The views of sick-listed employees' immediate superiors on co-operation in vocational rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research was to investigate the views of sick-listed employees' immediate superiors on co-operation in vocational rehabilitation before and during a systematic, multi-professional, client-centred, solution-oriented co-operation project in vocational rehabilitation (SMVR intervention).


METHODS
A same-subject study with a questionnaire was used, with 95 immediate superiors giving their views on co-operation both before and during the SMVR intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The immediate superiors felt that the SMVR intervention was successful in promoting co-operation, and reported a significant decrease in referrals of employees from one organisation to another without the problem being resolved. Hence SMVR co-operation was experienced positively by the immediate superiors and in fact led to a joint responsibility in finding solutions. The immediate superiors saw greater possibilities than before for employees to resume regular or other jobs during the SMVR intervention. A more elaborate co-operation model such as the SMVR intervention increased the immediate superiors' experience of successful vocational rehabilitation. Organizations seeking to increase efficiency in vocational rehabilitation might well analyse their work methods and improve their forms of co-operation.
Kärrholm
Jenny
J
Section for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. jenny.karrholm@ki.se
Jakobsson
Björn
B
Håård
Ulrika Schüldt
US
Ekholm
Jan
J
Bergroth
Alf
A
Ekholm
Kristina Schüldt
KS
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D018582:Sick Leave; D013548:Sweden