scholarly journals Role of a Digital Return-To-Work Solution for Individuals With Common Mental Disorders: Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Three Stakeholder Groups

10.2196/15625 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. e15625
Author(s):  
Patrik Engdahl ◽  
Petra Svedberg ◽  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Ulrika Bejerholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Service User ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Stakeholder Groups

Background Although effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions are not widely available for individuals with common mental disorders on sick leave, there is potential for transforming such interventions into a digital solution in an effort to make them more widely available. However, little is currently known about the viewpoints of different stakeholder groups, which are critical for successful development and implementation of a digital RTW intervention in health care services. Objective The aim of this study was to examine stakeholder groups’ perspectives on the role and legitimacy of a digital RTW solution called mWorks for individuals with common mental disorders who are on sick leave. Methods A purposeful snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit respondents. Semistructured individual and focus group interviews were conducted for stakeholder groups of service users, RTW professionals, and influential managers regarding their experiences, needs, and preferences for mWorks. Content analysis generated themes and categories that constituted the main findings. Results The legitimacy of a digital RTW solution was high among all stakeholder groups since such a tool was perceived to enable service users to take control over their RTW process. This was mainly a product of accessible support and promotion of service user decision making, which had the potential to empower service users. All respondents stressed the importance of fostering a positive user experience with usability and emphasis on service user resources and strengths, as opposed to various limitations and shortcomings. Stakeholder groups highlighted critical content to facilitate RTW, such as the need to clarify a back-to-work plan, accompanied by an accessible RTW network and strategies for handling mental health problems. Implementation challenges primarily involved influential managers’ concern of legislation incompatibility with innovative technology, and RTW professionals’ concern of the possibility that digital solutions may replace them to a certain extent. Conclusions This formative research emphasizes the importance of shifting power from RTW professionals to service users. mWorks can play a role in mediating service user control over the RTW process, and thereby increase their empowerment. A digital RTW solution may facilitate the circumvention of implementation barriers associated with introducing evidence-based RTW interventions in a traditional RTW context.

scholarly journals Role of a Digital Return-To-Work Solution for Individuals With Common Mental Disorders: Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Three Stakeholder Groups (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Engdahl ◽  
Petra Svedberg ◽  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Ulrika Bejerholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Service User ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Stakeholder Groups

BACKGROUND Although effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions are not widely available for individuals with common mental disorders on sick leave, there is potential for transforming such interventions into a digital solution in an effort to make them more widely available. However, little is currently known about the viewpoints of different stakeholder groups, which are critical for successful development and implementation of a digital RTW intervention in health care services. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine stakeholder groups’ perspectives on the role and legitimacy of a digital RTW solution called mWorks for individuals with common mental disorders who are on sick leave. METHODS A purposeful snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit respondents. Semistructured individual and focus group interviews were conducted for stakeholder groups of service users, RTW professionals, and influential managers regarding their experiences, needs, and preferences for mWorks. Content analysis generated themes and categories that constituted the main findings. RESULTS The legitimacy of a digital RTW solution was high among all stakeholder groups since such a tool was perceived to enable service users to take control over their RTW process. This was mainly a product of accessible support and promotion of service user decision making, which had the potential to empower service users. All respondents stressed the importance of fostering a positive user experience with usability and emphasis on service user resources and strengths, as opposed to various limitations and shortcomings. Stakeholder groups highlighted critical content to facilitate RTW, such as the need to clarify a back-to-work plan, accompanied by an accessible RTW network and strategies for handling mental health problems. Implementation challenges primarily involved influential managers’ concern of legislation incompatibility with innovative technology, and RTW professionals’ concern of the possibility that digital solutions may replace them to a certain extent. CONCLUSIONS This formative research emphasizes the importance of shifting power from RTW professionals to service users. mWorks can play a role in mediating service user control over the RTW process, and thereby increase their empowerment. A digital RTW solution may facilitate the circumvention of implementation barriers associated with introducing evidence-based RTW interventions in a traditional RTW context.

scholarly journals Early and Late Return to Work After Sick Leave: Predictors in a Cohort of Sick-Listed Individuals with Common Mental Disorders

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Ekberg ◽  
Charlotte Wåhlin ◽  
Jan Persson ◽  
Lars Bernfort ◽  
Birgitta Öberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders

scholarly journals Beyond Return to Work: The Effect of Multimorbidity on Work Functioning Trajectories After Sick Leave due to Common Mental Disorders

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Ubalde-Lopez ◽  
I. Arends ◽  
J. Almansa ◽  
G. L. Delclos ◽  
D. Gimeno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Work Functioning

scholarly journals Undetected Common Mental Disorders in Long-Term Sickness Absence

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Joergen Soegaard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Somatoform Disorder ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Two Phase

Background. Undetected Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) amongst people on sick leave complicate rehabilitation and return to work because appropriate treatments are not initiated. Aims. The aim of this study is to estimate (1) the frequencies of CMD, (2) the predictors of undetected CMD, and (3) the rate of return to work among sick listed individuals without a psychiatric disorder, who are registered on long-term sickness absence (LSA). Methods. A total of 2,414 incident individuals on LSA with a response rate of 46.4%, were identified for a two-phase study. The subsample of this study involved individuals registered on LSA who were sick-listed without a psychiatric sick leave diagnosis. In this respect, Phase 1 included 831 individuals, who were screened for mental disorders. In Phase 2, following the screening of Phase 1, 227 individuals were thoroughly examined by a psychiatrist applying Present State Examination. The analyses of the study were carried out based on the 227 individuals from Phase 2 and, subsequently, weighted to be representative of the 831 individuals in Phase 1. Results. The frequencies of undetected mental disorders among all sick-listed individuals were for any psychiatric diagnosis 21%, depression 14%, anxiety 4%, and somatoform disorder 6%. Conclusions. Undetected CMD may delay the initiation of appropriate treatment and complicate the rehabilitation and return to work.

Return to Work After Long-Term Sick Leave: Stories of Employed Women With Common Mental Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Wall ◽  
John Selander
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Collective Narratives ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Female Employees ◽  
Absence From Work ◽  
Open Question

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of female employees on long-term sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMDs), in relation to what they perceive would best help them to return to work. Data were collected through a survey answered by employees at a municipality in Sweden on long-term sick leave. Results of the current study are based on a part of that material, namely from 56 women with CMDs who responded to the final open question. The analysis involves two steps. Initially, we explored themes that form the accounts in the findings. Secondly, based on the themes, collective narratives, storylines were identified. Three different storylines were found to be prominent in the findings. The storylines describe how the participants collectively expressed themselves in relation to the possibilities for return to work, and the following storylines were derived:It feels like too much, Things are moving too fast,andI have to get out of here!. The findings are related to perceived demands, control and support. From a disability management perspective, we have learned the importance of restoring the balance between demands, control and support — not only to prevent absence from work, but also to facilitate return to work after a period of long-term sickness.

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