The qualitative research on return to work network (RTW-NW)

• Applicant: Dr. Carsten Detka, since 10/2019
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 411744616

'The qualitative research on return to work network ' (RTW-NW) aims to bring together qualitative return to work (RTW)-researchers from Germany with their diverse expertises, competences and research findings. It wants to offer them a platform for cross-institutional and transdisciplinary exchange and collaborative work, thus providing them an opportunity for the further systematization and development of their common research field. Thus, the systematic review, synthesis and critical reflection of the national and international state of qualitative research on RTW in chronic disabled persons should be the central scopes of the network. More precisely, the following questions should be investigated: 1. What are the central findings of national and international qualitative RTW-research? Which factors facilitate, and which factors hamper a sustainable RTW in chronic disabled persons? Which of these factors are generic, which are specific for a certain chronic disease? Which disease-specific modulations can be identified in generic factors? How do different societal conditions (especially those related to health care and social insurance systems) influence the RTW after chronic diseases? Which conclusions and implications can be drawn from that with regard to existing/future RTW-strategies (knowledge transfer from science to practice, evidence based practice)? 2. How can the national qualitative RTW-research be positioned in the international one (with regard to: amount and quality of the studies, objectives, disciplinary, theoretic and methodical approaches, targeted groups and diseases, contexts and settings)? Which research gabs do still exist nationally and internationally?3. Which methodical (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method) approaches are best suited to close these gabs; which methodical developments are needed? 4. Which theories and theoretical concepts can be applied in qualitative RTW-research; which theoretical developments are indicated?5. How can we further systematize qualitative RTW-research? How can we further develop this predominantly applied, strongly practice-related discipline (e.g. in respect of a critical reflection of the research subject, of own presuppositions, theoretical and methodical approaches or the own part in the investigated field)? Based on its findings and results, the network strives to prepare the following products: a book publication (in German) about the national qualitative RTW-research, a systematic overview (in English) of the international state of qualitative RTW-research (original paper in a peer-reviewed journal), and a scientific conference (including an abstract compendium). Moreover, the conception and application of research projects is conceivable.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Ehemalige Antragstellerin: Dr. Betje Schwarz, until 9/2019