Characteristics of the six studies that provided data to the development of the Capacity Note, and examples of their contributions
| Author and year of publication | Aim | Study design and method for analysis | Informants | No of identified items | Example of identified data | Item | Corresponding question in the Capacity Note |
| Bertilsson11 (2013) | Explore experiences of work capacity in persons working while depressed and anxious to identify the essence of the phenomenon ‘capacity to work’ | Phenomenological, Focus groups | Persons working at least part-time with diagnosed or self-reported depression, anxiety or exhaustion (n=17) | 34 | ‘Interpersonal encounters were described by the participants as the most demanding type of work task.’ (p.1707) | Interaction with other people | Right now my capacity to work is affected because it is stressful to interact with other people (eg, pupils, colleagues, customers)(Tick box if agree) |
| Bertilsson25 (2015) | To explore healthcare professionals' experience-based understanding of work capacity in individuals with depression and anxiety disorders | Focus groups, Inductive content analysis | Healthcare professionals from occupational, psychiatric and primary healthcare with experience of treating patients with common mental disorders (n=21) | 26 | ‘Capacity to work was described in patient-narratives as being affected by changed and more sensitive perceptions of sensory input such as vision and hearing.’ (p. 129) | Sensitive to sensory input | Right now my capacity to work is affected because I am easily disturbed by sound and visual impressions, I need to work separately (Tick box if agree) |
| Bertilsson14 (2018) | To explore physicians’ tacit knowledge of their assessment of work capacity in patients with depression and anxiety disorders | Video vignettes and open-ended interviews, Inductive content analysis | Physicians specialised in general practice, occupational health or psychiatry with experience of treating patients with common mental disorders (n=24) | 45 | ‘An important dimension was to assess whether the decreased work capacity could lead to failures or accidents at work…’ (p.8) | Risks | Do any of these claims pose a risk to you or others in your work situation? (eg, driving a commercial vehicle, operating a dangerous machine) (If yes, state in what way) |
| Danielsson10 (2017) | To explore experiences of work instability in workers with common mental disorders | Grounded theory, Individual interviews | Employed persons with current diagnosed or self-reported common mental disorder (n=27) | 29 | ‘The participants described feeling estranged, tense, exhausted and weakened.’ (p.6) | Physical weakness | Right now my capacity to work is affected by weakness/ loss of strength in the body(Tick box if agree) |
| Danielsson24 (2017) | To explore workers’ strategies to keep working while affected by common mental disorders | Grounded theory, Individual interviews | Employed persons with current diagnosed or self-reported common mental disorder (n=27) | 14 | ‘The participants tried to compensate for negative changes(…)It could mean taking on more simple tasks to compensate for a lack of concentration and creativity.’ (p.6) | Loss of creativity | Right now my capacity to work is affected because it is difficult to be creative(Tick box if agree) |
| Nordling3 (2020) | Synthesise existing research on what and how physicians do when they assess work capacity | Systematic literature review, Thematic synthesis of qualitative data | Qualitative studies describing physicians’ practices when assessing work capacity as part of sickness certification (n=12) | 8 | ‘Questions about work tasks and demands could include aspects such as heavy lifting, opportunity to take a break or adjust work pace.’ (p.8) | Possibility to take breaks | Is it possible to take regular breaks? (yes/no/yes partly) |