Individual Processes Research Articles

Self-directed learning versus traditional didactic learning in undergraduate medical education: a systemic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundSelf-Directed Learning (SDL) is a theory of andragogy in which adult learners take their own initiative to identify and tailor their individual learning process and outcomes. In undergraduate medical education, SDL aims to develop medical students into lifelong learners. This study aims to estimate the overall effectiveness of self-directed learning compared to traditional didactic learning (TDL).MethodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement. A systematic search was used across PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed articles spanning from January 1, 2014, to May 30, 2024. Key words used were “self-directed learning” AND “undergraduate medical education.” Forest plots were generated with the Open Meta-analyst Software, comparing SDL and TDL.ResultsA total of 2,955 titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility, of which 95 articles met the eligibility criteria for full-text review. Following a more detailed screening, 19 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review and 14 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The systematic review included 2,098 students while the meta-analysis included 1,792 students. The overall mean difference for all studies was 2.399, 95% CI [0.121–4.678], and I2 = 98.56%.ConclusionSelf-directed learning compared to traditional didactic learning is an effective learning strategy in medical undergraduate education and has the potential to aid in students’ learning and improve their cognitive performance. Moreover, SDL nurtures qualities such as autonomy, curiosity, and self-regulation, which are essential for success in the ever-evolving field of medicine.

Top-down and emotional attention in blind and sighted individuals.

There is evidence that congenitally blind individuals possess superior auditory perceptual skills compared to sighted people. However, relatively little is known about the auditory-specific cortical correlates of spatial attention in the blind and how task-irrelevant emotional stimulus features could further modulate such neural processes. This study tested blind and sighted participants in a challenging auditory discrimination task. All participants were blindfolded and seated between loudspeakers at 45-degree angles, while pseudowords were randomly presented. The task was to identify target sounds from either the left or the right speaker while ignoring nontarget stimuli, the irrelevant loudspeaker, and irrelevant speaker identity. Emotional valence-neutral, happy, fearful, threatening-of pseudowords was task-irrelevant, focusing solely on syllable detection. Our focus was on measuring the moment-to-moment deployment of auditory-selective attention. This was achieved using the lateralized N2ac event-related potential component characterised by greater negativity at anterior electrodes on the side contralateral to an attended auditory stimulus and observed 75 to 250 ms after stimulus onset. We observed that blind individuals showed better behavioural performance and reduced N2ac amplitudes than sighted individuals. Furthermore, for both groups, N2ac amplitudes were increased for the target compared to nontarget stimuli and stimuli appearing at spatially relevant versus irrelevant locations. Our study highlights the superiority of auditory processing capabilities in blind individuals. The results also highlight the N2ac component's sensitivity to top-down attentional engagement and emotional attention, offering new insights into how blind and sighted individuals process auditory information.

Behavioral and Electrophysiological Assessment of Central Auditory Processing in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell anemia has a genetic origin characterized by an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. The nervous system may be subject to vaso-occlusion and, consequently, affect the proper functioning of the central portion of hearing. To assess central auditory skills and analyze short- and long-latency auditory evoked potentials in children with sickle cell disease. Cross-sectional study. All children had normal hearing thresholds, and their central auditory processing underwent behavioral assessment with a battery of tests involving dichotic and monotic listening, binaural interaction, and temporal processing. The electrophysiological assessment used short- and long-latency auditory evoked potentials. Descriptive statistics were performed. Of the 28 subjects evaluated (mean age of 9.46years), 18 were females and 10 were males. Central auditory processing disorder was identified in 85.7% of the children. The auditory skills of figure-ground for verbal sounds, binaural interaction, and complex temporal ordering were the most affected. An increase in the absolute latencies of Waves III and V was observed in the short-latency potential. Individuals with sickle cell disease have central auditory processing disorder, identified primarily by behavioral assessment.

Exploring the Intersection of ADHD and Music: A Systematic Review

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting both children and adults, which often leads to significant difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and working memory. These challenges can impact various cognitive and perceptual domains, including music perception and performance. Despite these difficulties, individuals with ADHD frequently engage with music, and previous research has shown that music listening can serve as a means of increasing stimulation and self-regulation. Moreover, music therapy has been explored as a potential treatment option for individuals with ADHD. As there is a lack of integrative reviews on the interaction between ADHD and music, the present review aimed to fill the gap in research. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PsychInfo (Ovid), PubMed, and Web of Science. A narrative synthesis was conducted on 20 eligible studies published between 1981 and 2023, involving 1170 participants, of whom 830 had ADHD or ADD. The review identified three main areas of research: (1) music performance and processing in individuals with ADHD, (2) the use of music listening as a source of stimulation for those with ADHD, and (3) music-based interventions aimed at mitigating ADHD symptoms. The analysis revealed that individuals with ADHD often experience unique challenges in musical tasks, particularly those related to timing, rhythm, and complex auditory stimuli perception, though these deficits did not extend to rhythmic improvisation and musical expression. Most studies indicated that music listening positively affects various domains for individuals with ADHD. Furthermore, most studies of music therapy found that it can generate significant benefits for individuals with ADHD. The strength of these findings, however, was limited by inconsistencies among the studies, such as variations in ADHD diagnosis, comorbidities, medication use, and gender. Despite these limitations, this review provides a valuable foundation for future research on the interaction between ADHD and music.

Perovskite Nanocrystal Self-Assemblies in 3D Hollow Templates.

Highly ordered nanocrystal (NC) assemblies, namely, superlattices (SLs), have been investigated as materials for optical and optoelectronic devices due to their unique properties based on interactions among neighboring NCs. In particular, lead halide perovskite NC SLs have attracted significant attention owing to their extraordinary optical characteristics of individual NCs and collective emission processes like superfluorescence (SF). So far, the primary method for preparing perovskite NC SLs has been the drying-mediated self-assembly method, in which the colloidal NCs spontaneously assemble into SLs during solvent evaporation. However, this method lacks controllability because NCs form random-sized SLs at random positions on the substrate, rendering NC assemblies in conjunction with device structures, such as photonic waveguides or microcavities, challenging. Here, we demonstrate template-assisted self-assembly to deterministically place perovskite NC SLs and control their geometrical properties. A solution of CsPbBr3 NCs is drop-casted on a substrate with lithographically defined hollow structures. After solvent evaporation and removal of excess NCs from the substrate surface, NCs remain only in the templates, thereby defining the position and size of these NC assemblies. We performed photoluminescence (PL) measurements on these NC assemblies and observed signatures of SF, similar to those in spontaneously assembled SLs. Our findings are crucial for optical devices that harness embedded perovskite NC assemblies and enable fundamental studies on how these collective effects can be tailored through the SL geometry.

Mind in others' shoes: Neuroscientific protocol for external referent decision awareness (ERDA) in organizations.

This study investigates the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying External Referent Decision Awareness (ERDA) within organizational contexts, focusing on hierarchical roles (Head, Peer, Staff). Twenty-two professionals participated, and electroencephalographic (EEG frequency band: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) and autonomic indices (skin conductance and cardiovascular indices) were recorded, while personality traits and decision-making styles were assessed. Results revealed higher Delta and Theta activation in the left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) during Peer-related decisions, reflecting increased social cognition and ambiguity regulation in those contexts. Gamma activity, associated with high-order cognitive processes, was prominent in the left frontal cortex across all roles, indicating complex decision evaluation. These findings underscore the complexity of low-frequency bands (Delta and Theta), involved in emotional regulation and social cognition, while high-frequency bands (Gamma) reflect cognitive integration and decision complexity. Furthermore, autonomic data showed higher Skin Conductance Levels (SCL) for Head decisions, suggesting greater emotional involvement.The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between avoidant decision-making styles and the neural and behavioral evaluations of leader decisions, suggesting reduced engagement of neurocognitive systems involved in reward processing and evaluative judgment in individuals with a tendency to avoid decision-making. Additionally, higher extraversion correlated with more favorable evaluations of decisions made by Staff, potentially indicating greater activation in neural circuits associated with social reward and group dynamics. In conclusion, these findings suggest that neural activity and personality traits interact to shape hierarchical decision-making awareness, highlighting the need for tailored leadership and decision-making strategies in organizations.

Gene expression comparisons between captive and wild shrew brains reveal captivity effects.

Compared with their free-ranging counterparts, wild animals in captivity experience different conditions with lasting physiological and behavioural effects. Although shifts in gene expression are expected to occur upstream of these phenotypes, we found no previous gene expression comparisons of captive versus free-ranging mammals. We assessed gene expression profiles of three brain regions (cortex, olfactory bulb and hippocampus) of wild shrews (Sorex araneus) compared with shrews kept in captivity for two months and undertook sample dropout to examine robustness given limited sample sizes. Consistent with captivity effects, we found hundreds of differentially expressed genes in all three brain regions, 104 overlapping across all three, that enriched pathways associated with neurodegenerative disease, oxidative phosphorylation and genes encoding ribosomal proteins. In the shrew, transcriptomic changes detected under captivity resemble responses in several human pathologies, including major depressive disorder and neurodegeneration. While interpretations of individual genes are tempered by small sample sizes, we propose captivity influences brain gene expression and function and can confound analyses of natural processes in wild individuals under captive conditions.

Affective modulation of emotional reactivity in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

Affective modulation of startle reflex (AMSR) is a widely used experimental tool for assessing emotional reactivity. Previous research has shown inconsistent findings of emotional reactivity in amplitude in bipolar patients (BP). This study examined emotional reactivity (ER) in euthymic BP compared to healthy controls using both subjective and objective measures. This study compared ER between 33 euthymic BP (I and II) and 35 healthy controls. Subjective experiences, valence, and arousal scores were assessed using the Self-Assessment Manikin. Objective measures included startle reflex parameters - amplitude, area, and latency - from the orbicularis oculi muscle via electromyography. To assess the AMSR, pictures of varying emotional valences from the International Affective Picture System were used during acoustic stimulation. A significant picture category effect was observed in the subjective picture evaluation; however, no substantial group effect or picture category-group interaction was detected. In the controls, picture categories exerted a significant effect on amplitude, but did not in euthymic BP. A linear pattern of startle amplitude across different picture categories was evident in the control group but not in patients. Analyses of the area did not reveal significant group differences. Onset latency was also similar between groups. This study indicates impaired emotional processing in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder, as shown by altered startle reflex measurements. Future research with larger samples and consideration of bipolar disorder subtypes is needed to explore these findings further.

The role of self-awareness and reflection in academic achievement: A psychological and Bayesian analysis

The ability to properly evaluate one’s own academic progress has long been considered a predictor of academic success. However, its distinctive role in the context of computational mathematics remains underexplored. Grounded in social cognitive theory, this study investigates the critical role of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies in enhancing mathematics learning, particularly in programming-based contexts. Focusing on two components of SRL, self-awareness and reflection, the study provides empirical evidence on the psychological effectiveness of SRL in academic outcomes through the implementation of an e-portfolio-based intervention. Using Bayesian inference, the study models individual learning processes, offering personalized insights for effective educational interventions. The analysis reveals that the use of e-portfolios significantly fosters self-awareness and enhances learning among students. Nevertheless, the study also addresses psychological challenges in programming-based mathematical education, such as complex problem-solving and abstract thinking. The findings highlight the need for interactive, technology-enhanced teaching approaches to keep university-level students engaged and motivated. Key psychological implications are discussed for relevant measures in mathematics education.

Hierarchical Optimization Segmentation and Parameter Extraction of Street Trees Based on Topology Checking and Boundary Analysis from LiDAR Point Clouds.

Roadside tree segmentation and parameter extraction play an essential role in completing the virtual simulation of road scenes. Point cloud data of roadside trees collected by LiDAR provide important data support for achieving assisted autonomous driving. Due to the interference from trees and other ground objects in street scenes caused by mobile laser scanning, there may be a small number of missing points in the roadside tree point cloud, which makes it familiar for under-segmentation and over-segmentation phenomena to occur in the roadside tree segmentation process. In addition, existing methods have difficulties in meeting measurement requirements for segmentation accuracy in the individual tree segmentation process. In response to the above issues, this paper proposes a roadside tree segmentation algorithm, which first completes the scene pre-segmentation through unsupervised clustering. Then, the over-segmentation and under-segmentation situations that occur during the segmentation process are processed and optimized through projection topology checking and tree adaptive voxel bound analysis. Finally, the overall high-precision segmentation of roadside trees is completed, and relevant parameters such as tree height, diameter at breast height, and crown area are extracted. At the same time, the proposed method was tested using roadside tree scenes. The experimental results show that our methods can effectively recognize all trees in the scene, with an average individual tree segmentation accuracy of 99.07%, and parameter extraction accuracy greater than 90%.

Environmental impact of microplastic emissions from wastewater treatment plant through life cycle assessment.

This study aimed to quantify the environmental impact of microplastic (MP) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using life cycle assessment (LCA). The investigation comprehensively evaluated the contribution of MPs to overall WWTP midpoint and endpoint impacts, with a detailed analysis of the influence of particle size, shape, polymer type, and the environmental costs and benefits of individual wastewater treatment processes on MP removal. The LCA model was developed using SimaPro software, with impact assessments conducted via the USEtox framework and the IMPACT World+ methodology. Results showed that at the midpoint level, MPs accounted for 1.24E+05 CTUe (94% of the total plant impact), representing the potential harm to aquatic species per cubic meter of discharged wastewater-surpassing the impacts of other contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, nutrients) by at least two orders of magnitude. At the endpoint level, the damage of 8.39E-02 PDF·m2·yr (1.7% of the total) indicated the potential loss of species diversity, comparable to other pollutant contributions. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene were identified as the most impactful polymer types. In terms of environmental costs and benefits, secondary, tertiary, and primary treatments demonstrated decreasing environmental benefits, directly correlated with their respective MP removal efficiencies. These findings underscore the critical role of MP emissions in WWTP life cycle inventories and highlight the urgent need for targeted environmental policies and advanced treatment technologies to address MP contamination in both natural and engineered aquatic systems.

Efflux and uptake transport and gut microbial reactivation of raloxifene glucuronides.

Raloxifene has low bioavailability due to extensive glucuronidation in the intestine and the liver, and its pharmacokinetics is associated with high intra- and interindividual variability. Some of this variability could be explained by the enterohepatic recycling of raloxifene, which is driven by transporter-mediated uptake and efflux and gut microbial deglucuronidation of raloxifene glucuronides. These individual processes involved in raloxifene disposition, however, have not been characterized in full detail. In this study, we evaluated the interactions of raloxifene and its three glucuronide metabolites (raloxifene 4'-glucuronide, raloxifene 6-glucuronide and raloxifene 4',6-diglucuronide) with drug transporters using Sf9 membrane vesicles and HEK293 cells. Additionally, we measured the deglucuronidation of raloxifene glucuronides in human faecal extracts. All raloxifene glucuronides were transported by MRP2 and MRP3, whereas raloxifene monoglucuronides were identified as substrates of OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OATP2B1. All three raloxifene glucuronides were readily deglucuronidated in the presence of faecal extracts, although with high between-subject variability. The results of this study provide further understanding of the disposition of raloxifene, which can help understand the sources behind the interindividual variability in raloxifene pharmacokinetics.

Big Data Based Solutions for the Digitalization of the Insurance Sector

The insurance sector has entered a profound transformation process driven by technological advancements. Particularly in products such as individual retirement and life insurance, the ability to respond quickly and accurately to customer needs has become one of the key determinants of competitive advantage in the industry. In this context, Big Data analytics stands out among the innovations offered by Insurtech technologies. Big Data methods have had a significant impact on predicting customer behaviors, risk modeling, and optimizing processes within the insurance sector. This study focuses on the modernization of a mobile application aimed at digitizing individual retirement and life insurance processes for a leading insurance company with a high market share in Turkey. The core innovative aspect of the project is the integration of algorithms supported by Big Data technologies into the sales and post-sales support processes of individual retirement and life insurance products. Through this approach, in-depth analysis of user behaviors, personalized recommendations, and risk management solutions are provided. This initiative introduces an innovative digitalization model that optimizes operational processes and enhances user experience in the insurance sector.

Cognitive-reflexive personality development: Evaluating the impact of the chang-ing information and educational environment

Introduction. The article presents the results of a research investigation on the problem of modern individuals’ cognitive development, the mechanisms of formation of their reflexivity in modern conditions of societal information development. The aim of this study is to assess and identify the features of the impact of changing information and educational environment on cognitive processes of modern individuals, which determine transformations in the development of the mechanisms of their reflexivity based on a critical review of current research investigations. Materials and Methods. The research is based on the systematic approach, the theory of philosophy of education, and the cognitive theory of personality. The research methodology involves analysis and generalization of international and Russian scholarly works that consider the problems of information development of society, the specifics of the formation of cognitive processes in the development of education. Results. The article presents the results of the theoretical study, assessment and systematization of the impact of changing information and educational environment on cognitive-reflexive mechanisms of modern personality development. The critical review of current studies has shown that the issues of assessing and identifying the features of the impact of the changing information and educational environment on the cognitive processes of a modern personality, which determine the transformation in the development of the mechanisms of its reflexivity, are significantly updated at the present time in connection with changes in the cognitive and educational fields. It is shown that nowadays the problem of changing development orientation within the education system is significantly relevant with the focus on global transformations of social development, which entailed transformations in the higher education system, which determined the transformations not only of the university, but also the entire education system. Special attention is paid to the changes in the ontological and methodological foundations of changes taking place in modern conditions. Currently, the problems of forming critical thinking and determining personal mechanisms of reflexive cognition require a revision of theoretical foundations. As a result, the basic understanding of modern changes has been revealed: the problems of changes in the modern educational environment; the capabilities of the changing digital environment for the adequate functioning of the education system in modern conditions; the potential of the new educational environment for the formation of cognition of educational stakeholders. Conclusions. In conclusion, the authors summarise the results of the analysis of modern individuals’ cognitive development, the mechanisms of developing their reflexivity in modern conditions of changing information and educational environment.

The Mechanisms of Literary Translation in the Translation of “امشب اشكی میریزد” from Persian to Kurdish according to the Theories of (Vinay) and (Darbelnet)

Literary translation is a sophisticated and tactful process that exceeds the mechanism of what to say to how to say it from linguistic, cultural and educational perspectives and accommodating these in the target language. This relates to the fact that the literary text is itself the product of interrelated socio-political, economical and religious aspects. Additionally, the literary text is a reflection of the cultural concerns of a society that it represents as well as the emotional and ideological anxieties of the individuals that are also partly the anxieties of the writers. This means that such characteristics give literary text individual and unique qualities which in turn require individual and unique processes of translation especially in the way in which each text is read, evaluated and received. In this concern, the theory and mechanism of translation play an active and significant role. Based on this, the translation of the Persian novel “امشب اشكی میریزد” written by Koros Babayi into Kurdish “ئەڤ شەڤە ڕوندكەك دێ ڕژیت”, Tonight a Tear will be Dropped, by Nishtiman M. Saleem in 2011, has been selected to analyzed in relation to the translation mechanisms of the two French theorists Jean Darbelnet (1904-1990) and Jean-Paul Vinay (1910-1999). In his translation of the aforementioned text, the translator has adopted direct translation, or word-for-word translation. Employing this mechanism has assisted the translator in transforming the novel into the target language adding his unique style. However, the translator’s lack of experience in the implementation of the (translation by omission) in which the translator, unable to find equivalents from target language for certain parts of a text in source language, makes omissions in the text. This has caused a number of negative impacts on the text. These have been explained with examples.

Modelling the compensatory and carry-over effects between physical activity and fruit-vegetable consumption in young adults

Physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) are crucial factors jointly affecting young adults’ physical and mental health. However, the psychosocial interactive mechanisms of these behaviors remain understudied. Using a two-wave prospective design over two months, this study investigated the psychological mechanisms underlying multiple health behavior change (MHBC) through a novel two-layer social-cognitive framework, the Compensatory Carry-Over Action Model (CCAM), among 322 Chinese college students (19.47 ± 0.99 years; 55.6% female). Structural equation modeling with path analysis was conducted using Mplus 8.8 for data analysis. Results indicated an acceptable model fit for the hypothesized model, with χ2 = 120.845, df = 41, χ2/df = 2.947, CFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.901, RMSEA = 0.078 [90% CI = 0.062 to 0.094], and SRMR = 0.079. The model explained 54.9% and 50.0% of the variance in PA and FVC, respectively. In the first layer, focusing on the individual behavior change process, both volitional self-efficacy and planning were identified as significant mediators in the intention-behavior relationship for PA and FVC (indirect effects = 0.03 to 0.14, all p < .01). In the second layer, targeting the interaction between the two behaviors, the mediating role of compensatory cognition (e.g., PA/FVC can compensate for FVC/PA) in the relationship between intention and behavior was not supported (all p > .05). However, volitional self-efficacy and planning played a significant mediating role in the interaction between PA/FVC intention and FVC/PA behavior (indirect effects = 0.01 to 0.04, all p < .05). Future interventions aiming at promoting MHBC should address compensatory cognition and the carry-over effects between diverse behaviors.

Legal Protection for Consumers in Online Buying and Selling Transactions According to Positive Law in Indonesia

Law Number 8 of 1999 addressing Consumer Protection is specifically delineated through Government Regulation (PP) Number 71 of 2019, which pertains to the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions. Conventional business transaction modalities are categorized as electronic transactions, which are defined as legal actions executed via computers, computer networks, and/or alternative electronic media. The transactional framework facilitated by internet technology renders numerous advantages, both for vendors and consumers, as this system possesses inherent benefits that provide enhanced convenience, rapidity, and efficiency. Consequently, it is not unexpected that the current proliferation of internet utilization grounded in electronic commerce (commonly denoted as e-commerce) is experiencing swift growth, notably within the Indonesian context. This advancement simplifies the process for individuals and enterprises to engage in a diverse array of business transactions, particularly in the realm of trade.

Marriage Agreement Against Bankruptcy of Individuals Bound in Marriage

Prenuptial agreements are becoming increasingly important in the context of modern marriage law, especially in regulating rights and obligations before the marriage bond is formed. However, the situation becomes complex when one of the spouses faces individual bankruptcy after the marriage. This article discusses the legal impact of prenuptial agreements on the bankruptcy process of individuals who are bound by marriage. Through a legal analysis and case study approach, the author explores how prenuptial agreements can affect the rights and obligations of spouses in individual bankruptcy cases. In this context, consideration and justice are important to consider. In conclusion, if there is a marriage agreement in bankruptcy, the assets of each husband and wife are not included in the joint assets so that they can be used to pay off the personal debts of the husband or wife who is declared bankrupt.

Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by Examining the Decision-making Process of Individuals Starting a New Business: A Quantitative Analysis in Germany

Starting a new business is a risky and complex decision with widespread consequences for the entrepreneur. But despite extensive research, it is still not clear which specific factors influence this choice on the individual level of the entrepreneur. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical basis for the decision process, this study builds on previous qualitative research to shed more light on the social and personal factors determining the individual’s decision to start a new business. Following a quantitative approach, data were collected via an online survey targeting entrepreneurs, resulting in 176 complete responses. The findings highlight that an economically oriented education significantly influences entrepreneurial attitudes, materialistic values are linked with subjective norms, and the individual’s resilience positively affects perceived behavioral control (PBC). On the other hand, no influence on the decision was found for factors such as social influence, need for recognition, educational level, conscientiousness, and openness. Based on these findings, the study has two core contributions: First, it contributes to the refinement of TPB in the context of entrepreneurship by highlighting the individual’s social and personal factors. Second, it provides valuable insights for educational initiatives and political decisions to foster entrepreneurial endeavors.

Work participation after receiving multidisciplinary treatment or acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for return to work: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial among sick-listed individuals with mental disorders and/or chronic pain

BackgroundThe return-to-work (RTW) process for individuals on long-term sick leave can be complex. Vocational rehabilitation may facilitate RTW; however, many intervention studies often have relatively short follow-up periods. The purpose of this study was to assess long-term work participation 2–7 years after the initiation of a three-armed randomized controlled trial aimed at RTW for individuals on long-term sick leave because of mental disorders and/or chronic pain.MethodsThis study followed 220 participants out of 402 (response rate 55%, 205 female) who had previously participated in a randomized controlled trial. They were allocated to one of three groups: multidisciplinary team assessment and individualized treatment (MDT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or a control group. The participants were followed up at two, three, four, five, six, and seven years after inclusion. The outcome, work participation, was assessed using registry data and defined as having the main source of annual income from paid work during the follow-up years.ResultsParticipants in the MDT intervention group were, to a larger extent, in paid work during follow-up in years four (9.0% points), five (2.5% points), six (7.6% points), and seven (4.1% points) after inclusion, compared to the control group. Participants in the ACT intervention group were, to a larger extent, in paid work during follow-up in years four (14.8% points), six (17.6% points), and seven (13.9% points) after inclusion, compared to the control group.ConclusionThis study, primarily involving female individuals on long-term sick leave, suggests that both MDT and ACT interventions can improve long-term work participation. The results also indicate some time-lag effect of the interventions.Trial registrationThe original randomized study was registered at the Clinicaltrials.gov Register Platform (ID NCT03343457); registered on November 15, 2017 (retrospectively registered).