A municipality-based vocational rehabilitation programme for occupationally marginalized citizens: a study protocol for a mixed methods study

Lotte Nygaard Andersen, Mette Jensen Stochkendahl, Kirsten Kaya Roessler, Lotte Nygaard Andersen, Mette Jensen Stochkendahl, Kirsten Kaya Roessler

Abstract

Background: In 2013 vocational rehabilitation programmes (VRP) were given official and legal approval under Danish law to assist occupationally marginalized citizens in gaining general life skills, building their work ability, and increasing their chances of entering the work force. The project's aim is to develop a detailed understanding of the health, psychosocial and work circumstances of participating citizens, and of the important processes and mechanisms underlying the potential effects of participating in the VRP.

Methods: This study uses an exploratory mixed methods approach with sequential use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants are citizens assigned to an individually tailored VRP in the municipality of Sonderborg, Denmark. The quantitative part of the study consists of a longitudinal survey in which participants complete questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up one year later. Variables include demographic and personal characteristics, the latter ascertained through validated questionnaires on well-being, physical activity, interpersonal problems, general health, work ability, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, depression and anxiety. The qualitative part of the study consists of semi-structured interviews and observations that explore experiences related to VRP. Participants will be recruited and data collected from questionnaires, interviews and observations in the period February 2016 - March 2018.

Discussion: This research will assemble a unique corpus of knowledge about the characteristics, experiences and outcomes of occupationally marginalized citizens participating in a VRP. It will identify potential enablers and barriers to a successful outcome, and ultimately this knowledge will help inform the future design of individually tailored VRP's.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02641704 , date of registration December 29, 2015.

Keywords: Interdisciplinary rehabilitation; Interview; Longitudinal survey; Social service interventions; Social worker; Unemployed; Vulnerable citizens; Work ability; Work force.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study is declared exempt from approval by the Regional Scientific Ethics Committee for Southern Denmark. In the qualitative part of the study, all participant information and data collected from the municipality and the questionnaires will be handled according to the approval by The Danish Data Protection Agency. Questionnaires will be anonymized and stored in a locked filing cabinet in a locked room at the University of Southern Denmark. All data will be fed in and stored in a secure, password protected drive on a university server. Only the research team will have access to the data. In the qualitative part of the study, informed consent regarding participation in the interview will be obtained from all participants on the day of the interview. Confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained through the use of identification codes.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline for participation in VRP in sonderborg municipality
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Timeline for data collection

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