Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health
We are a multidisciplinary team that do research on methods for identifying risks for ill-health and promoting health at the workplace and in private life. There are huge advantages of investing in the work environment and in health-related interventions both for the individual, employer and society. A prerequisite for these advantages to occur is however that research results are implemented and used in practice.
We do research on healthy and productive work environments
We aim to promote evidence-based practice in health promoting interventions at the workplace by:
Developing and evaluating methods to promote health, workability and productivity
Evaluate the method’s cost-effectiveness
Develop support for effective implementation
Develop methods for occupational health economic analysis
Evaluate interventions from an occupational health economic perspective
Our research area includes organisational and social work environment, work-health work environment, work-health economics, and two main disease areas (musculoskeletal conditions and mental ill health) which are the two most prevalent causes of sickness absence and reduced workability.
The unit works actively to develop knowledge within occupational health and methods to promote occupational health. Research is conducted within collaboration with external partners, such as the occupational health services and employer representative partners from both the public and private sectors. In collaboration with other universities we have developed Kompetenscentret för företagshälsa.
Finally, we are involved in teaching on master-and doctoral-level, for example within the master-program Work and health and the doctoral course Intervention- and implementation research.
Projects:
Return to work/improving work ability among employees with stress or common mental disorders
Multilevel Interventions to Promote Mental Health in SMEs and Public Workplaces, H-WORK
Rehabilitation guarantee: Evaluation of the initiation of the national rehabilitation guarantee for common mental disorders and backpain.
SPA or Stress prevention at work (prevention of stress-related mental ill-health in the workplace)
Problemlösning vid psykisk ohälsa I Arbetslivet (PIA-studien) – Genusmedveten utvärdering av en insats utförd vid företagshälsovården
”Should I stay, or should I go”: A study on teachers’ motivation to stay at their workplace
Evidence based practice within the Swedish occupational health services
Promoting evidence-based practice within occupational health
To evaluate the economic effects of OSH interventions in the workplace
We do research on musculoskeletal conditions and sports medicine
One of the research areas of the unit concerns pain conditions and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including the back, neck and sports medicine, and the association with psychology and mental health.
Several ongoing studies aim to:
Understand the mechanisms of pain conditions relating to overload and trauma
Explore the prevalence, incidence and course of musculoskeletal pain
Develop and evaluate preventive and rehabilitative interventions for musculoskeletal pain and injuries, including health economy
Understand the mechanisms of effective interventions
Identify risk-factors for musculoskeletal pain and injuries.
Our research is conducted with networks of practicing clinicians, occupational health services, employers and sports associations.
Read more about the research group MATRix (MAnual Therapy Research).
Read more about the research group MUSIC (Musculoskeletal & Sports Injury Epidemiology Center).
Projects:
Employees' preferences for physical activity as a strategy for managing low back pain
The Karolinska Handball Study – KHAST I. Shoulder injuries in adolescent elite handball players
Evidence based practice within the Swedish occupational health services
Promoting evidence-based practice within occupational health
We do research on common mental disorders
Common mental disorders (CMDs) i.e. mild to moderate depression, anxiety, adjustment and stress-related disorders are common and increases mainly among young adults. Diagnoses related to such ill-health is the predominant cause of sick leave in Sweden today. The focus on our research is to find ways to promote health and prevent stress and CMDs.
Several studies are ongoing with focus on:
Understanding and identifying risk factors for CMD
Developing and evaluating methods for reducing sick leave due to CMD and increasing return to work
Developing and evaluating methods for the prevention of stress at the workplace, and rehabilitative measures for employees suffering from CMD, in which the employee’s workability is a central part
Investigating the possible influence of sex and gender
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of different methods
Developing and evaluating methods for efficient transfer of knowledge, from research into practice
Understanding the mechanisms behind bullying and harassment
Projects:
Multilevel Interventions to Promote Mental Health in SMEs and Public Workplaces, H-WORK
SPA or Stress prevention at work (prevention of stress-related mental ill-health in the workplace)
Problemlösning vid psykisk ohälsa I Arbetslivet (PIA-studien) – Genusmedveten utvärdering av en insats utförd vid företagshälsovården
Evidence based practice within the Swedish occupational health services
Promoting evidence-based practice within occupational health
We do research on implementation
One of the unit’s research areas is implementation research which is aimed at promoting the implementation of evidence-based methods within different setting, for example schools and companies.
Studies are conducted with a focus on:
the development and evaluation of guidelines within occupational health
the development and evaluation of implementation strategies
evaluating implementation processes
Projects:
Evidence based practice within the Swedish occupational health services
Promoting evidence-based practice within occupational health
Head of Unit
Lydia Kwak
Senior LecturerUnit Members
Occupational health
The main focus of this research is the development and evaluation of cost-effective evidence-based practice in OHS to promote work ability, health and productivity. Read more about the research programme Occupational Health Service.