Multilevel, risk group-oriented strategies to decrease sickness absence in the public sector: evaluation of...

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Public health interventions
• Organizational psychology

Background:

• Sickness absence requires multilevel interventions, but optimal strategies are not well understood.
• Large-scale implementation of such interventions is complex and understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and effects of a large-scale multilevel intervention for sickness absence in the Swedish public sector.
• To assess the challenges and outcomes associated with integrating multilevel strategies into organizational practices.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-effect models were used to analyze sickness absence data from intervention and reference groups.
• Qualitative content analysis of interviews assessed implementation processes at two timepoints.
• Data included sickness absence records before and 6 or 12 months after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Most implemented measures focused on the individual level, with regional variations in integration.
• Intervention reception was influenced by implementation processes, communication, and contextual integration.
• No significant short-term overall effects on sickness absence were detected.

Conclusions:

• Implementing complex multilevel interventions, especially organizational ones, faces challenges in participation, communication, and resources.
• Potential learning effects include increased awareness of organizational factors contributing to sick leave.
• Effective integration and communication are crucial for successful intervention outcomes.