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Abstract
Introduction Mental health problems (MHPs) are frequent and disabling and are the first or second leading cause of certified sickness absences from work in industrialised countries. They are generally long lasting and generate a considerable human and socioeconomic burden. The deleterious effect of adverse psychosocial work factors on MHP has been documented. However, the evidence regarding the effect of these factors on absences from work for an MHP has not been synthesised since 2007. The proposed systematic review aims to synthesise the effect of adverse psychosocial work factors from three validated theoretical models (the demand–control–support, effort–reward–imbalance and organisational justice models) on the risk of certified absences from work for diagnosed MHP among workers.
Method and analysis A systematic search strategy will be conducted in seven databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Sociological abstracts and IBSS. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations, a multistep screening process by independent reviewers will lead to study selection. The search strategy was first run in 16 January 2017 and will be updated in October 2018. Only quantitative, prospective studies evaluating the effect of at least one psychosocial work factor from the validated theoretical models on certified absence from work for a diagnosed MHP will be considered for inclusion. Extracted data will be used for quantitative and qualitative evidence synthesis as well as to assess risk of bias and methodological quality. Meta-estimates will be provided for high-quality studies and by each psychosocial work factor, after considering homogeneity and number of studies.
Ethics and dissemination As this study will be based only on published studies, ethics approval is not required. Given that psychosocial works factors are frequent and modifiable, the results of this systematic review may provide evidence to support prevention strategies that can help to reduce the human social and economic burden associated with medically certified absences from work for an MHP.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42018091632.
- mental health
- sickness absence
- sick leave
- psychosocial work factors
- work stress
- depression
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Footnotes
Contributors CB is the principal investigator of the study. With the close contribution of MG-O, she planned and designed this study protocol and revised the first draft. CSD wrote the first draft of the manuscript. KA contributed to the first draft of the manuscript and revised the final version. CB, XT, MG-O, RN and MV bring expertise in the definition of psychosocial work factors. MV prepared the dissemination plan. MG-O brings expertise in gender differences. AL and RN bring expertise in the definition of mental health problems and economic statistics. LM brings expertise in the design of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. DL supervised the writing of the manuscript and brings expertise in systematic reviews. All the authors revised and approved the final version of this manuscript.
Funding This protocol was supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR grant number#201404KRS-329015-KRS-CFBA-35698).
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Not required.
Ethics approval As this study will be based only on published studies, ethics approval is not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; peer reviewed for ethical and funding approval prior to submission.