scholarly journals Health, Work, and Family Strain – Psychosocial Experiences at the Early Stages of Long-Term Sickness Absence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin I. Standal ◽  
Vegard S. Foldal ◽  
Roger Hagen ◽  
Lene Aasdahl ◽  
Roar Johnsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Health Work ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Experiences ◽  
Returning To Work

BackgroundKnowledge about the psychosocial experiences of sick-listed workers in the first months of sick leave is sparse even though early interventions are recommended. The aim of this study was to explore psychosocial experiences of being on sick leave and thoughts about returning to work after 8–12 weeks of sickness absence.MethodsSixteen individuals at 9–13 weeks of sick leave participated in semi-structured individual interviews. Data was analyzed through Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method.ResultsThree themes emerged: (1) energy depleted, (2) losing normal life, (3) searching for a solution. A combination of health, work, and family challenges contributed to being drained of energy, which affected both work- and non-work roles. Being on sick leave led to a loss of social arenas and their identity as a contributing member of society. Participants required assistance to find solutions toward returning to work.ConclusionEven in this early stage of long-term sick leave, sick listed workers faced complex challenges in multiple domains. Continuing sick leave was experienced as necessary but may challenge personal identity and social life. Those not finding solutions may benefit from additional early follow-up that examine work-related, social and personal factors that influence return to work.

scholarly journals Utvidet egenmelding – en vei mot riktigere sykefravær?

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Fleten ◽  
Line Krane ◽  
Roar Johnsen
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Extended Self ◽  
Medical Certificate ◽  
Returning To Work ◽  
The Right

<p><strong><em>Bakgrunn: </em></strong>Kunnskapen om hvilken betydning rett til bruk av egenmelding har for sykefravær og sykefraværsmønster er svært begrenset. Denne studien undersøker effekten på korttidsfraværet av en utvidet egenmeldingsordning.</p><p><strong><em>Materiale og metode: </em></strong>Kristiansand kommune med 5700 ansatte (4300 årsverk) innførte 1. april 2002 rett for sine ansatte til å selv dokumentere sykefravær på inntil 50 dager fordelt på 1-10 perioder som et kontrollert intervensjonsforsøk. Dialog med arbeidsplassen var forutsatt for både egenmeldt og legemeldt fravær når fraværet hadde vart i 5 dager.</p><p><strong><em>Resultat: </em></strong>Forsøket viste at egenmelding i stor grad erstattet legemelding for fravær med inntil en ukes varighet. Gjennomsnittslengden av sykefraværet i arbeidsgiverperioden på 16 dager ble forkortet med 0,8 dager. Kurven for tilbakevending til arbeid tilsvarte forventet tilfriskningskurve uten de karakteristiske toppene ved fem, syv og 14 dager som en ser ved legemeldt fravær. Både antall korte sykefravær og andel av ansatte med korttidsfravær økte, men til tross for en forventet registreringseffekt økte ikke sykefraværet som prosent av mulige arbeidsdager i arbeidsgiverperioden.</p><p><strong><em>Konklusjon: </em></strong>Utvidet egenmeldingsrettigheter med strukturert oppfølging fra arbeidsplassen resulterte i et endret mønster for korttidsfravær som kan indikere at dagens ordninger for egenmeldt fravær ikke er tilpasset arbeidstakernes behov.</p><p> </p><p>Fleten N, Krane L, Johnsen R. <strong>Extended self-certification - a step towards more appropriate </strong><strong>sickness absence? </strong><em>Nor J Epidemiol </em>2009; <strong>19 </strong>(2): 223-228.</p><p> </p><p><strong>E</strong><strong>NGLISH SUMMARY</strong></p><p><strong><em>Background: </em></strong>Knowledge on the consequences of extended self-certification for sickness absence is sparse. This study examines changes in short term sickness absence due to comprehensive extension in the selfcertification scheme.</p><p><strong><em>Aim: </em></strong>To explore any effect on short term sick leave by introducing generous self-certification entitlements combined with structured workplace follow-up.</p><p><strong><em>Method: </em></strong>Kristiansand Municipality with 5700 employees, introduced as a two years trial in April 2002 the right to self certificate sickness absence for until 50 days per year, divided on 1 until 10 periods. Arendal was control municipality. When the sickness absence had lasted for 5 days a structured dialog with the working place was scheduled, regardless self-certification or any medical certificate issued by a physician.</p><p><strong><em>Results: </em></strong>The study indicates that extended self-certification halved medical certificates issued by a physician for sickness spells less than a week. The average length of sickness absence limited to the employerfinanced period on 16 days was reduced with 0.8 days. The curve for returning to work corresponded to the expected getting-well curve, i.e. without the typical peaks at 5, 7 and 14 days seen for physician certified sickness spells. Both the numbers of short term sick leave and the portion of employees with short term sick leave increased. Still the sickness absence, as percent of possible workdays during the employerfinanced period, was stable.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion: </em></strong>The results from the study indicate that extended self-certification reduces the length of the short term sickness absences. This effect on short term sickness absence, proposes that extended selfcertification might be a step towards a more need-adjusted sickness absence pattern.</p>

scholarly journals An explorative interview study of men and women on sick leave with a musculoskeletal diagnosis seeking an acceptable life role

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla-Britt Eriksson ◽  
Staffan Janson
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Life Roles ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Depth Interviews

Introduction: A dramatic increase in sicknesses absence in Sweden has led to a shift in the public debate. Departing from the view of sickness absence as a result of a poor work environment and stress, the debate in the early 2000s became more concerned with the breakdown of norms and the abuse of sickness insurance. Sickness absence became the responsibility of the individual rather than of society.Aim: This study has sought to explore the consequences of being on sick leave with a musculoskeletal diagnosis, the experiences of encounters with rehabilitation professionals, and the attitudes towards sick-listing from the perspective of the sick-listed persons. Methods: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted in 2010 with eight women and nine men aged 33-60 who were on long-term sick leave (at least 60 days) with a musculoskeletal diagnosis. We analysed the data using a grounded-theory approach. Results: There was an obvious tension between work strategy as a societal norm and finding an acceptable life role when sick-listed. Four groups with partially differing experiences and perceptions crystallized out of the total population. These experiences and perceptions formed their choice of different acceptable life roles and strategies for gaining self-respect and the respect of others. Discussion: The fact that the four groups that emerged from our study experienced their sickness absence in different ways and their pathways back to work were different demonstrates the value of not considering those on sick leave with a musculoskeletal diagnosis as a homogeneous group. The results imply that rehabilitators should adopt a sensitive approach based on the sickness absentees’ wishes and views since the latter spend much of their time and thought during their period of sickness on counteracting distrust in search of an acceptable life role to regain respect.

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.

scholarly journals Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain – the struggle within: A qualitative study of the patient's experience

Work ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cormac G. Ryan ◽  
Douglas Lauchlan ◽  
Leigh Rooney ◽  
Caroline Hollins Martins ◽  
Heather Gray
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Patient’S Experience ◽  
Returning To Work

Sickness absence and disability pension in a cohort of employees initially on long-term sick leave due to psychiatric disorders in Sweden

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Vaez ◽  
Gunnar Rylander ◽  
Åke Nygren ◽  
Marie Åsberg ◽  
Kristina Alexanderson
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Disability Pension

scholarly journals Long-term sickness absence among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

2011 ◽  
Vol 199 (5) ◽  
pp. 430-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Kristin Knudsen ◽  
Max Henderson ◽  
Samuel B. Harvey ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Occupational Disability ◽  
Treatment Service ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Returning To Work

SummaryChronic fatigue syndrome is associated with high levels of occupational disability. Consecutive out-patients at a chronic fatigue syndrome treatment service were studied for associations between occupational status, symptom severity and cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms. All patients had high symptom levels; however, those on long-term sickness absence had significantly more physical fatigue (β = 0.098, P<0.05) and worse sleep (β = 0.075, P<0.05). Patients with long-term sickness absence also demonstrated more embarrassment avoidance cognitions (β = 0.086, P<0.05) and avoidance resting behavioural responses (β = 0.078, P<0.05). Identifying and addressing avoidance behaviours and cognitions regarding embarrassment in interventions may enhance the chances of individuals returning to work.

scholarly journals Relational social capital: Norwegian women’s experiences of the process of being on sick leave and the path back to work

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv Johanne Solheim
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Domestic Sphere ◽  
Public Benefits ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Returning To Work ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: The reduction of the number of people that drop out of the labour force and temporarily receive public benefits has increasingly been a political priority in Norway since the early 1990s. In particular, there has been a focus on reducing sick leave. However, none of the efforts in this direction has had the desired effects. To succeed, more knowledge is needed regarding the factors that create the illnesses influencing the length of the sickness leave.Aim: The purpose of this article is to study how relational social capital, both at work and home, has an impact on the experience of being on long-term sick leave and the process of returning to work.Methods: Individual in-depth interviews have been performed with 20 women between 25 and 60 years old. They were all sick-listed for more than 30 days during 2013 with mental illness or musculoskeletal diagnoses.Results: The study illustrates how long-term sickness absence can threaten the identity and self-confidence of the sick-listed persons. The effects of relational social capital are expressed through personal relationships with their family members, friends, colleagues, and managers at their workplace. Individuals with high social capital in both the workplace and the domestic sphere have the best prospects for recovering and returning to work. High workplace capital may, to a certain degree, compensate for low domestic social capital. Single mothers with low social capital both in their domestic life and in their workplace are the most vulnerable.Conclusion: Relational social capital influences both the experience of being on sick leave and the process of returning to work. The efforts to reduce sickness leave should therefore focus on not only the sick-listed person, but also their relationships with their family and in their workplace, as well as the interplay between these.

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