Tailored vocational rehabilitation for people with a work disability pension in The Netherlands; an in-depth data analysis of the content and outcomes of vocational rehabilitation trajectories of the Social Security Institute.

PURPOSE: People with a work disability pension receive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services from the Dutch Social Security Institute (SSI) in order to facilitate return-to-work (RTW). The SSI offers tailored VR existing of two trajectories (aimed at getting fit for work or aimed at returning to work). The purpose of this study is to describe the current practice of VR. This includes a description of client characteristics, RTW barriers and the intensity, duration, content and the outcomes of the offered trajectories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 197 clients that were randomly selected from clients who attended a VR trajectory between 1 January t 2017 and 31 December 2018. Data were obtained from the SSI registration databases and client files. RESULTS: Both VR trajectories at the SSI have a different aim, but in practice the content of the VR interventions often overlaps. Around half of both trajectories reached their goal. Reasons for unsuccessful trajectories were that the client did not find work or barriers were more complex than initially assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The SSI delivers tailored VR to the specific needs of the client, however substantiations for why a certain VR intervention is offered are limited. Guidelines are needed to support professionals.

This study shows the usual practice of vocational rehabilitation by the Dutch Social Security Institute for all clients with a work disability pension who attended between January 2017 and January 2019.The rationale why a certain vocational rehabilitation intervention is offered by vocational rehabilitation professionals is often unclear or missing.This missing rationale may lead to unwanted practice variation, which is a barrier for evidence-based vocational rehabilitation.Tools and guidelines are needed to support professional decision making and evidence-based vocational rehabilitation and improve return to work.

A Decision Aid to Support Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals Offering Tailored Care to Benefit Recipients with a Long-Term Work Disability: A Feasibility Study.

PURPOSE: This feasibility study focusses on the implementation and use of a decision aid, which supports vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals in helping clients with a disability pension return to work in practice. The decision aid shows an overview of the clients' return to work barriers and suggests suitable VR interventions based on these barriers. METHODS: The study population consisted of VR professionals working at the Dutch Social Security Institute and their clients receiving a (partial) work disability pension. The feasibility was measured with concepts of the Linnan and Steckler framework and the attitude, social norm and self-efficacy model. Data were collected using questionnaires, checklists and qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Ten professionals participated in this study. Fifty-four clients were asked to fill in the questionnaire of the decision aid and 32 clients received VR care based on the decision aid. In general, VR professionals and clients were satisfied with the decision aid and perceived a few barriers for using the decision aid. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that it is feasible to implement and use the decision aid. To improve the implementation of this decision aid, it should be implemented in digital systems used by professionals to improve efficiency of working with the decision aid.

Return to work factors and vocational rehabilitation interventions for long-term, partially disabled workers: a modified Delphi study among vocational rehabilitation professionals.

BACKGROUND: Long-term disability has a great impact on both society and workers with disabilities. Little is known about the barriers which prohibit workers with long-term disabilities from returning to work and which interventions are best suited to counteract these barriers. The main purpose of this study was to obtain consensus among professionals on important return to work (RTW) factors and effective vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions for long-term (> 2 years), partially disabled workers. Our three research questions were: (1) which factors are associated with RTW for long-term disabled workers?; (2) which factors associated with RTW can be targeted by VR interventions?; and (3) which VR interventions are the most effective to target these factors? METHODS: A modified Delphi Study was conducted using a panel of 22 labour experts, caseworkers, and insurance physicians. The study consisted of several rounds of questionnaires and one online meeting. RESULTS: The multidisciplinary panel reached consensus that 58 out of 67 factors were important for RTW and that 35 of these factors could be targeted using VR interventions. In five rounds, the expert panel reached consensus that 11 out of 22 VR interventions were effective for at least one of the eight most important RTW factors. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus was reached among the expert panel that many factors that are important for the RTW of short-term disabled workers are also important for the RTW of long-term partially disabled workers and that a substantial number of these factors could effectively be targeted using VR interventions. The results of this study will be used to develop a decision aid that supports vocational rehabilitation professionals in profiling clients and in choosing suitable VR interventions.