Employment and ability to work after kidney transplantation in the Netherlands: The impact of preemptive versus non-preemptive kidney transplantation

Exploring the working conditions of disabled employees: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Disabled people are often overlooked in considerations about work design, which contributes to their exclusion from the labor market. This issue also reflects within research, as the body of knowledge on the working conditions of disabled employees remains relatively limited.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted to assess the research landscape concerning the working conditions of disabled employees. Five databases have been searched, focusing on relevant studies published between 2017 and 2022.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen studies were included in the review. It was found that social aspects of work appeared within a substantial portion of the examined studies. Furthermore, it became evident that the interplay of accessibility and flexibility provides an important dynamic to make work design both inclusive and feasible.

CONCLUSION

The recurrent prominence of social aspects, accessibility, and flexibility across the studies shows common challenges and potentials within the work situation of disabled employees. This suggests avenues for future research and inclusive work design.

"It's My Life and It's Now or Never"-Transplant Recipients Empowered From a Service-Dominant Logic Perspective

Patient well-being after an organ transplant is a major outcome determinant and survival of the graft is crucial. Before surgery, patients are already informed about how they can influence their prognosis, for example by adhering to treatment advice and remaining active. Overall, effective selfmanagement of health-related issues is a major factor in successful long-term graft survival. As such, organ transplant recipients can be considered as co-producers of their own health status. However, although keeping the graft in good condition is an important factor in the patient's well-being, it is not enough. To have a meaningful life after a solid organ transplant, patients can use their improved health status to once again enjoy time with family and friends, to travel and to return to work -in short to get back on track. Our assertion in this article is twofold. First, healthcare providers should look beyond medical support in enhancing long-term well-being. Second, organ recipients should see themselves as creators of their own well-being. To justify our argument, we use the theoretical perspective of service-dominant logic that states that patients are the true creators of real value-in-use. Or as Bon Jovi sings, "It's my life and it's now or never."

Development and implementation of work-oriented clinical care to empower patients with kidney disease: an adapted intervention mapping approach

BACKGROUND

Many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have problems to stay at work. Patients and health care professionals (HCPs) see the potential benefit of work-oriented clinical care, yet this care is not manifested in current practice. The aim of this study was to develop and implement a program called work-oriented clinical care for kidney patients (WORK) to support sustainable work participation.

METHODS

An adapted version of Intervention Mapping (AIM) was used for the systematic development of work-oriented care in a hospital. Based on the needs of patients and (occupational) health professionals, and in close cooperation with both, a theoretical and empirically based program was developed. Feasibility and clinical utility were assessed among patients with CKD, HCPs and hospital managers. To increase the chances of successful implementation we focused on determinants related to the innovation, the users, the organization (hospital), and socio-political context.

RESULTS

We developed, implemented, and pilot-tested WORK, an innovative program consisting of a care pathway in the hospital that targets patients with work-related questions and tailors the support they receive to their needs. Several practical tools were developed and an internal and external referral structure with a focus on work was implemented. A labor expert was deployed to the hospital to support patients and HCPs with simple work-related questions. The feasibility and clinical utility of WORK were rated positively.

CONCLUSIONS

This work-oriented clinical care program provides HCPs in the hospital with the necessary tools to support patients with CKD in dealing with work challenges. HCPs can discuss work with patients at an early stage and support them in anticipating work-related challenges. HCPs can also bridge the gap to more specialized help if necessary. WORK has the potential for wider application in other departments and hospitals. So far, the implementation of the WORK program was successful, though structural implementation may be challenging.