The effects of supported employment interventions in populations of people with conditions other than severe mental health: a systematic review

Primary Health Care Research & Development, 2021 · DOI: 10.1017/S1463423621000827 · Published: November 15, 2021

Occupational Health Healthcare Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This research investigates whether supported employment interventions, which help people with health problems find and keep jobs, are effective for individuals who do not have severe mental illnesses or have severe mental illnesses alongside other issues. The study reviewed multiple randomized controlled trials to compare supported employment to traditional vocational rehabilitation or standard services. The findings suggest that supported employment can be beneficial for a variety of populations, improving their chances of gaining competitive employment.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

913 unemployed participants with various conditions

Evidence Level

Systematic Review of RCTs

Key Findings

1
Supported employment was more effective than control interventions in improving competitive employment in people with affective disorders.
2
Supported employment was more effective than control interventions in improving competitive employment in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
3
Supported employment interventions were not shown to be more effective than control in returning people to work in workers with musculoskeletal injuries.

Research Summary

This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of supported employment interventions for improving competitive employment in populations of people with conditions other than only severe mental illness. Ten randomised controlled trials (913 participants) were included. Results suggest that supported employment may be effective outside populations defined by only severe mental illness.

Practical Implications

Policy Implications

Policymakers can consider implementing supported employment programs for diverse populations beyond severe mental illness, such as veterans with PTSD or individuals with affective disorders, to improve employment rates.

Clinical Practice

Healthcare providers and vocational counselors should consider integrating supported employment approaches into their services for individuals with various health conditions, as it may lead to better employment outcomes compared to traditional methods.

Future Research

Future research should focus on standardizing the definition of competitive employment and including non-vocational outcomes, such as quality of life, in evaluations of supported employment programs to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their impact.

Study Limitations

1
The included trials have a relatively short follow-up time (mostly 12 months), and it is unclear if benefits to improving employment are likely to be sustained over a longer term.
2
Definitions used for competitive employment vary and are not always reported clearly, and where time periods are reported, these range from as little as one day of paid work to four weeks of part-time paid work.
3
Sample sizes were generally small in these studies and thus confidence intervals wide.

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