title: Implementation of the Participatory Approach for Supervisors to Increase Self-Efficacy in Addressing Risk of Sick Leave of Employees: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Purpose To study the effectiveness of a multifaceted strategy to implement the participatory approach (PA) for supervisors to increase their self-efficacy in addressing risk of sick leave of employees. Methods Supervisors from three organizations were invited to participate. Randomization was performed at department level. Supervisors (n = 61) in the intervention departments received the implementation strategy consisting of a working group meeting, supervisor training in PA application, and optional supervisor coaching. Supervisors in the control departments (n = 55) received written information on PA. The primary outcome was supervisors' self-efficacy to apply the PA, measured at baseline and 6 months' follow-up. The number of employees with whom supervisors discussed work functioning problems or (risk of) sick leave was also assessed. Effects were tested using multilevel analyses. Results The strategy did not increase self-efficacy to apply the PA. Subgroup analyses showed that self-efficacy increased for supervisors who at baseline reported to have discussed (risk of) sick leave with less than three employees during the last 6 months (B = 1.42, 95 % CI 0.34-2.50). Furthermore, the implementation strategy increased the number of employees with whom supervisors discussed work functioning problems or risk of sick leave (B = 1.26, 95 % CI 0.04-2.48). Conclusion Although the implementation strategy cannot be recommended for all supervisors, for supervisors who less frequently discuss (risk of) sick leave with employees the implementation strategy might be helpful. Trial registration NTR3733.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ketelaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.schaafsma@vumc.nl.|Research Center for Insurance Medicine, Collaboration Between AMC-UMCG-UWV-VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.schaafsma@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Schaafsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Geldof
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kraaijeveld
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C R L
authors.initials: CRL
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.affiliation: Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, MA, USA.|University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bültmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Research Center for Insurance Medicine, Collaboration Between AMC-UMCG-UWV-VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Anema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018582:Sick Leave; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Participatory approach; Prevention; Randomized controlled trial; Sick leave; Supervisors; Workplace