The return-to-work journey: experiences with communication and collaboration among employees and employers during long-term sick leave and return-to-work.

Purpose: To explore the experiences of long-term sick-listed employees and those of employers with communication and collaboration during sick leave and the return-to-work (RTW) process.

Methods: Previously long-term sick-listed employees ( = 9) and employers ( = 9) were interviewed about their experiences with communication and collaboration during sick leave and RTW. Thematic analysis, utilizing patient journey mapping was applied to analyze and map out their experiences.

Does Knee Arthroplasty Have a Beneficial Effect on Return to Work in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis who Receive Long-Term Disability Benefits in the Netherlands?

Purpose: Optimal timing of knee arthroplasty (KA) is complex: operating at a younger age increases life time risk of revision, while delay results in an increased risk of job loss. This study evaluates whether disability benefits recipients due to knee osteoarthritis have an increased odds of returning to work (RTW) following KA.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed among long-term disability benefits recipients due to knee osteoarthritis using data of the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency.

Patients' Needs Regarding Work-Focused Healthcare: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Purpose: To identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative research evidence exploring patients' needs regarding work-focused healthcare.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement guidelines to identify studies reporting patients' needs regarding work-focused healthcare. Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo and Web of Science) were systematically searched from January 2000 until May 2023 and screened in duplicate by pairs of two reviewers.

Inability to Work Fulltime and the Association with Paid Employment One Year After the Work Disability Assessment: A Longitudinal Register-Based Cohort Study.

Objectives: Disability benefit applicants with residual work capacity are often not able to work fulltime. In Dutch work disability benefit assessments, the inability to work fulltime is an important outcome, indicating the number of hours the applicant can sustain working activities per day. This study aims to gain insight into the association between inability to work fulltime and having paid employment 1 year after the assessment.

Tailored vocational rehabilitation for people with a work disability pension in The Netherlands; an in-depth data analysis of the content and outcomes of vocational rehabilitation trajectories of the Social Security Institute.

Purpose: People with a work disability pension receive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services from the Dutch Social Security Institute (SSI) in order to facilitate return-to-work (RTW). The SSI offers tailored VR existing of two trajectories (aimed at getting fit for work or aimed at returning to work). The purpose of this study is to describe the current practice of VR.

Predictors of time until return to work and duration of sickness absence in sick-listed precarious workers with common mental disorders: a secondary data-analysis of two trials and one cohort study.

Background: Common mental disorders (CMD) are highly prevalent among sick-listed precarious workers and often lead to long-term sickness-absence, work disability and unemployment. This study aimed to identify predictors of a longer time until return to work (RTW) and prolonged duration of sickness absence in sick-listed precarious workers with CMD.

Methods: We conducted a secondary Cox regression analysis using existing data from two Dutch randomized controlled trials and one cohort study among sick-listed precarious workers with CMD (N = 681).

Process evaluation of a comprehensive approach to reintegration of disability benefit recipients with multiple problems (CARm) into the labour market.

Purpose: As the effect evaluation of our randomized controlled trial the "Comprehensive Approach of Reintegration for clients with Multiple problems" (CARm) showed no superior effect on re-integration into paid employment of the clients when compared with clients of the care as usual, we conducted this process evaluation to gain insight into whether the intervention was conducted according to protocol.

Methods: Using questionnaires on recruitment, reach, dose delivered, dose received, fidelity, context, and satisfaction we collected data from 40 labour experts of the Public Employment Service of the Dutch Social Security Institute, and from 166 disability benefit recipients dealing with multiple problems.

Results: Only few of the labour experts provided the key elements of the intervention to their clients.

Designing an evidence-based working method for medical work disability prognosis evaluation-an intervention mapping approach.

Purpose: Performing evidence-based work disability prognosis evaluation (WDPE) of clients on sick leave is a difficult task for physicians. The aim was to develop a working method to support physicians in performing evidence-based WDPE and to improve WDPE quality.

Materials And Methods: Intervention Mapping (IM) supplemented with elements of the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) guided project planning for developing the working method.

Needs, expectations, facilitators, and barriers among insurance physicians related to the use of eHealth in their work: results of a survey.

Purpose: To determine needs, expectations, facilitators, and barriers of insurance physicians (IPs) for using eHealth in their work. Also, we investigated differences between age groups.

Materials And Methods: All insurance physicians employed at the Dutch Social Security Institute (SSI) received an online anonymous survey in July 2020.

Residual Work Capacity and (In)Ability to Work Fulltime Among a Year-Cohort of Disability Benefit Applicants Diagnosed with Mental and Behavioural Disorders.

Aims: Residual work capacity and inability to work fulltime are important outcomes in disability benefit assessment for workers with mental and behavioural disorders. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the prevalence and associations of socio-demographic and disease-related factors of these outcomes across different mental and behavioural diagnoses groups.

Methods: A year cohort of anonymized register-data of patients diagnosed with a mental or behavioural disorder who claim a work disability benefit after two years of sick-leave was used (n = 12,325, age 44.

Development of the core of an ICF-based instrument for the assessment of work capacity and guidance in return to work of employees on sick leave: a multidisciplinary modified Delphi study.

Background: Several occupational health disciplines are involved in return to work guidance, implying that good interdisciplinary collaboration is important. A shared conceptual framework and a common language for the assessment of work capacity and guidance in return to work is expected to be at the benefit of appropriate and sustainable employability of sick employees. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can be considered a shared conceptual framework and is also promising in terms of a common language.

Physicians' perspectives and future vision on disability assessments by phone during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Physicians, who perform disability assessments for the Dutch Social Security Institute, were urged to conduct phone consultations from their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the perspectives of physicians regarding phone consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, to explore physicians' views on a more widespread future use of phone consultations in the context of work disability assessments.

Identification of the return-to-work mode in unemployed workers with mental health issues: A focus group study among occupational health professionals.

Background: Return-to-work (RTW) perceptions and attitudes are predictive for future work participation in workers with mental health issues.

Objective: To identify what RTW perceptions and attitudes occupational health professionals recognize in sick-listed unemployed workers with mental health issues and how these perceptions and attitudes can be systematically assessed.

Methods: Four focus group sessions, each involving five-six different occupational health professionals, were held.

Comprehensive approach to reintegration of disability benefit recipients with multiple problems (CARm) into the labour market: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Although most clients on work disability benefits face multiple problems, most traditional interventions for (re)integration focus on a single problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the "Comprehensive Approach to Reintegrate clients with multiple problems" (CARm), which provides a strategy for labour experts to build a relationship with each client in order to support clients in their needs and mobilize their social networks.

Methods: This study is a stratified, two-armed, non-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT), with a 12-month follow-up period.

Interventions regarding physicians' sickness certification practice - a systematic literature review with meta-analyses.

Objective: A variety of interventions aiming to influence physicians' sickness certification practice have been conducted, most are, however, not evaluated scientifically. The aim of this systematic literature review was to obtain updated knowledge about interventions regarding physicians' sickness certification practice and to summarize their possible effects, in terms of sickness absence (SA) or return to work (RTW) among patients.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science up through 15 June 2020 and selected peer-reviewed studies that reported effects of controlled interventions that aimed to improve physicians' sickness certification practice and used SA or RTW among patients as outcome measures.

Exploring treatment adherence in long-term sick-listed workers and the impact of coping strategies, illness perceptions and perceived health.

Background: Treatment adherence is important to improve return to work in sick-listed workers. Especially in long-term sick-listed workers who apply for a disability benefit and therefore have not (fully) returned to work, it is of great value to gain insight in the adherence to advice of physicians. Non-adherence could be one of the main reasons why they have not returned to work and are sick-listed for a long-term.

The perceived importance of prognostic aspects considered by physicians during work disability evaluation: a survey.

Background: Assessing prognosis is challenging for many physicians in various medical fields. Research shows that physicians who perform disability assessments consider six areas when evaluating a prognosis: disease, treatment, course of the disease, external information, patient-related and physician-related aspects. We administered a questionnaire to evaluate how physicians rate the importance of these six prognosis areas during work disability evaluation and to explore what kind of support they would like during prognosis assessment.

Social Insurance Literacy of Dutch Workers Receiving Disability Benefits and its Associations with Socio-Economic Characteristics.

Purpose This study explores the concept social insurance literacy (SIL) and corresponding questionnaire (SILQ) among workers receiving disability benefits and the comprehensibility of the social security institute (SSI), and examines associations with socio-economic characteristics. Methods 1753 panel members of the Dutch SSI were approached to complete the SILQ-NL37. This measure was based on the original SILQ.

Residual work capacity and (in)ability to work fulltime among a year cohort of cancer survivors who claim a disability benefit.

Purpose: Residual work capacity (RWC) and inability to work fulltime (IWF) are important outcomes in disability benefit assessments for workers diagnosed with cancer. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the prevalence of both outcomes, the associations of disease-related and socio-demographic factors and if these differ across cancer diagnosis groups.

Methods: A year cohort of anonymized register data of cancer survivors who claim a disability benefit after 2 years of sick leave (n = 3690, age 53.

Does an entrepreneur run the risk of developing stress due to unsuitability as an entrepreneur? Validation of an entrepreneurship scale.

Background: Self-employed workers have largely been missing from research in work and occupational health. There are hardly any questionnaires that measure the specific problems and stressors of the self-employed. Recently the Work and Well-Being Inventory (WBI) (in Dutch: VAR-2) was normal and validated for the self-employed.

The Dutch Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Guideline to Enhance Work Participation Among Low Back Pain and Lumbosacral Radicular Syndrome Patients.

Purpose Based on current scientific evidence and best practice, the first Dutch multidisciplinary practice guideline for occupational health professionals was developed to stimulate prevention and enhance work participation in patients with low back pain (LBP) and lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS). Methods A multidisciplinary working group with health care professionals, a patient representative and researchers developed the recommendations after systematic review of evidence about (1) Risk factors, (2) Prevention, (3) Prognostic factors and (4) Interventions. Certainty of the evidence was rated with GRADE and the Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework was used to formulate recommendations.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the work role functioning questionnaire 2.0 to Persian.

Purpose: To translate and cross-culturally adapt, the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire 2.0 to Persian (WRFQ-Pr), and evaluate reliability and validity.

Material And Methods: Standardized protocols were followed including forward-backward translation then synthesis/consolidation.

Is the "Brainwork Intervention" effective in reducing sick leave for non-permanent workers with psychological problems? Results of a controlled clinical trial.

Background: Both the presence of psychological problems and the absence of an employment contract are related to long-term sickness absence, prolonged work disability and unemployment. Studies researching the effectiveness of return-to-work interventions on these non-permanent workers, including unemployed and temporary agency workers and workers with an expired fixed-term contract, are lagging behind. Therefore, a return-to-work intervention called "Brainwork" was developed.

Economic evaluation of orphan drug Lutetium-Octreotate vs. Octreotide long-acting release for patients with an advanced midgut neuroendocrine tumour in the Netherlands.

Objectives: Multiple studies showed positive effects of Lutetium-Octreotate (LO) treatment in neuroendocrine tumours. LO has been used in the Netherlands since the 1980s and recently received the orphan status shortly after the acquisition by Novartis. Since then, the official list price has increased sixfold.

Experiences with Individual Placement and Support and employment - a qualitative study among clients and employment specialists.

Background: Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based, effective approach to help people with severe mental illness (SMI) achieve competitive employment. The aim of the present study is to explore experiences with Individual Placement and Support using a multifaceted implementation strategy (IPS + MIS), and competitive employment. The goal of this strategy was to improve IPS implementation by enhancing collaboration between mental health care and vocational rehabilitation stakeholders, and realizing a secured IPS funding with a 'pay for performance' element.