review of the professional competence of newly qualified.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Julie Hulcombe ◽  
Sandra Capra ◽  
Gillian Whitehouse

Objective The aim of this study was to provide a detailed description of the flexible working arrangements (FWA) used by allied health professionals (AHP) on return from maternity leave. This is a crucial issue for staff management practices in a changing regulatory context. Methods A retrospective convenience sample of AHP employed by Queensland Health (QH) in 2006, using deidentified payroll data, was analysed descriptively to determine employment status on return from maternity leave in 2006 to December 2014. A qualitative study that surveyed managers of AHP departments was subsequently undertaken to complement the data from the payroll study. Twelve managers, across six allied health professions in three hospitals in south-east Queensland were surveyed for this component. Results The payroll study included 169 employees (138 full-time equivalent (FTE)), 61 of whom resigned over the study period. Of those who returned to work after the 2006 maternity event (n=152), 92% (n=140) initially returned part-time. At 31 December 2014, of the 108 staff working for QH, 77% (n=83) were part-time. In total, 75.4 FTE positions were released over the 8-year period through reduced working hours and resignations. The perceptions of surveyed managers were consistent with the data from the payroll study. Conclusion The study showed that most AHPs who took maternity leave returned to work part-time and remained part-time for an extended period. The data suggest that managers could permanently backfill a proportion of hours released due to FWA after maternity leave without major budgetary risk due to the need to accommodate existing employees’ entitlements. However, this would require a significant policy change. What is known about this topic? Current research on this topic has concentrated on the benefits of paid maternity leave, timing of return to work and use of FWA by employees on return to work after maternity leave. What does this paper add? This paper presents the first comprehensive data on patterns of return to work and part-time hours following maternity leave for AHP employees. Access to a unique payroll dataset provided the opportunity to describe this for a cohort of AHP employees over a period of 8 years following a maternity event. A survey of AHP managers’ experience with maternity leave and return to work arrangements supported the findings, underlining the associated difficulties with staff management. What are the implications for practitioners? The hours released through resignations or reduced hours over this period of study suggest that management could backfill a proportion of released hours permanently, or at least offer temporary staff longer-term contracts, once an employee returns from maternity leave on reduced hours


Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 4719-4724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos de Lima ◽  
Sara S. Strom ◽  
Michael Keating ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Sherry Pierce ◽  
...  

Abstract Chemotherapy produces extended remissions, and potential cures, in a small minority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We explored whether potentially cured patients were at increased risk of subsequent invasive cancer and were able to return to work. Potentially cured patients were defined as those in first or second complete remission (CR) for at least 3 years based on hazard rates for recurrence or death in CR, which declined sharply after this time. Patients who received allogeneic marrow transplant were excluded. We used questionnaires, phone contact, and chart review to obtain information about subsequent cancer and work status. The number of patients who developed invasive cancer was compared with the number expected based on age, gender, and years of follow-up using the Connecticut Tumor Registry. A total of 215 patients met our criteria for potential cure: 203 in first CR and 12 in second CR (of 1,663 treated between 1965 and December, 1992). At a median of 9.2 years from first or second CR, 163 (76%) remain alive in CR. Fifteen patients developed 18 invasive cancers (expected number of patients, 8.8; observed/expected, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.96 to 2.84; P = .06). Patients initially treated between 1973 to 1979, patients above the potentially cured cohort's median age of 40 years, and those who presented with abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7 were more likely to develop subsequent cancer, whereas the observed/expected ratio for younger patients was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.13 to 3.80; P = .56). Seventy-four percent of the patients who were working full-time and who were under age 50 at time of treatment for AML have been working full-time in the last 6 months. Only 17 of 56 patients who are currently not working cited physical limitation as the reason. Patients with potentially cured AML are likely to be able to return to work, and at least if younger do not, on average, have an increased risk of invasive cancer.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 650-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tore N. Braathen ◽  
Søren Brage ◽  
Gunnar Tellnes ◽  
Øyeflaten Irene ◽  
Jensen Chris ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágnes Engler

A tanulmányban a felsőoktatás ritkán vizsgált hallgatói csoportjának, a munka és (vagy) család mellett, részidős képzésben tanuló felnőtt hallgatók tanulmányi beruházásait vizsgáltuk. A részidős képzésben tanulókat érintő tudományos jellegű megkeresések leginkább a diplomaszerzést követően történnek a diplomás utánkövetéses vizsgálatok keretében. Ennek során a felsőoktatásban végzettek szakmai életútját munkaerő-piaci szemszögből kísérik figyelemmel, érdeklődve a diploma megszerzését követő karrierállomásokról, a diploma beválthatóságáról, munkaerő-piaci pozicionálásról, a tanulmányokba történő befektetések megtérüléséről és hozamairól. A felnőttoktatás felől közelítve ugyancsak elmondható, hogy a kutatási kérdések szintén szűk körben keresnek választ a felnőttek tanulási aspirációjára vagy eredményességére. Vizsgálatunkban a tanulási döntéseket, tanulási motivációkat és az eredményességet kísérjük figyelemmel, mégpedig a tanulmányi életút függvényében.***In this peaper we wish to deal with a group of students in higher education who usually receive little attention: the students pursuing their studies while they have a full-time job and a family. Sociological research dealing with people earning a degree as part-time students usually reaches the students after graduation, in the form of follow-up examinations. These projects follow the career of graduates from the aspects of the labour market, asking questions about the stations in the career of the individuals after graduation, the return of the investment made into education, the value of the degree in the labour market. Even the research projects approaching the issue from the aspects of higher education usually do not seek an answer to questions regarding the aspirations of the students for learning, or the success of their learning process. In our examination we research the learning decision, motivation and efficiency of mature students in the light of the academic life.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 447-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eira Viikari-Juntura ◽  
Lauri J Virta ◽  
Johanna Kausto ◽  
Ilona Autti-Rämö ◽  
Kari-Pekka Martimo ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e024597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisebet Skeie Skarpaas ◽  
Lise Aasen Haveraaen ◽  
Milada Cvancarova Småstuen ◽  
William S Shaw ◽  
Randi Wågø Aas

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess if the reported provision of a coordinator was associated with time to first return to work (RTW) and first full RTW among sick-listed employees who participated in different rapid-RTW programmes in Norway.DesignThe study was designed as a cohort study.SettingRapid-RTW programmes financed by the regional health authority in hospitals and Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration in Norway.ParticipantsThe sample included employees on full-time sick leave (n=326) who participated in rapid-RTW programmes (n=43), who provided information about the coordination of the services they received. The median age was 46 years (minimum–maximum 21–67) and 71% were female. The most common reported diagnoses were musculoskeletal (57%) and mental health disorders (14%).InterventionsThe employees received different types of individually tailored RTW programmes all aimed at a rapid RTW; occupational rehabilitation (64%), treatment for medical or psychological issues, including assessment, and surgery (26%), and follow-up and work clarification services (10%). It was common to be provided with a coordinator (73%).Primary and secondary outcome measuresOutcomes were measured as time to first RTW (graded and 100%) and first full RTW (100%).ResultsEmployees provided with a coordinator returned to work later than employees who did not have a coordinator; a median (95% CI) of 128 (80 to 176) days vs 61 (43 to 79) days for first RTW, respectively. This difference did not remain statistically significant in the adjusted regression analysis. For full RTW, there was no statistically significant difference between employees provided with a coordinator versus those who were not.ConclusionsThe model of coordination, provided in the Norwegian rapid-RTW programmes was not associated with a more rapid RTW for sick-listed employees. Rethinking how RTW coordination should be organised could be wise in future programme development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Eftedal ◽  
Torill H. Tveito ◽  
Ulrik Gensby ◽  
M. Kamrul Islam ◽  
Stein Atle Lie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs) are the most frequent reasons for long-term sick leave and work disability. Occupational rehabilitation programs are used to help employees return to work (RTW). However, knowledge regarding the effect of these programs is scarce, and even less is known about which programs are best suited for which patients. This study aims to compare the RTW results of two interdisciplinary occupational rehabilitation programs in Norway, as well as to examine the delivery and reception of the two programs and explore the active mechanisms of the participants’ RTW processes. Methods/design We will use a mixed-method convergent design to study the main outcome. Approximately 600 participants will be included in the study. Eligible study participants will be aged 18–60 years old and have been on sick leave due to MSDs, CMDs, or both for at least 6 weeks. Interdisciplinary teams at both participating clinics will deliver complex occupational rehabilitation programs. The inpatient rehabilitation program has a duration of 4 weeks and is full time. The outpatient program has a duration of 3 months and involves weekly sessions. The primary outcome is RTW. Secondary outcomes are differences in the incremental cost for an averted sick leave day, cost utility/benefit, and differences between the programs regarding improvements in known modifiable obstacles to RTW. Subgroup analyses are planned. The researchers will be blinded to the intervention groups when analyzing the quantitative RTW data. Discussion This study aims to provide new insights regarding occupational rehabilitation interventions, treatment targets, and outcomes for different subgroups of sick-listed employees and to inform discussions on the active working mechanisms of occupational rehabilitation and the influence of context in the return-to-work process. Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN12033424, 15.10.2014, retrospectively registered.


1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-78
Author(s):  
Yves Herry ◽  
Denis Levesque ◽  
Laverne Smith ◽  
David Marshall

The employment status of 420 Francophone students who graduated in 1991 from an Ontario French-language teacher education program was assessed, one and two years after graduation. One year after graduation, 265 graduates (63%) held full-time teaching positions; 38 (9%) held part-time teaching positions; and 63 (15%) were working as supply teachers. At the two-year follow-up, 6 percent of the respondents who were not employed as teachers at the one year follow-up had signed teaching contracts; whereas 12 percent who had held a teaching position a year earlier had lost their teaching jobs. Fifty seven percent of the respondents were found to be employed as teachers at both the one- and two-year follow-ups. Twenty-five percent of the sample had failed to secure a teaching position at either follow-up.


Author(s):  
Camilla Løvvik ◽  
Simon Øverland ◽  
Morten Birkeland Nielsen ◽  
Henrik Børsting Jacobsen ◽  
Silje Endresen Reme

Abstract Objective In this study, we examined exposure to workplace bullying as a predictor of registry-based benefit recipiency among workers struggling with work participation due to common mental disorders. Further, we examined if the experience of receiving social support moderated the association between workplace bullying and benefit recipiency. Design Secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial. Patients People struggling with work participation due to common mental disorders (CMD). Methods Study participants (n = 1193) were from a randomized controlled trial (The At Work and Coping trial (AWaC), trial registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01146730), and self-reported CMD as a main obstacle for work participation. Participants were at risk of sickness absence, currently on sickness absence or on long-term benefits. Benefit recipiency indicated sickness absence and/or long-term benefits (i.e., disability pension) at 6-month follow-up. Results Of the 1193 participants, 36% reported exposure to workplace bullying. Workplace bullying was significantly associated with benefit recipiency at 6-month follow-up (OR 1.41, CI 1.11–1.79). Social support did not moderate the association between bullying and benefit recipiency. Conclusions The finding that workplace bullying increases the risk of later benefit recipiency suggest that bullying is a significant obstacle for work participation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document