Implementing Work Ability Management: A Mixed-Methods Study from Supervisors' Perspectives

Implementing Work Ability Management: A Multi-Method Study from Supervisors’ Perspectives in Public Social and Health Care Organizations | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Implementing Work Ability Management: A Multi-Method Study from Supervisors’ Perspectives in Public Social and Health Care Organizations Julia Anttilainen, Mikko Henriksson, Irmeli Pehkonen This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8918776/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Background: Effective Work Ability Management (WAM) is crucial given high rates of mental health- and musculoskeletal-related sickness absence, an aging workforce, and financial pressures in public social and health care organizations. The gap between knowledge and practice indicates inefficient WAM implementation. In this study, we applied the COM-B model for behavior change to examine WAM implementation in public social and health care organizations, focusing on supervisors as key implementers within the health services system. The study aimed to 1) identify facilitators and barriers to WAM implementation and 2) develop a checklist and recommendations to support supervisors in public social and health care organizations. Methods: A multi-method design combining qualitative and quantitative data was used, including two surveys, focus group interviews, and co-creation workshops. Results: The primary facilitators and barriers to WAM implementation, reflecting supervisors’ capability, opportunity, and motivation to implement WAM, were identified across five themes: knowledge-based management, models and practices, collaboration and support, information flow, and organizational culture. These themes were operationalized and mapped to the COM-B model, resulting in 24 checklist statements and ten recommendations outlining responsibilities, actions, and monitoring needs. Together, they help organizations analyze WAM’s current state and plan targeted development actions. Conclusion: Successful WAM implementation is influenced by the five identified themes. Strengthening communication and collaboration structures is essential. Enhancing supervisors’ capabilities through training, improving implementation opportunities by strengthening knowledge-based management practices, ensuring support, and motivating them with clear objectives and feedback are crucial. At the organizational level, considering context variation in large social and health care organizations and establishing a coordination group could ensure consistent implementation of the checklist and recommendations across these organizations. Further research is needed to examine the tool's applicability across different organizations, identify potential modification requirements, and assess its impact on work ability and organizational outcomes. Work ability management implementation checklist supervisors recommendations Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Table1Studydesign.docx Additionalfile1Introductionandutilizationofthechecklist.docx Additional file 1_Introduction and utilization of the checklist Additionalfile2ChecklistforWAMimplementation.docx Additional file 2_Checklist for WAM implementation Additionalfile3RecommendationsforWAMimplementation.docx Additional file 3_Recommendations for WAM implementation Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8918776","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":639055396,"identity":"33e9bc01-75a0-4ae8-ac55-9f87d1d22cd4","order_by":0,"name":"Julia 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The gap between knowledge and practice indicates inefficient WAM implementation. In this study, we applied the COM-B model for behavior change to examine WAM implementation in public social and health care organizations, focusing on supervisors as key implementers within the health services system. 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