Top

BMC Health Services Research

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Getting an outsider’s perspective - sick-listed workers’ experiences with early follow-up sessions in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

Authors: Martin Inge Standal, Vegard Stolsmo Foldal, Lene Aasdahl, Egil A. Fors, Marit Solbjør

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore how early follow-up sessions (after 14 and 16 weeks of sick leave) with social insurance caseworkers was experienced by sick-listed workers, and how these sessions influenced their return-to-work process.

Methods

A qualitative interview study with sick-listed workers who completed two early follow-up sessions with caseworkers from the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV). Twenty-six individuals aged 30 to 60 years with a sick leave status of 50–100% participated in semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed with thematic analysis.

Results

Participants’ experiences of the early follow-up sessions could be categorized into three themes: (1) Getting an outsider’s perspective, (2) enhanced understanding of the framework for long term sick-leave, and (3) the empathic and personal face of the social insurance system. Meeting a caseworker enabled an outsider perspective that promoted critical reflection and calibration of their thoughts. This was experienced as a useful addition to the support many received from their informal network, such as friends, family, and co-workers. The meetings also enabled a greater understanding of their rights and duties, possibilities, and limitations regarding welfare benefits, while also displaying an unexpected empathic and understanding perspective from those working in the social insurance system.

Conclusion

For sick-listed individuals, receiving an early follow-up session from social insurance caseworkers was a positive experience that enhanced their understanding of their situation, and promoted reflection towards RTW. Thus, from the perspective of the sick-listed workers, early sessions with social insurance caseworkers could be a useful addition to the overall sickness absence follow-up.

Available only for authorised users

Andersen MF, Nielsen KM, Brinkmann S. Meta-synthesis of qualitative research on return to work among employees with common mental disorders. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2012;38(2):93–104.CrossRefPubMed

Waddell G, Burton AK. Is work good for your health and wellbeing? London, UK: The Stationery Office; 2006.

Aylward SM. Overcoming barriers to recovery and return to work: towards behavioral and cultural change. In: Schultz I, Gatchel R, editors. Handbook of return to work. Boston, MA: Springer; 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7627-7_7.CrossRef

McLeod CB, Reiff E, Maas E, Bültmann U. Identifying return-to-work trajectories using sequence analysis in a cohort of workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Scand J Work Env Hea. 2018;44(2):147–55. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3701.CrossRef

Bültmann U, Sherson D, Olsen J, Hansen CL, Lund T, Kilsgaard J. Coordinated and tailored work rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial with economic evaluation undertaken with workers on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders. J Occup Rehabil. 2009;19(1):81–93.CrossRefPubMed

Palmer KT, Harris EC, Linaker C, Barker M, Lawrence W, Cooper C, Coggon D. Effectiveness of community-and workplace-based interventions to manage musculoskeletal-related sickness absence and job loss: a systematic review. Rheumatology. 2012;51(2):230–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ker086.CrossRefPubMed

Roelen CA, Norder G, Koopmans PC, Van Rhenen W, Van Der Klink JJ, Bültmann U. Employees sick-listed with mental disorders: who returns to work and when? J Occup Rehabil. 2012;22(3):409–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-012-9363-3.CrossRefPubMed

Steenstra IA, Anema JR, Van Tulder MW, Bongers PM, De Vet HC, Van Mechelen W. Economic evaluation of a multi-stage return to work program for workers on sick-leave due to low back pain. J Occup Rehabil. 2006;16(4):557–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-006-9053-0.CrossRefPubMed

Dagenais S, Caro J, Haldeman S. A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally. Spine J. 2008;8(1):8–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.005.CrossRefPubMed

10.

van Duijn M, Eijkemans MJ, Koes BW, Koopmanschap MA, Burton KA, Burdorf A. The effects of timing on the cost-effectiveness of interventions for workers on sick leave due to low back pain. Occup Environ Med. 2010;67(11):744–50. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2009.049874.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Norwegian Directorate of Health. Sykmelderveileder. Nasjonal veileder. [Guidance for sickness certification. National guideline]. https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/veiledere/sykmelderveileder. Accessed 19.03.2024.

12.

Holmgren K, Ivanoff SD. Supervisors’ views on employer responsibility in the return to work process. A focus group study. J Occup Rehabil. 2007;17(1):93–106.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Mazza D, Brijnath B, Singh N, Kosny A, Ruseckaite R, Collie A. General practitioners and sickness certification for injury in Australia. BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-015-0307-9.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

14.

Ose SO, Dyrstad K, Brattlid I, Slettebak R, Jensberg H, Mandal R, Lippestad J, Pettersen I. Oppfølging av sykmeldte–fungerer dagens regime? [Follow-up of sick-listed – does today’s regime work?]. Trondheim, NO: SINTEF; 2013.

15.

Shaw W, Hong QN, Pransky G, Loisel P. A literature review describing the role of return-to-work coordinators in trial programs and interventions designed to prevent workplace disability. J Occup Rehabil. 2008;18(1):2–15.CrossRefPubMed

16.

MacEachen E, McDonald E, Neiterman E, et al. Return to work for Mental Ill-Health: a scoping review exploring the impact and role of return-to-work coordinators. J Occup Rehabil. 2020;30:455–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-020-09873-3.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

17.

Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. (2016). NAV i en ny tid – for arbeid og aktivitet. Meld. St. 33 (2015–2016). [NAV in a new age – for work and activity] Retrieved from https://www.regjeringen.no Accessed 19.03.2024.

18.

Vogel N, Schandelmaier S, Zumbrunn T, Ebrahim S, de Boer WE, Busse JW, Kunz R. Return-to‐work coordination programmes for improving return to work in workers on sick leave. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011618.pub2.

19.

Dol M, Varatharajan S, Neiterman E, McKnight E, Crouch M, McDonald E, Malachowski C, Dali N, Giau E, MacEachen E. Systematic review of the impact on return to work of return-to-work coordinators. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;31(4):675–98.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Markussen S, Røed K, Schreiner RC. Can compulsory dialogues nudge sick-listed workers back to work? Econ J. 2018;128(610):1276–303. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecoj.12468.CrossRef

21.

Nossen JP, Brage S. Aktivitetskrav Og midlertidig stans av sykepenger - hvordan påvirkes sykefraværet? [Activity demands and temporary stop in paid sick leave – how is sickness absence affected?]. Arbeid Og Velferd. 2015;3.

22.

Mandal R, Jakobsen Ofte H, Jensen C, Ose SO. Hvordan fungerer arbeidsavklaringspenger (AAP) som ytelse og ordning? [How does work assessment allowance work as a benefit and arrangement?]. Trondheim, Norway: SINTEF; 2015.

23.

Foldal VS, Solbjør M, Standal MI, Fors EA, Hagen R, Bagøien G. Mfl. Barriers and facilitators for implementing motivational interviewing as a return to work intervention in a Norwegian Social Insurance setting: a mixed methods process evaluation. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;31(4):785–95.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

24.

Standal MI, Foldal VS, Hagen R, Aasdahl L, Johnsen R, Fors EA. Mfl. Health, Work, and Family strain–psychosocial experiences at the early stages of long-term sickness absence. Front Psychol. 2021;12:596073.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

25.

Foldal VS, Standal MI, Aasdahl L, Hagen R, Bagøien G, Fors EA. Mfl. Sick-listed workers’ experiences with motivational interviewing in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1–10.CrossRef

26.

Aasdahl L, Foldal VS, Standal MI, Hagen R, Johnsen R, Solbjør M. Mfl. Motivational interviewing in long-term sickness absence: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial followed by qualitative and economic studies. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1–8.CrossRef

27.

Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Sickness benefits for employees. 2023. Retrieved from https://www.nav.no/en/home/benefits-and-services/Sickness-benefit-for-employees. Accessed 19.03.2024.

28.

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77–101.CrossRef

29.

Shaw WS, Robertson MM, Pransky G, McLellan RK. Employee perspectives on the role of supervisors to prevent workplace disability after injuries. J Occup Rehabil. 2003;13(3):129–42.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Jansen J, van Ooijen R, Koning PWC, et al. The role of the employer in supporting work participation of workers with disabilities: a systematic literature review using an Interdisciplinary Approach. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;31:916–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-021-09978-3.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

31.

Buys NJ, Selander J, Sun J. Employee experience of workplace supervisor contact and support during long-term sickness absence. Disabil Rehabil. 2019;41(7):808–14.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Buys N, Wagner S, Randall C, Harder H, Geisen T, Yu I, Hassler B, Howe C, Fraess-Phillips A. Disability management and organizational culture in Australia and Canada. Work. 2017;57(3):409–19.CrossRefPubMed

33.

Kristman VL, Shaw WS, Boot CR, Delclos GL, Sullivan MJ, Ehrhart MG. Researching complex and multi-level workplace factors affecting disability and prolonged sickness absence. J Occup Rehabil. 2016;26(4):399–416.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

34.

Reme SE. Common Mental disorders and work: barriers and opportunities. Handbook of disability, work and health. 2020:467 – 81. In: Bültmann U, Siegrist J, editors. Handbook of disability, work and health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences. Volume 1. Cham, CH: Springer; 2020.CrossRef

35.

Karlsson E, Legitimacy. and comprehensibility of work-related assessments and official decisions within the sickness insurance system [Internet] [PhD dissertation]. [Linköping]: Linköping University Electronic Press; 2022. (Linköping University Medical Dissertations). https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-183867.

36.

Kristman VL, Boot CR, Sanderson K, Sinden KE, Williams-Whitt K. Implementing best practice models of return to work. Handbook of disability, work and health. 2020:1–25. In: Bültmann U., Siegrist J, editors Handbook of Disability, Work and Health. Handbook Series in Occupational Health Sciences, vol 1. Cham, CH: Springer; 2020.

37.

Christian Ståhl EA, Karlsson J, Sandqvist G, Hensing S, Brouwer EF, Ellen MacEachen. Social insurance literacy: a scoping review on how to define and measure it. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43(12):1776–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1672111.CrossRefPubMed

38.

Karlsson EA, Hellgren M, Sandqvist JL, et al. Social Insurance Literacy among the sick-listed—A study of clients’ comprehension and self-rated system comprehensibility of the Sickness Insurance System. J Occup Rehabil. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-023-10166-8.CrossRefPubMed

39.

Corbière M, Mazaniello-Chézol M, Bastien MF, et al. Stakeholders’ role and actions in the return-to-work process of workers on sick-leave due to Common Mental disorders: a scoping review. J Occup Rehabil. 2020;30:381–419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-019-09861-2.CrossRefPubMed

40.

Müssener U, Ståhl C, Söderberg E. Does the quality of encounters affect return to work? Lay people describe their experiences of meeting various professionals during their rehabilitation process. Work. 2015;52(2):447–55.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Andersen MF, Nielsen K, Brinkmann S. How do workers with common mental disorders experience a multidisciplinary return-to-work intervention? A qualitative study. J Occup Rehabil. 2014;24(4):709–24.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

42.

Haugli L, Maeland S, Magnussen LH. What facilitates return to work? Patients experiences 3 years after occupational rehabilitation. J Occup Rehabil. 2011;21(4):573–81.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

43.

Scharf J, Angerer P, Müting G, Loerbroks A. Return to work after common mental disorders: a qualitative study exploring the expectations of the involved stakeholders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(18):6635.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

44.

Saxon D, Firth N, Barkham M. The relationship between therapist effects and therapy delivery factors: therapy modality, dosage, and non-completion. Adm Policy Ment Health Ment Health Serv Res. 2017;44(5):705–15.CrossRef

45.

Wampold BE, Bolt DM. Therapist effects: Clever ways to make them (and everything else) disappear. Psychother Res. 2006;16(02):184–7.CrossRef

46.

Anderson T, McClintock AS, Himawan L, Song X, Patterson CL. A prospective study of therapist facilitative interpersonal skills as a predictor of treatment outcome. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016;84:57–66.CrossRefPubMed

47.

Røed K. Active social insurance. IZA J Labor Policy. 2012;1(1):8.CrossRef

48.

Landstad BJ, Wendelborg C, Hedlund M. Factors explaining return to work for long-term sick workers in Norway. Disabil Rehabil. 2009;31(15):1215–26.CrossRefPubMed

49.

Aasdahl L, Standal MI, Hagen R, Solbjør M, Bagøien G, Fossen H, Foldal VS, Bjørngaard JH, Rysstad T, Grotle M, Johnsen R. Effectiveness of’motivational interviewing’on sick leave: a randomized controlled trial in a social insurance setting. Scand J Work Env Hea. 2023;49(7):477.CrossRef

Title: Getting an outsider’s perspective - sick-listed workers’ experiences with early follow-up sessions in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Martin Inge Standal
Vegard Stolsmo Foldal
Lene Aasdahl
Egil A. Fors
Marit Solbjør
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11007-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Getting an outsider’s perspective - sick-listed workers’ experiences with early follow-up sessions in the return to work process: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2024

Geographical distribution of emergency obstetric and neonatal care signal functions in Ethiopian health facilities: 2021–2022 Ethiopian service Provision Assessment (SPA)

Towards an integrated type 1 diabetes management in low-resource settings: barriers faced by patients and their caregivers in healthcare facilities in Ghana

Evaluating a targeted person-centred pain management intervention programme in lumbar spine surgery - a controlled segment-specific before-and-after interventional design

A systematic review of workplace triggers of emotions in the healthcare environment, the emotions experienced, and the impact on patient safety

The impact of a regionally based translational cancer research collaborative in Australia using the FAIT methodology

Evaluating the coding accuracy of type 2 diabetes mellitus among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease