Integrative Conceptual Framework for Barriers and Facilitators in Return to Work Intervention Planning

Abstract

The growing burden of work disability requires planning of work disability prevention programs (interventions) from a public and occupational health perspective. Despite the development of effective return to work interventions, little is known about how to implement such programs in a routinized and sustained manner. Return to work interventions are complex, innovative, and disruptive. As such, a careful context analysis is required before they can be implemented to identify the barriers and facilitators within the health care system, the workplace system and the insurance system. In this chapter, a conceptual integrative framework is proposed in order to identify these barriers and facilitators prior to implementing return to work interventions in a new context. Two case studies are described to highlight how the framework can be used in practice.