Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34580811›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational rehabilitation2022

Barriers and Facilitators for Return to Work from the Perspective of Workers with Common Mental Disorders with Short, Medium and Long-Term Sickness Absence: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study.

Margot C W Joosen, Marjolein Lugtenberg, Iris Arends, Hanneke J A W M van Gestel, Benedikte Schaapveld, Berend Terluin, Jaap van Weeghel, Jac J L van der Klink, Evelien P M Brouwers

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  19. How Superiors Support Employees to Manage Emotional Demands: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Margot C W JoosenTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands. m.c.w.joosen@tilburguniversity.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-5064-7302
Marjolein LugtenbergTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Iris ArendsDepartment of Health Sciences, Community & Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Hanneke J A W M van GestelTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Benedikte SchaapveldMinisterie van Buitenlandse Zaken, The Hague, Netherlands.
Berend TerluinDepartment of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jaap van WeeghelTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Jac J L van der KlinkTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Evelien P M BrouwersTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo Scientific Center for Care and Welbeing, Tilburg University, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose Although common mental disorders (CMDs) highly impact individuals and society, a knowledge gap exists on how sickness absence can be prevented in workers with CMDs. This study explores: (1) workers' perceived causes of sickness absence; (2) perceived return to work (RTW) barriers and facilitators; and (3) differences between workers with short, medium and long-term sickness absence. Methods A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted involving 34 workers with CMDs. Semi-structured interviews were held at two time-points during their RTW process. The 68 interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and thematically analyzed to explore workers' perspective on sickness absence causes, RTW barriers and facilitators, and compare data across the three sub-groups of workers. Results Workers reported various causes for their absence, including: (1) high work pressure; (2) poor work relationships; (3) unhelpful thoughts and feelings, e.g. lacking self-insight; and (4) ineffective coping behaviors. According to workers, RTW was facilitated by work adjustments, fulfilling relationships with supervisors, and adequate occupational health guidance. Workers with short-term leave more often reported favorable work conditions, and proactive coping behavior. In contrast, the long-term group reported reactive coping behavior and dissatisfaction with their work. Conclusion Supporting workers with CMDs in gaining self-awareness and regaining control, discussing the value of their work, and creating work conditions that enable workers to do valuable work, seem central for successful RTW and might prevent sickness absence. Supervisors play a key role in enabling workers to do valuable work and further research should focus on how supervisors can be supported in this task.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersReturn to WorkEmploymentHumansQualitative ResearchSick LeaveBarriers and facilitatorsMental healthReturn-to-workSick leaveWork disability preventionWorkers’ perspective

Identifiers

PMID34580811
PMCPMC9232415

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.