Vocational rehabilitation and sustainable return-to-work for persons with hearing loss and work-related mental health conditions

Research problem and specific questionsHearing loss (HL) is common among workers in Sweden and the connection between HL and work-related mental ill-health is well established in the literature, but seldom addressed in vocational rehabilitation (VR) models and return-to-work (RTW) processes.

Hence, focusing on both mental health conditions (MHC) and HL in combination are necessary in VR/RTW processes as only focusing on one and not the other will likely not give a sustainable RTW effect.This project aims to study VR/RTW processes of persons with HL and work-related MHC and how to design a best practice integrative support models for VR/RTW for persons with HL and MHC.

This objective will be met research questions addressing 1) the experiences of VR and RTW processes among persons with HL and MHC and their experiences of best practice in these processes, 2) beliefs and representations of the optimal design of VR/RTW processes of persons with HL and MHC among employers and support professionals, 3) necessary commitments that needs to be exchanged in VR/RTW processes and why are they experienced as needed to be exchanged, and 4) the optimal design, and (5) implementation of integrative support models in VR/RTW for persons with HL and MHC .Data and methodA sequential exploratory design in three phases will be employed, where each phase informs the next one.

Data gathered in these phases will be triangulated to investigate the optimal design of integrative support models in VR/RTW for persons with HL and MHC (RQ4).

The methods to be used include diary studies and digital storytelling (RQ1), focus group interviews (RQ2) and individual interviews (RQ3, RQ5) and surveys (RQ5).Societal relevance and utilizationHearing loss entails an increased risk of sick leave as workers with HL have an increased risk of work-related ill-health.

Integrative support models are not available, where the support is co-created in an interagency, cross-sectoral collaboration focusing both HL and comorbid MHC, directed towards the creation of a sustainable working environment from a hearing perspective.Plan for project realizationThe project is carried out in close collaboration with actors in VR/RTW as well as user organizations for people with HL.

It will be carried out by a research group who has extensive experience in researching multidimensional and complex research areas, involving both different levels of analysis and different actors and stakeholders.