Prolonged absences from work, especially those related to common mental disorders and musculoskeletal disorders, impose considerable economic and human costs. Because of this, better understanding of the factors that hinder the return to work of those affected by these two disorders is essential. According to the literature, it is well established that return to work is the result of a complex interaction between the individual and actors from various systems, such as the workplace and the healthcare and compensation systems.
A new prospective study validates a tool entitled Return-to-work Obstacles and Self Efficacy Scale (ROSES) with employees in the return to work process as a result of a common mental disorder (CMD) or a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).
This tool fills a theoretical gap in the literature by showing that biopsychosocial obstacles and the self-efficacy to overcome them should be taken into account in predicting the return to work (RTW) of people with CMD or MSD. This prospective study provides rehabilitation health professionals with a valid tool and simple administration (46 statements covering 10 dimensions), which makes it possible for them to systematically assess these two concepts among their clients. They can thus optimize their activities to facilitate their clients’ RTW.
The 10 dimensions are:
- fears of a relapse
- cognitive difficulties
- medication-related difficulties
- job demands
- feeling of organizational injustice
- difficult relation with immediate supervisor
- difficult relation with co-workers
- difficult relations with the insurance company
- difficult work/life balance
- loss of motivation to return to work.
ROSES is a working and dialogue tool for the two interlocutors. Once the identification of dimensions or problematic statement pairs has been settled, rehabilitation professionals can begin a discussion with their clients and establish the relevant activities and strategies. In addition, rehabilitation health professionals may decide to use ROSES as a follow-up tool in order to evaluate whether certain obstacles have disappeared or if they persist in their clients’ workplaces or personal lives.
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To find tools that have been validated by the Study and Research Centre in Mental Health and Work Research, including ROSES, visit http://www.mentalhealthwork.ca/, go to Your Web Space > Stakeholders and sign in. Not a member? Join them!