caa a22 4500 606210849 CHVBK 20210128101035.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150901xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10926-014-9553-2 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10926-014-9553-2 The Management of Long-Term Sickness Absence in Large Public Sector Healthcare Organisations: A Realist Evaluation Using Mixed Methods [Elektronische Daten] [Angela Higgins, Peter O'Halloran, Sam Porter] Purpose The success of measures to reduce long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in public sector organisations is contingent on organisational context. This realist evaluation investigates how interventions interact with context to influence successful management of LTSA. Methods Multi-method case study in three Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland comprising realist literature review, semi-structured interviews (61 participants), Process-Mapping and feedback meetings (59 participants), observation of training, analysis of documents. Results Important activities included early intervention; workplace-based occupational rehabilitation; robust sickness absence policies with clear trigger points for action. Used appropriately, in a context of good interpersonal and interdepartmental communication and shared goals, these are able to increase the motivation of staff to return to work. Line managers are encouraged to take a proactive approach when senior managers provide support and accountability. Hindering factors: delayed intervention; inconsistent implementation of policy and procedure; lack of resources; organisational complexity; stakeholders misunderstanding each other's goals and motives. Conclusions Different mechanisms have the potential to encourage common motivations for earlier return from LTSA, such as employees feeling that they have the support of their line manager to return to work and having the confidence to do so. Line managers' proactively engage when they have confidence in the support of seniors and in their own ability to address LTSA. Fostering these motivations calls for a thoughtful, diagnostic process, taking into account the contextual factors (and whether they can be modified) and considering how a given intervention can be used to trigger the appropriate mechanisms. Springer Science+Business Media New York, 2014 Absenteeism nationallicence Occupational health nationallicence Organizational culture nationallicence Workplace nationallicence Sick leave nationallicence Ass. Dir : Assistant Director nationallicence DHSSPS : Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety nationallicence Employee : Employees experiencing LTSA i.e. returning to work following a period of long-term sickness absence in the previous 3months nationallicence Dir : Director nationallicence DPT : Dominant programme theory nationallicence GP : General practitioner (community physician) nationallicence HR : Human resources nationallicence HSC Trust : Health and Social Care Trust nationallicence LTSA : Long-term sickness absence nationallicence MSD : Musculo-skeletal disease nationallicence NHS : National Health Service nationallicence OH : Occupational health nationallicence OHP : Occupational health physician nationallicence SA : Sickness absence nationallicence UK : United Kingdom nationallicence Union rep : Trade Union representative nationallicence Higgins Angela Occupational Health, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim Hospital, BT41 2RL, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK aut O'Halloran Peter Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, Belfast, UK aut Porter Sam Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, Belfast, UK aut Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 25/3(2015-09-01), 451-470 1053-0487 25:3<451 2015 25 10926 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9553-2 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9553-2 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Higgins Angela Occupational Health, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim Hospital, BT41 2RL, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- O'Halloran Peter Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, Belfast, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Porter Sam Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, BT9 7BL, Belfast, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 25/3(2015-09-01), 451-470 1053-0487 25:3<451 2015 25 10926