Abstract
BackgroundTo date, mental health problems and mental workload have been increasingly related to long-term sick leave and disability. However, there is, as yet, no structured protocol available for the identification and application of an intervention for stress-related mental health problems at the workplace. This paper describes the structured development, implementation and planning for the evaluation of a return-to-work intervention for sick-listed employees with stress-related mental disorders (SMDs). The intervention is based on an existing successful return-to-work intervention for sick-listed employees with low back pain.MethodsThe principles of Intervention Mapping were applied to combine theory and evidence in the development, implementation and planning for the evaluation of a participatory workplace intervention, aimed at an early return-to-work for sick-listed employees with SMDs. All stakeholders were involved in focus group interviews: i.e. employees recently sick-listed with SMDs, supervisors and occupational health professionals.ResultsThe development of the participatory workplace intervention according to the Intervention Mapping principles resulted in a structured return-to-work intervention, specifically tailored to the needs of sick-listed employees with SMDs. Return-to-work was proposed as a behavioural change, and the Attitude – Social influence – self-Efficacy model was identified as a theoretical framework. Stakeholder involvement in focus group interviews served to enhance the implementation. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial.ConclusionIntervention Mapping was found to be a promising method to develop interventions tailored to a specific target group in the field of occupational health.Trial registrationISRCTN92307123
Highlights
To date, mental health problems and mental workload have been increasingly related to long-term sick leave and disability
The results of some recent studies indicate that sick leave due to this type of complaints can be reduced by activating interventions: an activating intervention supervised by the occupational physician (OP) [4], a combined individual and workplace intervention supervised by labour experts [5], occupational therapy for major depression [6], and a minimal intervention strategy, concentrating on work resumption, provided by the general practitioner [7]
This paper describes the process of adjusting the protocol of the Participatory Workplace (PW) intervention for sick-listed employees with stressrelated mental disorders (SMDs), and applying Intervention Mapping (IM) principles that make it possible to tailor the intervention to this specific target group
Summary
Mental health problems and mental workload have been increasingly related to long-term sick leave and disability. The results of some recent studies indicate that sick leave due to this type of complaints can be reduced by activating interventions: an activating intervention supervised by the occupational physician (OP) [4], a combined individual and workplace intervention supervised by labour experts [5], occupational therapy for major depression [6], and a minimal intervention strategy, concentrating on work resumption, provided by the general practitioner [7]. There is still no structured protocol available to identify (workrelated) mental health problems, to discuss them, and to find solutions to facilitate RTW
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