Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:26:59.992Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Scoping Review of Work Disability Policies and Programs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2017

Ellen MacEachen*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University Of Waterloo, Canada
Bronson Du
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University Of Waterloo, Canada
Emma Bartel
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University Of Waterloo, Canada
Kerstin Ekberg
Affiliation:
Linkoping University, Sweden
Emile Tompa
Affiliation:
Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Canada
Agnieszka Kosny
Affiliation:
Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Canada
Ivana Petricone
Affiliation:
IAVGO Community Legal Clinic, Canada
Jackie Stapleton
Affiliation:
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University Of Waterloo, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: Ellen MacEachen, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Purpose: This scoping review identifies the foci of research articles that address government laws, policies and programs designed to foster labour market integration of people who, due to illness or disability, face challenges entering or staying in the workforce. Method: A systematic search of English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2014 yielded 14,474 articles. Title and abstract review identified 723 included articles that addressed government-led programs, policy or legislation on work integration and/or income support after injury, illness or impairment. These were sorted by theme, work disability program or policy, disability type, jurisdiction and year published. Results: The number of articles published that address work disability laws, policies and programs increased steadily. Most articles addressed disability in general. Among articles with a specific health focus, mental health was the most common. Research gaps are identified for mixed method study designs, chronic and episodic conditions, illness and cancer, and for work disability policy studies outside of North America, Northern Europe and Australia. Conclusions: We find a growing number of published articles about work disability and policy and identify specific areas where is a need for further research.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8 (1), 1932.Google Scholar
Clasen, J., & Oorschot, W.V. (2002). Changing principles in European social security. European Journal of Social Security, 4 (2), 89115.Google Scholar
Costa-Black, K.M., Feuerstein, M., & Loisel, P. (2014). Work disability models: Past and present. In Loisel, P., Anema, J.R., Feuerstein, M., MacEachen, E., & Costa-Black, K. (Eds.), Handbook of work disability: Prevention and management (pp. 7194). New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Centre for Research on Work Disabilty Policy. (2016). Work Disability Policy Scoping Review Database. Retrieved from https://www.crwdp.ca/en/work-disability-policy-scoping-review-database Google Scholar
Dewa, C., Trojanowski, L., Loong, D., & Hoch, J. (2013). An overview of provincial disability programs and work incentives/disincentives. In The aspiring workforce: Employment and income for people with serious mental illness. Mental Health Commission of Canada.Google Scholar
Dropping, J.A., Hvinden, B., & Oorschot, W.V. (2000). Reconstruction and reorientation: Changing disability policies in the Netherlands and Norway. European Journal of Social Security, 2 (1), 3568.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gagliard, A.R., & Dobrow, M.J. (2011). Paucity of qualitative research in general medical and health services and policy research journals: Analysis of publication rates. BMC Health Services Research, 11, 268.Google Scholar
Gu, D., Gomez-Redondo, R., & Dupre, M. (2015). Studying disability trends in aging populations. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 30 (1), 2149.Google Scholar
Jetha, A., Pransky, G., & Hettinger, L.J. (2016). Capturing complexity in work disability research: Application of system dynamics modeling methodology. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38 (2), 189194.Google Scholar
Law Commission of Ontario. (2012, December). Vulnerable workers and precarious work: Final report. Toronto, ON: Author.Google Scholar
Loisel, P., Anema, H., Feuerstein, M., MacEachen, E., Pransky, G., & Costa-Black, K. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of work disability: Prevention and management. New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Loisel, P., & Cote, P. (2013). The work disability paradigm and its public health implications. In Loisel, P., Anema, H., Feuerstein, M., Pransky, G., MacEachen, E., & Kosta-Black, C. (Eds), Handbook of work disability: Prevention and management. New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
MacEachen, E., Du, B., Bartel, E., Tompa, E., Stapleton, J., Kosny, A., . . . Ekberg, K. (2015). Work Disability Policy Scoping Review Database. Retrieved from https://www.crwdp.ca/en/work-disability-policy-scoping-review-database Google Scholar
MacEachen, E., Kosny, A., Ferrier, S., & Chambers, L. (2010). The ‘toxic dose’ of system problems: Why some injured workers don't return to work as expected. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20 (3), 349366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morgan, G. (2010). Evidence-based health policy: A preliminary systematic review. Health Education Journal, 69 (1), 4347.Google Scholar
Morgan, D.L. (2015). From themes to hypotheses: Following up with quantitative methods. Qualitative Health Research, 25 (6), 789793.Google Scholar
Nastasia, I., Coutu, M.-F., & Tcaciuc, R. (2014). Topics and trends in research on non-clinical interventions aimed at preventing prolonged work disability in workers compensated for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs): A systematic, comprehensive literature review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36 (22), 18411856.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2009). Sickness, disability and work: Keeping track in the economic downturn. Background paper. Paper presented May 14–15 at the High Level Forum, Stockholm.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2010). Sickness, disability and work: Breaking the barriers: A synthesis of findings across OECD countries. Paris, France: Author. doi: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264088856-en.Google Scholar
Oldfield, M., MacEachen, E., Kirsh, B., & McNeil, M. (2016). Impromptu everyday disclosure dances: How women with stigmatised chronic illnesses respond to disclosure risks at work. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38 (15), 14421453. doi:10.3109/09638288.2015.1103794 Google Scholar
Oorschot, W.V., & Boos, K. (2000). The battle against numbers: Disability policies in the Netherlands. European Journal of Social Security, 2 (4), 343361.Google Scholar
Pransky, G., Loisel, P., & Anema, H. (2011). Work disability prevention research: Current and future prospects. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 21, 287292.Google Scholar
Quinlan, M. (2004). Workers’ compensation and the challenges posed by changing patterns of work: Evidence from Australia. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 2 (1), 2552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, I.Z., & Gatchel, R.J. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of return to work: From research to practice. New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Seing, E., MacEachen, E., Ekberg, K., & Stahl, C. (2015). Return to work or job transition? Employer dilemmas in taking social responsibility for return to work in local workplace practice. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37 (19), 17601769. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2014.978509 Google Scholar
Shuey, K.M., & Jovic, E. (2013). Disability accommodation in nonstandard and precarious employment arrangements. Work and Occupations, 40 (2), 174205.Google Scholar
Tricco, A.C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K., Colquhoun, H., Kastner, M., . . . Straus, S.E. (2016). A scoping review on the conduct and reporting of scoping reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 16 (1), 15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waddell, G. (1998). The back pain revolution. Toronto, ON: Churchill Livingstone.Google Scholar
Wisdom, J.P., Cavaleri, M.A., Onwuegbuzie, A.J., & Green, C.A. (2012). Methodological reporting in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods health services research articles. Health Services Research, 47 (2), 721745. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01344.x Google Scholar