The following is a summary of “That’s probably how you would want care to be” – experiences of sick leave teams at a health center, a mixed method study,” published in the November 2023 issue of Primary Care by Hällås, et al.
The health center where the study was done wanted to see if a sick leave team made it easier for doctors to evaluate sick leave. For a study, researchers sought to ensure that people who needed sick leave were screened properly and to improve the workplace. The point of the study was to find out how the staff felt about using and working in sick leave teams and how that changed the number of sick leave patients and the pattern of sick leave. A mix of methods that are qualitative and quantitative. Eleven people took part in a total of two focus groups. There were six doctors, three district nurses, one rehab supervisor, and one counselor in the focus groups, which were put together by the head of the health center.
They gathered data on full-time and part-time sick leave that was more than 90, 180, or 360 days at the beginning, middle, and end of the project, as well as from 18 months before the project began. The focus groups’ analysis showed that adding sick leave teams with doctors and a rehabilitation coordinator would help people who come to the health center with mental illness and/or musculoskeletal problems in three main ways: the working environment, clear roles, and in-depth competence.
There were 27% fewer people on sick leave for more than 365 days at the end of the project than at the beginning, and 11% more women were on sick leave than men. The study advocated for the integration of teamwork-oriented strategies in addressing sick leave responsibilities within primary care settings. By emulating successful practices from occupational health care, organizations can create a more supportive and collaborative environment, potentially attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in the primary care sector.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-023-02192-5