Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
In Germany, the number of days of absence from work caused by mental illness has risen dramatically in the past ten years. Due to lack of qualified staff, it is very important for companies to take care of the physical and mental health of their workers. As a result, the number of people who are unable to work due to mental stress and diseases is extremely high. Supported Employment concepts such as the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model look at making work a rehabilitative agent itself. Supported Employment Plus (SEplus) uses a modified IPS-approach in order to: maintain the affected employees work ability and performance, re-establish the employees mental well-being in the workplace, preserve the work capacity and productivity for the company; reduce the number of days of absence due to mental health problems.
Who can participate?
Employees of the participating businesses who report psychological distress can take part.
What does the study involve?
Employees are randomly allocated to one of two groups: intervention and control groups. The intervention group receives SEplus the affected workers are specifically and individually coached by experienced job coaches. These job coaches also fulfil an advisory and supportive role for the employer, the colleagues and other stakeholders of the business environment.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run from participating business enterprise and service companies in Germany.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2012 to September 2014.
Who is funding the study?
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (EU)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Wulf Rössler
wulf.roessler@uzh.ch
Study website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT/CTIS number
IRAS number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Job maintenance through Supported Employment PLUS
Acronym
SEplus
Study hypothesis
1. Job Coaching according to the approach of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) can contribute to job maintenance of employees under psychological pressure or with mental illnesses. Furthermore, coaching according to IPS enhances job satisfaction and reduces the number of days of sickness absence.
2. In addition we hypothesize the following:
2.1. Improvement of job satisfaction in the intervention group.
2.2. Improvement of global functioning in the intervention group.
2.3. Improvement of the quality of life of the participants of the intervention group.
2.4. Increased self-esteem of the participants of the intervention group.
2.5. Reduction of self-stigma in the intervention group.
2.6. Reduction of cognitive appraisal of stigma as a stressor in the intervention group.
2.7. Enhancement of recovery orientation in the intervention group.
Ethics approval(s)
Ethics Committee of the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, 25.09.2013, ref. EB-Antrag Rössler201307_SEplus
Study design
Randomised controlled study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)
Other
Study type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Mental disorders, vocational rehabilitation
Intervention
The intervention lasts from three to six months. The participants should attend to eight to twelve coaching sessions. The job coaches support the participants of the intervention group concerning problems on the job and other psychosocial problems. 50% of the participants are randomized to the intervention group and 50% to the control group.
Several instrument based interviews are conducted every 3 months.
A two-factor analysis of variance with the two factors group affiliation (Intervention- and control group) and outcome (reduction days of illness yes/no) will be conducted to control for the study hypotheses.
Intervention type
Other
Primary outcome measure
The primary endpoint is the reduction of days incapacity to work by 40% compared with the control group.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Quality of life
2. Motivation
3. Job satisfaction
4. Psychosocial functioning
5. Job preferences
6. Self-esteem
Overall study start date
01/10/2012
Overall study end date
30/09/2014
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Employee of a cooperation partner (e.g. business enterprise or service company) of the study
2. Self-reporting of psychological stress or mental disorder
3. Psychic distress or mental disorder
4. Voluntariness
5. Participant have to give informed consent
6. Working age (18-67 years)
Participant type(s)
Patient
Age group
Adult
Lower age limit
18 Years
Upper age limit
67 Years
Sex
Both
Target number of participants
120
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Persons who need a psychiatric inpatient treatment at the time of the study
2. Persons with an imminent risk of suicide
Recruitment start date
01/10/2012
Recruitment end date
30/09/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Germany
Study participating centre
University of Lüneburg
Lüneburg
21335
Germany
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (EU)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) sharing plan
IPD sharing plan summary
Not provided at time of registration
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|