Research aimed at reducing the risk of sick leave due to common mental disorders among a working-age population

A problem-solving intervention in the primary care – PROSA

Problem solving involving the workplace is an evidence-based intervention with promising effects in reducing sick leave among employees with common mental disorders. A key element is cooperation between the person on sick leave, his/her employer and health care professionals. The aim is to evaluate the effects of problem solving in the Swedish primary health care system in an employed population on sick leave due to common mental disorders. In addition, we are conducting a parallel process evaluation, a systematic identification of ethical aspects from the perspectives of different stakeholders and an economic evaluation of a work-focused problem-solving intervention, compared to care as usual. Funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte). 

Publication:

Björk Brämberg, E., et al. (2018). Increasing return-to-work among people on sick leave due to common mental disorders: design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a problem-solving intervention versus care-as-usual conducted in the Swedish primary health care system (PROSA). BMC public health 18(1): 889. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30021545/

A problem-solving intervention to enhance return to work among people on sick leave due to common mental disorders:  Psychosocial factors and balance in everyday life

This project is part of the PROSA project.

The project aims to:

(a) analyze the experiences of causes of sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD) and barriers and facilitators in work and private life for return-to-work (RTW) from the perspective of employees and employers; and to evaluate the effect of a problem-solving intervention on:

(b) psychosocial factors at work and balance between work and private life for RTW, and

Data was collected by (a) semi structured interviews and (b) questionnaires. A gender perspective, that considered internal, vertical, and horizontal gender segregation was applied in the qualitative analysis. The results contribute to the development of an evidence-based intervention that is applicable in primary care and develop support structures for employers that recognizes both person and environment. Funded by AFA Insurance.

Publication:

Holmlund L, et al., Exploring reasons for sick leave due to common mental disorders from the perspective of employees and managers – what has gender got to do with it? International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 17(1), 2054081. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2054081

Coordination of return-to-work among employees on sick leave due to CMDs – CORE

New health care interventions need to be based on science and best practice - and potential ethical issues need to be considered.

The purpose was to identify:

(a) facilitators of and barriers to the coordination of return-to-work (RTW) between the primary care services (PCC), the employee on sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMD), and the employers;

(b) ethical issues that arise in the coordination of RTW.

Semi-structured and focus group interviews with coordinators and physicians in PCC; employees on sick leave due to CMD; employers; occupational health professionals; and Swedish Social Insurance Agency officials (n=46) were analyzed thematically. The findings show facilitators and barriers across levels of systems and organizations, and risks of unequal access and support in coordination of RTW. They indicate a need of detailed packaging of coordination, formalization of coordinators’ qualifications and training, and considerations of organizational factors and ethical issues in coordination of RTW. Funded by AFA Insurance.  

Publications:

Björk Brämberg, E., et al. (2019). Facilitators, barriers and ethical values related to the coordination of return-to-work among employees on sick leave due to common mental disorders: a protocol for a qualitative study (the CORE-project). BMJ Open 9(9): e032463. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31530623/

Björk Brämberg, E., et al. (2020). Möjliggörande och hindrande faktorer samt etiska aspekter vid samverkan med syfte att öka återgång i arbete bland personer med psykisk ohälsa. Slutrapport.  https://www.afaforsakring.se/forskning/projektkatalog/Projekt/39440/

Holmlund L, et al. (2020). Coordination of return-to-work for employees on sick leave due to common mental disorders: facilitators and barriers. Disability and rehabilitation 2020 Dec (5):1-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33280451/

Prevention of sick leave at the workplace: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a problem-solving intervention among employees with common mental disorders (PRIME)

We will test a workplace intervention targeting first-line managers.

The aims are to

1) evaluate the problem solving intervention’s effect on sick leave among employees at risk of future sick leave due to common mental disorders,

2) evaluate whether and to what extent it was possible to adhere to the intervention’s protocol, the relationship between the intervention’s key elements and the effect outcome, and to identify the facilitators and barriers to the intervention among first-line managers and employees,

3) explore the first-line manager's organizational resources and the employee’s working/private life-balance and the impact on the effect outcome.

The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial in private sector companies. Funded by AFA Insurance. The project runs until the end of 2023.

Publication:

Björk Brämberg E, et al., Prevention of sick leave at the workplace: design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a problem-solving intervention among employees with common mental disorders. BMC public health 2021;21(1):1756-.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34565357/