1
|
Teborg S, Hünefeld L, Gerdes TS. Exploring the working conditions of disabled employees: a scoping review. J Occup Med Toxicol 2024; 19:2. [PMID: 38291467 PMCID: PMC10826256 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-023-00397-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Teborg
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Unit 1.2 Monitoring Working Conditions, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Lena Hünefeld
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Unit 1.2 Monitoring Working Conditions, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Tomke S Gerdes
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Collier KM, Halvorsen CJ, Fortuna KL. Assessing Mental Healthcare Worker Experiences of Workplace Fairness and Organizational Value: A National Survey of Peer-Support Specialists. Workplace Health Saf 2024; 72:14-20. [PMID: 37842958 DOI: 10.1177/21650799231200028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peer-support specialists-individuals with diagnosed mental illnesses who provide support services to other adults with diagnosed mental health issues-often feel stigmatized and undervalued at work, leading to negative personal- and job-related outcomes. Given their important link to positive service user outcomes, this study assessed how peer-support specialists perceive fairness and feel valued in the workplace. METHODS Peer-support specialists (N = 274) were recruited online from peer-support specialist listservs, social media groups, and patient-run organizations to take a cross-sectional survey that included a 14-item scale on how workplace fairness relates to job satisfaction and four questions on how valued they felt by administrators, clinicians, the people they serve, and fellow peer-support specialists. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to assess total scores and differences by gender and race. FINDINGS Ranging in age from 20 to 77 years and identifying predominantly as White (81.0%) and female (62.9%), respondents noted that fair practices in the workplace would increase their job satisfaction, with no significant differences observed by gender or race. Most peer-support specialists felt valued by the people they serve (97.1%) and fellow peer-support specialists (92.7%). However, fewer reported feeling valued by administrators (64.6%) and clinicians (60.6%). CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Peer-support specialists value fairness at the workplace and feel undervalued by some staff. This study highlights peer-support specialists' important role in behavioral health services and suggests that healthcare professionals, including occupational health specialists, are important stakeholders in creating fairer workplaces and increasing peer-support specialists' sense of being valued, leading to improved personal and organizational outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Cal J Halvorsen
- Boston College School of Social Work
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Work, Health, & Well-being
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hartley C, Penlington C. 'I Will Fight for People to Not Have the Experience I've Had': A Thematic Analysis of the Experiences and Perspectives of Chronic Pain Lived Experience Advocates. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:995-1004. [PMID: 37610073 PMCID: PMC10494474 DOI: 10.1177/10497323231188639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Navigating the healthcare system with chronic pain, alongside navigating the experience of the chronic pain itself, is recognised to be highly challenging. Frequently available interventions do not fully meet the needs of people with chronic pain. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of people who have been through these experiences and now support and campaign for improved approaches to chronic pain management. Semi-structured interviews of 10 participants who independently support others through some form of chronic pain advocacy or support were conducted online. Data were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, through a critical realist and constructivist lens. Data were interpreted to represent a journey into chronic pain advocacy, represented by three overarching themes. Advocacy as healing incorporates sub-themes of pain trauma, gaining knowledge, and using my experience for good. Unequal partnership includes respect and unmet needs from institutions. The final theme, evolution, relates to two sub-themes of pushing boundaries and personal growth. Participants talked about the dual benefit of their contribution to pain advocacy, both in terms of helping others and also their own personal benefit. Overall findings indicated that pain advocacy can take multiple and various forms. Commonly, our participants who took on the role of pain advocacy were motivated by their own early difficult experiences, both navigating their pain and healthcare systems, and by a wish for others to not have similar difficult experiences. Having taken on the role, despite its challenges, rewards can include recognition and personal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Hartley
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Chris Penlington
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mirbahaeddin E, Chreim S. Work-life boundary management of peer support workers when engaging in virtual mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative case study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1623. [PMID: 37620816 PMCID: PMC10463757 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16488-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health care needs have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Peer support workers (PSWs) and the organizations that employ them have strived to provide services to meet increasing needs. During pandemic lockdowns in Ontario, Canada, these services moved online and were provided by PSWs from their homes. There is paucity of research that examines how providing mental health support by employees working from home influences their work-life boundaries. This research closes the gap by examining experiences of work-life boundary challenges and boundary management strategies of PSWs. METHODS A qualitative case study approach was adopted. Interviews with PSWs who held formal, paid positions in a peer support organization were conducted. Data was analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive approaches. Descriptive coding that closely utilized participants' words was followed by inferential coding that grouped related themes into conceptual categories informed by boundary theory. Member checking was conducted. RESULTS PSWs provided accounts of work-life boundary challenges that we grouped into three categories: temporal (work schedule encroachments, continuous online presence), physical (minimal workspace segregation, co-presence of household members and pets) and task-related (intersecting work-home activities). Strategies used by PSWs to manage the boundaries consisted of segmenting the work-life domains by creating separate timescapes, spaces and tasks; and integrating domains by allowing some permeability between the areas of work and life. CONCLUSION The findings from this study can help inform management, practices, future research and policy on health care workforce. The study highlights the need to attend to the consequences of greater work-life integration for mental health workers since their successful practice is largely dependent on maintaining self-care. Training regarding work-life boundary management is highlighted as one of the ways to approach situations where work from home is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elmira Mirbahaeddin
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada
| | - Samia Chreim
- Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Osborn T, Town R, Ellis R, Buckman J, Saunders R, Fonagy P. Implementing peer support in higher education: A feasibility study. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 2:100175. [PMID: 37916032 PMCID: PMC10616816 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background When experiencing mental distress, many university students seek support from their peers. In schools and mental health services, formalised peer support interventions have demonstrated some success but implementation challenges have been reported. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability and safety of a novel manualized peer support intervention and associated data collection processes. Methods A longitudinal mixed methods study was conducted following the pilot of a peer support intervention at a large London university between June 2021 and May 2022. The study utilised data routinely recorded on all students who booked a peer support session, focus groups with nine peer workers and five staff members implementing the intervention, pre-post intervention surveys with 13 students and qualitative interviews with 10 of those students. Results 169 bookings were made during the pilot, of which 130 (77%) were attended, with November the peak month. Staff and peer workers described strong motivation and commitment to implement the intervention, noting that the peer support model and peer worker role addressed previously unmet needs at the university. However, students described implementation problems relating to the coherence of the intervention and the burden of participation. While students mostly described acceptable experiences, there were examples where acceptability was lower. No adverse events were reported during the pilot. Conclusion The training and supervision of peer workers, and the provision of one-to-one peer support to students was found to be feasible, mostly acceptable, and safe. However, sustained implementation difficulties were observed. These pose challenges to the scalability of peer support in universities. We make recommendations to improve implementation of peer support including improving reach, greater clarity about the intervention, and fuller involvement of students throughout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T.G. Osborn
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - R. Town
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
- Evidence Based Practice Unit, 4-8 Rodney Street, University College London, London, N1 9JH, UK
| | - R. Ellis
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
- PsychUP for Wellbeing, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - J.E.J. Buckman
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness (CORE), Research Department of Clinical Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
- iCope – Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, London, NW1 0PE, UK
- UCL University Clinic, Research Department of Clinical Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - R. Saunders
- Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness (CORE), Research Department of Clinical Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - P. Fonagy
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
| |
Collapse
|