A Mega-Ethnography of Qualitative Meta-Syntheses on Return to Work in People with Chronic Health Conditions

This study looks at research on how people with long-term health issues go back to their jobs. It aims to create a general plan that helps improve ways to support them during this process. The study combined the results of 19 reviews that focused on different health problems like muscle issues, brain injuries, cancer, and mental health. It looked for common themes to understand what helps or hinders people's return to work. The research found that going back to work is complex and depends on many things, like the person's health, their job, and the support they get. It suggests that helping people return to work needs a comprehensive approach that considers their individual needs and the involvement of different people and groups.

• 1
  RTW is a multifactorial and highly interactive multistakeholder process, embedded in the individual’s life and working history, as well as in a determined social and societal context.
• 2
  The RTW process affects the person’s identity and the further coping with the illness.
• 3
  RTW is not only a problem of the individual, but also a matter of the social environment and system, requiring a holistic, person-centered, and systemic approach as well as a designated coordinator.