de Boer A.G.E.M.: Chronic disease and work

The research line aims to improve work functioning and to prevent unemployment in patients with a chronic disease or with chronic symptoms as a result of a disease with specific emphasis on cancer patients.
The focus is on three aspects: 1) Getting insight in the work situation, quality of working life and career pathways of employees with a chronic disease; 2) Identifying risk factors for unemployment and diminished work functioning; 3) Developing and evaluating evidence-based interventions to support employment, re-integration and work functioning in employees with a chronic disease.
Research is conducted both within the curative sector into employees returning to work or employees who have returned to work but are experiencing work-related problems and within companies of employees with a chronic disease. Interventions to support employment, re-integration and work functioning in employees with a chronic disease involve support by health care professionals including nurses, occupational physicians and medical specialists and e-health interventions. Research is further focused on questionnaire construction, meta-analyses and guideline development.