Illness perceptions and work participation: a systematic review

Abstract

PurposeSelf-regulatory processes play an important role in mediating between the disease and the health outcomes, and potentially also work outcomes. This systematic review aims to explore the relationship between illness perceptions and work participation in patients with somatic diseases and complaints.MethodsThe bibliographic databases Medline, PsycINFO and Embase were searched from inception to March 2008. Included were cross-sectional or longitudinal studies, patients with somatic diseases or complaints, illness perceptions based on at least four dimensions of the common sense model of self-regulation, and work participation.ResultsTwo longitudinal and two cross-sectional studies selected for this review report statistically significant findings for one or more illness perception dimensions in patients with various complaints and illnesses, although some dimensions are significant in one study but not in another. Overall, non-working patients perceived more serious consequences, expected their illness to last a longer time, and reported more symptoms and more emotional responses as a result of their illness. Alternatively, working patients had a stronger belief in the controllability of their condition and a better understanding of their disease.ConclusionsThe limited number of studies in this review suggests that illness perceptions play a role in the work participation of patients with somatic diseases or complaints, although it is not clear how strong this relationship is and which illness perception dimensions are most useful. Identifying individuals with maladaptive illness perceptions and targeting interventions toward changing these perceptions are promising developments in improving work participation.

The Utility of Template Analysis in Qualitative Psychology Research

“…An emerging body of research has suggested that beliefs about illness (illness perceptions) are important influences on clinical and work outcomes for those with back pain (e.g., Foster et al 2008;Main, Foster & Buchbinder 2010;Hoving et al 2010;Giri et al 2009). One theoretical model which has been widely established as a useful framework through which to explore illness perceptions is the Common-Sense model of self-regulation of health and illness (the CSM; e.g., Leventhal, Nerenz & Steele 1984).…”

Experiences and needs for work participation in employees with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy

“…As indicated by our study and others, communication is a key to solve work-related problems [31,32]. In the occupational health literature on chronic disease, several interventions show positive results in improving work participation including so-called vocational rehabilitation strategies that include coaching employees to have effective communication with their employer [33] and also empowerment of employees in difficult work situations [31,34]. Supporting employees with RA to actively deal with their issues at work may not only increase their own skills but will also allow the work environment to provide better support as they are kept better informed about illness-related problems or needs by the employees.…”

Topics and trends in research on non-clinical interventions aimed at preventing prolonged work disability in workers compensated for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs): a systematic, comprehensive literature review

“…Although low back pain (LBP) is still the prime interest of most authors [25,26,34,[40][41][42][43][44][45], other disorders such as tenosynovitis, epicondylitis [46] and whiplash [47,48], or other anatomical sites such as the neck [49], upper limbs [50] and shoulders [50,51], caught some authors' attention. We observed that when the focus was the prevention of prolonged disability, the questions tackled were general, regardless of disability site or type [52][53][54][55], and that the studies described either the best available evidence on RTW interventions [50,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66] or appropriate work-disability measurement processes [67]. Twenty-seven theoretical articles were retrieved from 17 different scientific journals and one handbook.…”