Does the quality of encounters affect return to work? Lay people describe their experiences of meeting various professionals during their rehabilitation process

Müssener, Ulrika; Ståhl, Christian; Söderberg, Elsy

doi:10.3233/wor-152121

Cited by 26 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…This is in line with the findings from a similar study in Sweden, where sickness benefit officials offered a counseling session with unemployed long-term sick-listed workers using a MI approach [14]. Support and encouragement from various professionals may empower and enable the sick-listed worker to RTW [10], and by establishing a good relationship the RTW professional may help the sick-listed worker to overcome obstacles during the RTW process [34]. Despite differences in characteristics, the sick-listed workers in the present study experienced MI as a positive intervention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…In the follow-up procedure for sick leave in Norway, caseworkers at the NAV operate as both RTW professionals and as controllers of sickness benefits [38]. This double role can be a conflicting paradox [34] that may hinder a good relationship [10]. In the present study, participants did not report that MI caseworkers controlled their rights to sickness benefits during the MI sessions, which indicates that this was not a barrier to forming a good relationship during the MI sessions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Previous studies have shown that sick-listed workers consider insurance officials to be distant, lacking trust, and questioning the sick-listed workers' credibility, which may lead to powerlessness during the RTW process [10,33]. Positive encounters were described in a previous study [33], where the professionals asked what the sicklisted workers wanted and where the participants were treated with respect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Planning how and when to RTW after long-term sick leave is difficult for the individual worker, and adhering to a RTW plan may also be challenging [9]. Support and encouragement from RTW professionals, such as social insurance caseworkers and health care professionals, may empower and enable the sick-listed worker to RTW [10]. Two important predictors for RTW are social support and self-efficacy [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sick-listed workers’ experiences with motivational interviewing in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

et al. 2020

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Background: When returning to work after being on long-term sick leave, individuals may experience varying levels of motivation and self-efficacy. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling style that aims to increase motivation towards change, and it may be useful in the return to work (RTW) process. The aim of this study was to explore sick-listed workers' experiences with MI in the RTW process. Methods: This qualitative study was part of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of MI on the RTW process, and it was administered by caseworkers at the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration. Sixteen sicklisted individuals, aged 33-60, participated in semi-structured interviews. All had a sick leave status of 50-100% for at least 8 weeks when interviewed and all had completed 2 MI sessions. The data was analyzed with systematic text condensation. Results: Participants' experiences of the MI sessions were categorized into three themes: (1) relationship with the MI caseworker, (2) normalizing sick leave, and (3) adjusting RTW strategies. The MI sessions were experienced as a positive encounter due to the supportive relationship that was built between the MI caseworker and the sick-listed worker. Being sick listed led to feelings of guilt and stigmatization, but acceptance and support from the MI caseworkers helped normalize the situation for the sick-listed workers. Furthermore, MI sessions allowed for personalized feedback and discussions on adjustments to their RTW strategies. Conclusion: Sick-listed workers experienced MI as positive due to the good relationship that developed with the MI caseworker, how this normalized sick leave, and the help they received with adjusting their RTW strategies. Professionals working with individuals attempting to RTW may benefit from using MI as a method for helping sick-listed workers to RTW. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03212118 (registered July 11, 2017).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sick-listed workers’ experiences with motivational interviewing in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

et al. 2020

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“…Among these factors are age, sex, socioeconomic status, work demands, RTW-coordination and multidisciplinary interventions [6]. The interactions with the stakeholders involved in the process, such as the health care system and case managers at the Social Insurance Agency (SIA) have also been suggested as important influences in the RTW process [7][8][9]. The literature on RTW is extensive and has investigated the issue from different perspectives, for example interventions to facilitate RTW, factors that promote and hinder RTW and the importance of social interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work ethics and societal norms influence sick leave and return to work: tales of transformation

Moldvik

Ståhl

Müssener

2020

Disability and Rehabilitation

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Purpose: This study's purpose was to explore how people on sick leave manage societal norms and values related to work, and how these influence their perspectives of themselves throughout the rehabilitation process. Materials and methods: This was a longitudinal interview study with a narrative approach, comprising 38 interviews with 11 individuals on long-term sick leave. Data collection was conducted in two phases and analysed iteratively through content analysis. Results: The results suggest that work ethics and societal norms influence individuals' views of themselves and the sick leave and rehabilitation process. Conforming one's personal values to the work norm can create internal conflicts and cause feelings of shame for not being able to live up to the established norm. The strong work norm may create unrealistic expectations, which in some cases may result in constraining the return to work process. Conclusion: To transform a sick leave narrative into a positive one, societal norms and their influence on identity needs to be recognised. Stakeholders involved in the process can contribute to a positive transformation by not only supporting return to work, but also to acknowledge and help people manage their self-image as having a disability that limits their ability to work. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Stakeholders involved in the sick leave and rehabilitation process need to support sick listed individuals by acknowledging and helping people manage their self-image. Full RTW is not always the best option from a quality of life and wellbeing perspective. Treatment and support from stakeholders should be viewed as meaningful and legitimate, even if it does not lead to RTW.

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Respectful encounters from healthcare professionals and return to work among 9032 long-term sick-listed due to cancer or due to other diagnoses: results from a Swedish population-based survey

Månsson

Lynøe

Alexanderson

et al. 2019

Support Care Cancer

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Purpose To examine whether experiences of positive respectful encounters and negative disrespectful encounters differ between sickness absentees with a cancer diagnosis and sickness absentees with other diagnoses, especially in relation to their ability to return to work (RTW). Methods A total of 9032 long-term sickness absentees in Sweden responded to a questionnaire (response rate 52%) about experiences of positive and negative encounters with healthcare professionals. The association between different types of such encounters and participants feeling respected or disrespected were calculated with population attributable risk with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The perceived impact on ability to RTW was also examined. Results Significantly, larger proportions among those who experienced a positive encounter and also felt respected stated that those encounters facilitated their ability to RTW, compared to those who experienced a positive encounter without feeling respected: among cancer absentees the difference in proportions were 21% (CI, 7–34) versus 50% (CI, 45–55); among absentees with other diagnoses 42% (CI, 37–47) versus 63% (CI, 61–64). Similar comparisons among sick-listed who experienced negative encounters indicated that also feeling disrespected impeded ability to RTW among a significantly larger proportion of those with other diagnoses [51% (CI, 48–54) versus 35% (CI, 31–39) of those not feeling disrespected]. Among cancer absentees, the corresponding proportions were 20% (CI, 9–30) versus 25% (CI, 9–41). Conclusions Compared to sickness absentees with other diagnoses, a larger proportion of cancer sickness absentees stated that they were facilitated by respectful encounters and not impeded by disrespectful encounters, regarding self-estimated ability to RTW. More research is needed to examine whether these differences can be associated with use of a patient-centered encountering approach.

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Does the quality of encounters affect return to work? Lay people describe their experiences of meeting various professionals during their rehabilitation process

Abstract: U n c o r r e c t e d A u t h o r P r o o fAbstract.

Cited by 26 publications

References 20 publications

Sick-listed workers’ experiences with motivational interviewing in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

Sick-listed workers’ experiences with motivational interviewing in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

Work ethics and societal norms influence sick leave and return to work: tales of transformation

Respectful encounters from healthcare professionals and return to work among 9032 long-term sick-listed due to cancer or due to other diagnoses: results from a Swedish population-based survey

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