Abstract
Purpose To study the effectiveness of a multifaceted strategy to implement the participatory approach (PA) for supervisors to increase their self-efficacy in addressing risk of sick leave of employees. Methods Supervisors from three organizations were invited to participate. Randomization was performed at department level. Supervisors (n = 61) in the intervention departments received the implementation strategy consisting of a working group meeting, supervisor training in PA application, and optional supervisor coaching. Supervisors in the control departments (n = 55) received written information on PA. The primary outcome was supervisors’ self-efficacy to apply the PA, measured at baseline and 6 months’ follow-up. The number of employees with whom supervisors discussed work functioning problems or (risk of) sick leave was also assessed. Effects were tested using multilevel analyses. Results The strategy did not increase self-efficacy to apply the PA. Subgroup analyses showed that self-efficacy increased for supervisors who at baseline reported to have discussed (risk of) sick leave with less than three employees during the last 6 months (B = 1.42, 95 % CI 0.34–2.50). Furthermore, the implementation strategy increased the number of employees with whom supervisors discussed work functioning problems or risk of sick leave (B = 1.26, 95 % CI 0.04–2.48). Conclusion Although the implementation strategy cannot be recommended for all supervisors, for supervisors who less frequently discuss (risk of) sick leave with employees the implementation strategy might be helpful.Trial registration NTR3733.
Highlights
When an employee has work functioning problems due to health complaints and is at risk of sick leave, employees and their supervisors usually do not find it easy to discuss these problems [1,2,3]
The implementation strategy increased the number of employees with whom supervisors discussed work functioning problems or risk of sick leave (B = 1.26, 95 % CI 0.04–2.48)
Conclusion the implementation strategy cannot be recommended for all supervisors, for supervisors who less frequently discuss sick leave with employees the implementation strategy might be helpful
Summary
When an employee has work functioning problems due to health complaints and is at risk of sick leave, employees and their supervisors usually do not find it easy to discuss these problems [1,2,3]. The Participatory Approach (PA) is effective to improve return-to-work (RTW), to shorten the duration of sick leave [4,5,6,7,8] and to reduce various health complaints of employees [9,10,11]. Thereby, we aim to prevent employees from sick leave, using PA as indicated prevention targeting employees with early symptoms of being at risk of sick leave [12]
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