No effects of a work disability intervention, challenges within prevention research
The workplace and dialogue with immediate supervisor are important in cases of pain and stress-related work disability. In this project, programs for employees with pain and stress-related ill-health and their immediate supervisors were tested for prevention of sick leave. The aim was to evaluate the effects of a program on communication and problem solving compared to psychoeducative lectures.
The project was based on a previous study which showed promising effects on decreased sick leave and improved health among individuals with back pain at risk for long-term pain disability. In the current project the program was further developed and more focused on the supervisors, and the target population extended to individuals with reported pain and/or stress-related ill-health. Among employees the outcomes were sick leave, health-related measures, and perceived communication and support from supervisor. Supervisors were evaluated on communication skills (validation vs invalidation) and perceived stress. The program consisted of three group sessions for employees and supervisors separately, focused on communication and problems solving for managing pain and stress problems at work. The control group received two lectures on pain and stress including strategies for self-management. The pandemic affected the study in terms of change to online format, and increased drop-out rates.
In total 191 mainly female employees and 53 supervisors were included, recruited from workplaces associated to the regional occupational health care. The results showed no effects on outcome variables among employees or supervisors, and previous promising results were not replicated. Only 30% of the employees were at risk for long-term pain disability. The findings suggest the importance of selecting participants for preventive interventions based on their assessed psychosocial risk profiles. Findings also suggest more extensive training is needed to affect supportive communication among supervisors. Further research is needed on workplace communication and support for employees with pain and stress-related ill-health.