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Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
| Article number | rkaf034 |
|---|---|
| <mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 30/06/2025 |
| <mark>Journal</mark> | Rheumatology Advances in Practice |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Publication Status | E-pub ahead of print |
| Early online date | 14/03/25 |
| <mark>Original language</mark> | English |
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to qualitatively examine the delivery of the WORKWELL trial, a job retention vocational rehabilitation (JRVR) programme designed to help individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA) maintain employment. A qualitative process evaluation used the Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to understand participant experiences and identify factors influencing implementation and outcomes.
METHODS: Data were collected via one-to-one telephone interviews with trial participants at 12 and 36 months. An inductive reflexive thematic analysis was followed by a deductive analysis based on NPT's four constructs (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring).
RESULTS: Sixty-two participants (mean age 51.0; 82.3% female) were interviewed, most diagnosed with RA (75.8%). Four secondary themes were generated under NPT constructs. For 'Coherence', themes included 'Exploring the Purpose and Impact of Taking Part in WORKWELL' and 'Questionnaires as Instrument for Reflection'. In 'Cognitive Participation', the theme was 'Commitment and Investment to WORKWELL'. For 'Collective Action', we identified 'Key Actions for Successful WORKWELL', and under 'Reflexive Monitoring', the theme was 'Suggestions for Improving WORKWELL'. These themes reflected participants' mixed feelings about the intervention, finding value in the intervention but highlighting the need for more tailored, timely and relevant content. Workplace support was crucial but often insufficient. Follow-up calls from researchers to ensure questionnaire completion were seen as a way to reflect and monitor their conditions. The pandemic's impact on work environments also influenced outcomes.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that WORKWELL provided work support for participants, though its impact could be enhanced through greater customization, early intervention and stronger workplace engagement.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03942783. Registered on 8 May 2019. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN61762297. Registered on 13 May 2019. Retrospectively registered.