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Varela-Mato V, Blake H, Yarker J, Godfree K, Daly G, Hassard J, Meyer C, Kershaw C, Marwaha S, Newman K, Russell S, Thomson L, Munir F. Using intervention mapping to develop evidence-based toolkits that support workers on long-term sick leave and their managers. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:942. [PMID: 37660008 PMCID: PMC10474744 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09952-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Managing long-term sickness absence is challenging in countries where employers and managers have the main responsibility to provide return to work support, particularly for workers with poor mental health. Whilst long-term sick leave and return to work frameworks and guidance exist for employers, there are currently no structured return to work protocols for employers or for their workers encompassing best practice strategies to support a positive and timely return to work outcome. PURPOSE To utilise the intervention mapping (IM) protocol as a framework to develop return to work toolkits that are underpinned by relevant behaviour change theory targeting mental health to promote a positive return to work experiensce for workers on long-term sick leave. METHODS This paper provides a worked example of intervention mapping (IM) to develop an intervention through a six-step process to combine theory and evidence in the development of two toolkits - one designed for managers and one to be used by workers on long-term sick leave. As part of this process, collaborative planning techniques were used to develop the intervention. A planning group was set up, through which researchers would work alongside employer, worker, and mental health professional representatives to develop the toolkits. Additionally, feedback on the toolkits were sought from the target populations of workers and managers and from wider employer stakeholders (e.g., human resource specialists). The implementation and evaluation of the toolkits as a workplace intervention were also planned. RESULTS Two toolkits were designed following the six steps of intervention mapping. Feedback from the planning group (n = 5; psychologist, psychiatrist, person with previous experience of poor mental health, employer and charity worker) and participants (n = 14; employers = 3, wellbeing director = 1; human resources = 2, managers = 2, employees with previous experience of poor mental health = 5) target populations indicated that the toolkits were acceptable and much needed. CONCLUSIONS Using IM allowed the development of an evidence-based practical intervention, whilst incorporating the views of all the impacted stakeholder groups. The feasibility and acceptability of the toolkits and their supporting intervention components, implementation process and methods of assessment will be evaluated in a feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Varela-Mato
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Holly Blake
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Joanna Yarker
- Affinity Health at Work, London, UK
- Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Kate Godfree
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Guy Daly
- Office of the Provost, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City 11837, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Juliet Hassard
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Caroline Meyer
- Executive Office, Warwick University, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Steven Marwaha
- Institute for Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kristina Newman
- Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sean Russell
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Louise Thomson
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Fehmidah Munir
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
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Mavragani A, Svedberg P, Lexén A, Tjörnstrand C, Strid C, Bejerholm U. Co-design Process of a Digital Return-to-Work Solution for People With Common Mental Disorders: Stakeholder Perception Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e39422. [PMID: 36652285 PMCID: PMC9892984 DOI: 10.2196/39422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Service users and other stakeholders have had few opportunities to influence the design of their mental health and return-to-work services. Likewise, digital solutions often fail to align with stakeholders' needs and preferences, negatively impacting their utility. mWorks is a co-design initiative to create a digital return-to-work solution for persons with common mental disorders that is acceptable and engaging for those receiving and delivering the intervention. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe stakeholder perceptions and the involvement of a design process during the prototype development of mWorks. METHODS A co-design approach was used during the iterative development of mWorks. Overall, 86 stakeholders were recruited using a combination of purposeful and convenience sampling. Five stakeholder groups represented service users with experience of sick leave and common mental disorders (n=25), return-to-work professionals (n=19), employers (n=1), digital design and system developers (n=4), and members of the public (n=37). Multiple data sources were gathered using 7 iterations, from March 2018 to November 2020. The rich material was organized and analyzed using content analysis to generate themes and categories that represented this study's findings. RESULTS The themes revealed the importance of mWorks in empowering service users with a personal digital support solution that engages them back in work. The categories highlighted that mWorks needs to be a self-management tool that enables service users to self-manage as a supplement to traditional return-to-work services. It was also important that content features helped to reshape a positive self-narrative, with a focus on service users' strengths and resources to break the downward spiral of ill health during sick leave. Additional crucial features included helping service users mobilize their own strategies to cope with thoughts and feelings and formulate goals and a plan for their work return. Once testing of the alpha and beta prototypes began, user engagement became the main focus for greater usability. It is critical to facilitate the comprehension and purpose of mWorks, offer clear guidance, and enhance motivational and goal-setting strategies. CONCLUSIONS Stakeholders' experience-based knowledge asserted that mWorks needs to empower service users by providing them with a personal support tool. To enhance return-to-work prospects, users must be engaged in a meaningful manner while focusing on their strengths and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Annika Lexén
- Department of Health Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Bernard RM, Toppo C, Raggi A, de Mul M, de Miquel C, Pugliese MT, van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Ortiz-Tallo A, Salvador-Carulla L, Lukersmith S, Hakkaart-van Roijen L, Merecz-Kot D, Staszewska K, Sabariego C. Strategies for Implementing Occupational eMental Health Interventions: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e34479. [PMID: 35648457 PMCID: PMC9201704 DOI: 10.2196/34479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The implementation of eMental health interventions, especially in the workplace, is a complex process. Therefore, learning from existing implementation strategies is imperative to ensure improvements in the adoption, development, and scalability of occupational eMental health (OeMH) interventions. However, the implementation strategies used for these interventions are often undocumented or inadequately reported and have not been systematically gathered across implementations in a way that can serve as a much-needed guide for researchers. OBJECTIVE The objective of this scoping review was to identify implementation strategies relevant to the uptake of OeMH interventions that target employees and detail the associated barriers and facilitation measures. METHODS A scoping review was conducted. The descriptive synthesis was guided by the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS A total of 31 of 32,916 (0.09%) publications reporting the use of the web-, smartphone-, telephone-, and email-based OeMH interventions were included. In all, 98 implementation strategies, 114 barriers, and 131 facilitators were identified. The synthesis of barriers and facilitators produced 19 facilitation measures that provide initial recommendations for improving the implementation of OeMH interventions. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review represents one of the first steps in a research agenda aimed at improving the implementation of OeMH interventions by systematically selecting, shaping, evaluating, and reporting implementation strategies. There is a dire need for improved reporting of implementation strategies and combining common implementation frameworks with more technology-centric implementation frameworks to fully capture the complexities of eHealth implementation. Future research should investigate a wider range of common implementation outcomes for OeMH interventions that also focus on a wider set of common mental health problems in the workplace. This scoping review's findings can be critically leveraged by discerning decision-makers to improve the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of OeMH interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Toppo
- Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Raggi
- Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Marleen de Mul
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carlota de Miquel
- Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain.,Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Teresa Pugliese
- Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Ana Ortiz-Tallo
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Salvador-Carulla
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sue Lukersmith
- Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | | | | | - Kaja Staszewska
- Department of Health and Work Psychology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Carla Sabariego
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.,Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.,Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems, World Health Organization Collaborating Center, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
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Nordling P, Jakobsson A, Hensing G. The Capacity Note: a communication facilitator in the sick leave process of patients with common mental disorders - a qualitative study of user perceptions. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e054436. [PMID: 35487752 PMCID: PMC9058774 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the development of a communication facilitator, the Capacity Note, for the sick leave process of patients with common mental disorders (CMDs) in primary care, and to explore users' perceptions of it. DESIGN Qualitive study. SETTING Primary healthcare in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS The Capacity Note was developed inductively based on data from six qualitative studies of work capacity and CMD and was introduced at primary healthcare centres during 2018-2019. Individual semistructured interviews were performed with 13 informants (8 patients, 2 general practitioners and 3 managers) who had used the Capacity Note at least once. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim and inductive manifest qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS The Capacity Note comprised questions about work situation, work capacity limitations and possible work adjustments. Based on the interviews, four categories relating to its role as a facilitator for communication about work and health were identified: content and format, understanding, legitimacy and action, openness and timing, and time and efficiency. The participants considered the Capacity Note relevant and easy to use, and as having the potential to improve communication about and understanding of the patient's situation. The increased understanding was perceived as contributing to a sense of legitimacy and agency. Achieving these benefits required, according to the participants, openness, an investment of time and using the Capacity Note at the right time in the sick leave process. CONCLUSION The Capacity Note was found to be relevant and as having, under the right conditions, the potential to improve communication and facilitate the sick leave process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Nordling
- Insurance Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Primary Healthcare, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annika Jakobsson
- Insurance Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Hensing
- Insurance Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Engdahl P, Svedberg P, Bejerholm U. Acceptability of a digital return-to-work intervention for common mental disorders: a qualitative study on service user perspectives. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:384. [PMID: 34344327 PMCID: PMC8336332 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03386-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an evident discrepancy between need and provision of evidence-based return-to-work (RTW) interventions in existing mental health services. Online dissemination of evidence-based interventions is presumed to reduce this gap. However, there is almost no knowledge available on perceived acceptability of digital RTW interventions among service users, which are factors that might influence the development and implementation of future interventions. The aim of this study was to develop knowledge of service user acceptability of mWorks, a proposed digital RTW solution. METHODS Participants (n = 18) with experience of common mental disorder and sick leave were recruited with a purposive snowball sampling method. Semi-structured interviews (n = 12) and one focus group interview (n = 6) were conducted. A deductive thematic analysis was performed according to the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. RESULTS Digital RTW interventions were perceived as acceptable and aligned with participant value. Participants expressed positive attitudes toward having access to support, regardless of time and place. A certain ambiguity between a decline in social interactions and opportunities to RTW in a safe space was reported. Participants were confident in their ability to use digital RTW solutions, but reported the need to reduce stressful elements of using smartphones. Overly demanding digital solutions, i.e. ones requiring high cognitive effort, were described as burdensome. CONCLUSIONS For digital RTW solutions to be acceptable, they need to complement traditional services by providing accessible and person-centred support throughout the RTW process. They should be designed to reduce the need for cognitive effort. Future research should explore how to balance user autonomy with other support components in digital interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Engdahl
- Lund University, Department of Health Sciences/Mental Health, Activity and Participation, Lund University, P.O BOX 157, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Petra Svedberg
- grid.73638.390000 0000 9852 2034Halmstad University, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Bejerholm
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Lund University, Department of Health Sciences/Mental Health, Activity and Participation, Lund University, P.O BOX 157, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
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