Meta-synthesis of qualitative research on return to work among employees with common mental         disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate which opportunities and obstacles employees with         common mental disorders (CMD) experience in relation to return to work (RTW) and how they perceive the process of         returning to work. In addition, the study explores what characterizes an optimal RTW intervention and points to         possible ways to improve future interventions for employees with CMD.


METHODS
A systematic literature search was         conducted, and eight qualitative studies of medium or high quality published between 1995-2011 were included in         this systematic review. The eight studies were synthesized using the meta-ethnographic method.


RESULTS
This         meta-synthesis found that employees with CMD identify a number of obstacles to and facilitators of returning to work         related to their own personality, social support at the workplace, and the social and rehabilitation systems. The         employees found it difficult to decide when they were ready to resume work and experienced difficulties implementing         RTW solutions at the workplace.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals that the RTW process should be seen as a continuous and         coherent one where experiences of the past and present and anticipation of the future are dynamically interrelated and         affect the success or failure of RTW. The meta-synthesis also illuminates insufficient coordination between the social         and rehabilitation systems and suggests how an optimal RTW intervention could be designed.
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. mfa@nrcwe.dk
Malene Friis
MF
Andersen
Karina M
KM
Nielsen
Svend
S
Brinkmann
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018582:Sick Leave; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation