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Combining garden therapy and supported employment – a method for preparing women on long‐term sick leave for working life
Author(s) -
Lidén Eva,
Alstersjö Karin,
Gurné Frida L.,
Fransson Sandra,
Bergbom Ingegerd
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12263
Subject(s) - vitality , sick leave , quality of life (healthcare) , rehabilitation , medicine , mental health , population , distress , occupational therapy , psychology , gerontology , physical therapy , psychiatry , nursing , clinical psychology , environmental health , philosophy , theology
Women are overrepresented among the group people suffering from long‐term illness. In addition to their illness, suffering long‐term sick leave leads to economical restraints as well social distress. There are gaps in our understanding of the challenges these women face. There is also lack of knowledge about how these challenges can be effectively addressed in rehabilitation. This deficiency is problematic from an ethical, justice and a caring perspective. In this study, changes in health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) among women on long‐term sick leave were investigated during and after participating in a rehabilitation programme combining two validated methods, Garden Therapy and Supported Employment ( SE ). The study also discusses difficulties in realising research related to vulnerable under‐privileged people. From a population of 329 women who had reported their interest to participate, 245 were randomised to the programme. Of these 144 accepted participation in the research project and of these 123 women accepted to answer the SF ‐36 questionnaire. The participants were between 21 and 62 years with poor physical and mental health. They had received public financial support from <1 year to >10 years. The SF ‐36 measurement was carried out at baseline, after completion of Garden Therapy and after completion of SE. The results are based on data of respondents who participated at all the three occasions (n = 52). When comparing HRQ oL baseline with the following occasions, the participants' General Health ( GH ), Vitality ( VT ), Social Functioning ( SF ) and mental health had improved significantly. The Four Leaf Clover ( FLC ) programme could be an appropriate method for reducing socially induced suffering. However, to conduct intervention studies where vulnerable persons are involved, it is off vital importance to consider whether the participants have the strength to complete the intervention.