Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Societal Participation & Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Trials. 2024 Aug 16;25(1):541. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08383-4.
Returning to work after long-term sick leave can be challenging, particularly in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where support may be limited. Recognizing the responsibilities and challenges of SME employers, a web-based intervention (hereafter the SME tool) has been developed. The SME tool aims to enhance the employer's intention and ability to support the sick-listed employee. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, it is hypothesized that this intention is enhanced by intervening in the employer's autonomy, competences, and relatedness targeted at, e.g., communication with sick-listed employee, involvement of other stakeholders, and practical support. This is achieved by means of providing templates, communication videos, and information on legislation. This article describes the design of an effect and process evaluation of the SME tool.
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 6-month follow-up will be conducted with a parallel-group design with two arms: an intervention group and a control group. Sick-listed employees (≤ 8 weeks) of SMEs (≤ 250 employees) at risk of long-term sick leave and their employers will be recruited and randomly allocated as a dyad (1:1). Employers randomized to the intervention group receive unlimited access to the SME tool, while those in the control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome is the satisfaction of the employee with the return to work (RTW) support provided by their employer. Secondary outcomes include social support, work performance, and quality of work life at the employee level and self-efficacy in providing RTW support at the employer level. Outcomes will be assessed using questionnaires at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Process evaluation measures include, e.g., recruitment and use of and perceived usefulness of the SME tool. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with employers, employees, and occupational physicians will explore the interpretation of the RCT results and strategies for the national implementation of the SME tool.
The SME tool is hypothesized to be valuable in addition to usual care helping employers to effectively support the RTW of their long-term sick-listed employees, by improving the employers' intention and ability to support.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06330415. Registered on February 14, 2024.
长期病假后重返工作岗位可能具有挑战性，尤其是在支持可能有限的中小企业 (SME) 中。认识到中小企业雇主的责任和挑战，已经开发了一种基于网络的干预措施（以下简称 SME 工具）。SME 工具旨在增强雇主支持长期请病假员工的意愿和能力。基于自我决定理论，假设通过干预雇主的自主性、能力和相关性来增强这种意愿，例如与请病假员工的沟通、涉及其他利益相关者以及提供实际支持。这是通过提供模板、沟通视频和立法信息来实现的。本文描述了对 SME 工具进行效果和过程评估的设计。
将采用 6 个月随访的随机对照试验 (RCT) 进行平行组设计，分为两组：干预组和对照组。将招募处于长期病假风险中的中小企业（员工人数≤250 人）的请病假员工（≤8 周）及其雇主，并将他们随机分配为一对（1:1）。随机分配到干预组的雇主可以无限期访问 SME 工具，而对照组的雇主将接受常规护理。主要结局是员工对雇主提供的重返工作岗位 (RTW) 支持的满意度。次要结局包括员工层面的社会支持、工作绩效和工作生活质量，以及雇主层面提供 RTW 支持的自我效能。使用问卷在基线和随访 1、3 和 6 个月时评估结局。过程评估措施包括 SME 工具的招募、使用和感知有用性等。此外，还将对雇主、员工和职业医生进行半结构化访谈，以探讨对 RCT 结果的解释以及将 SME 工具在全国实施的策略。
SME 工具除了常规护理外，还有助于雇主有效支持长期请病假员工的 RTW，提高雇主支持的意愿和能力。
ClinicalTrials.gov，NCT06330415。于 2024 年 2 月 14 日注册。
