Experience of the implementation of a multi-stakeholder return-to-work programme

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Limited understanding of how workplace interventions for sick leave are implemented.
• A Swedish public employer piloted a return-to-work program with evidence-based interventions.
• Focus on stakeholder experiences of program implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze the implementation and experiences of a return-to-work program.
• Identify how stakeholders perceived the program's alignment with its intentions.
• Examine the perspectives of supervisors, occupational health consultants, and project coordinators.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methodology.
• Individual interviews with eight supervisors and one project leader.
• Group interviews with five occupational health service consultants.

Main Results:

• Identified barriers to the implementation of return-to-work interventions.
• Not all intended interventions were implemented as per policy.
• Stakeholder views often leaned towards a biomedical, individualistic perspective of work ability, contrasting with the program's biopsychosocial model.

Conclusions:

• Return-to-work program implementation is a long-term, multi-level process.
• Requires time for reflection, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability.
• Continuous communication and openness to change are crucial for success.