Abstract
BackgroundIn 2013 vocational rehabilitation programmes (VRP) were given official and legal approval under Danish law to assist occupationally marginalized citizens in gaining general life skills, building their work ability, and increasing their chances of entering the work force. The project’s aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the health, psychosocial and work circumstances of participating citizens, and of the important processes and mechanisms underlying the potential effects of participating in the VRP.MethodsThis study uses an exploratory mixed methods approach with sequential use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants are citizens assigned to an individually tailored VRP in the municipality of Sonderborg, Denmark. The quantitative part of the study consists of a longitudinal survey in which participants complete questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up one year later. Variables include demographic and personal characteristics, the latter ascertained through validated questionnaires on well-being, physical activity, interpersonal problems, general health, work ability, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, depression and anxiety. The qualitative part of the study consists of semi-structured interviews and observations that explore experiences related to VRP. Participants will be recruited and data collected from questionnaires, interviews and observations in the period February 2016 – March 2018.DiscussionThis research will assemble a unique corpus of knowledge about the characteristics, experiences and outcomes of occupationally marginalized citizens participating in a VRP. It will identify potential enablers and barriers to a successful outcome, and ultimately this knowledge will help inform the future design of individually tailored VRP’s.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02641704, date of registration December 29, 2015.
Highlights
In 2013 vocational rehabilitation programmes (VRP) were given official and legal approval under Danish law to assist occupationally marginalized citizens in gaining general life skills, building their work ability, and increasing their chances of entering the work force
More research is needed on the role of rehabilitation professionals and on their willingness to collaborate with relevant key stakeholders, such as vulnerable citizens and their employers [13]
This paper describes the design of an exploratory mixed methods study, which based on studies in the social service sector in Denmark, will contribute knowledge about occupationally marginalized citizens and their participation in VRP’s
Summary
In 2013 vocational rehabilitation programmes (VRP) were given official and legal approval under Danish law to assist occupationally marginalized citizens in gaining general life skills, building their work ability, and increasing their chances of entering the work force. The project’s aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the health, psychosocial and work circumstances of participating citizens, and of the important processes and mechanisms underlying the potential effects of participating in the VRP. Vocational rehabilitation for those situated on the margins of the work force is a challenge in most Western societies. The positive findings of several individual placement and support studies [8, 9], Andersen et al BMC Health Services Research (2018) 18:517 which consider competitive employment as the only outcome of interest, have promoted further discussions of the way vocational rehabilitation is offered. More research is needed on the role of rehabilitation professionals and on their willingness to collaborate with relevant key stakeholders, such as vulnerable citizens and their employers [13]
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