Abstract
BackgroundThe percentage of older and chronically ill workers is increasing rapidly in the US and in many other countries, but few interventions are available to help employees overcome the workplace challenges of chronic pain and other physical health conditions. While most workers are eligible for job accommodation and disability compensation benefits, other workplace strategies might improve individual-level coping and problem solving to prevent work disability. In this study, we hypothesize that an employer-sponsored group intervention program employing self-management principles may improve worker engagement and reduce functional limitation associated with chronic disorders.MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial (RCT), workers participating in an employer-sponsored self-management group intervention will be compared with a no-treatment (wait list) control condition. Volunteer employees (n = 300) will be recruited from five participating employers and randomly assigned to intervention or control. Participants in the intervention arm will attend facilitated group workshop sessions at work (10 hours total) to explore methods for improving comfort, adjusting work habits, communicating needs effectively, applying systematic problem solving, and dealing with negative thoughts and emotions about work. Work engagement and work limitation are the principal outcomes. Secondary outcomes include fatigue, job satisfaction, self-efficacy, turnover intention, sickness absence, and health care utilization. Measurements will be taken at baseline, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. A process evaluation will be performed alongside the randomized trial.DiscussionThis study will be most relevant for organizations and occupational settings where some degree of job flexibility, leeway, and decision-making autonomy can be afforded to affected workers. The study design will provide initial assessment of a novel workplace approach and to understand factors affecting its feasibility and effectiveness.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT01978392 (Issued November 6, 2013)
Highlights
The percentage of older and chronically ill workers is increasing rapidly in the US and in many other countries, but few interventions are available to help employees overcome the workplace challenges of chronic pain and other physical health conditions
Self-management principles for Provide introductions; establish rapport; provide a coping with chronic pain and fatigue scientific and philosophical rationale; differentiate self-management from medical management; recognize workplace challenges and constraints; set the general scope and agenda for future sessions
The present study will evaluate the effectiveness of an employer-supported group intervention program designed to benefit workers with chronic physical health conditions
Summary
Study context In the US, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation for employees with disabling health conditions, and a job position must be held open for a sick worker from 3 months to several years, depending on the state of jurisdiction and whether the illness is deemed work-related. The study methodology involves recruiting employees with chronic conditions from five worksites, randomizing them to participate in a group intervention program or to a wait-list control arm, and assessing changes in baseline worker engagement and work limitations at 6- and 12-month follow-up. As recruitment of workers will occur over a period of time, a computer-generated block randomization schedule (with equal sized groups for every 20 participants) will be maintained by the project statistician and used to assign individuals to the intervention or control conditions, and separate randomization schedules will be maintained for each of the five participating employers. Group intervention strategy Participants randomized to the intervention arm will be assigned to participate in five 2-hour group workshop sessions (or ten 1-hour sessions, if necessary to meet scheduling constraints) led by a specially trained facilitator (licensed psychologist or clinical social worker) and provided over a span of approximately 2–3 months. The WLQ has been shown sensitive to the effects of intervention [38]
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