Condition Management: A qualitative investigation of the customer experience

Authors: Kellett, Stephen; Bickerstaffe, Darren; Cooper, Sarita; Dyke, Andrew; Filer, Sarah; Lomax, Victoria

Source: Journal of Occupational Psychology, Employment and Disability, Volume 10, Number 2, Autumn 2008 , pp. 115-127(13)

Publisher: DWP Occupational & Health Psychology Services

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

The provision of Condition Management Programmes (CMP) for Incapacity Benefit (IB) claimants is a key aspect of the Pathways to Work Green Paper (Department for Work and Pensions, 2002), in the effort to assist claimants whose health condition(s) disable their ability or confidence to return to work. In 2008, CMP became nationally available through collaboration between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department of Health (DH), delivering cognitive-behavioural self-help to IB claimants. Despite evidence beginning to emerge concerning the clinical effectiveness and acceptability of CMP, evaluations of occupational effectiveness have been slower to materialize. The current paper investigated customer perceptions and experiences of engaging with CMP. The CMP evaluated consisted of a seven-session group-based programme, containing a combination of customers with musculo-skeletal, cardio-vascular, mental health conditions and miscellaneous health conditions. The evaluation methodology adopted a qualitative approach; the interview transcripts of ten focus-groups were randomly sampled from the 50 available and were analysed using thematic content analysis. The six main themes evidenced in the data were identified as, (1) initial anxieties, (2) the benefits of CMP, (3) helpful CMP techniques (4) general psychological change, (5) changing attitudes to work and (6) suggestions for possible improvements to the programme. The evaluation results are discussed in terms of the benefits and pitfalls of providing CMP in a mixed-condition group setting, identified methodological short-comings and the evidence for 'psychological' employment rehabilitation.

Keywords: CONDITION MANAGEMENT; FOCUS GROUPS; PATHWAYS TO WORK

Document Type: Research article

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$18.64 plus tax      Refund Policy

 

OR

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A