The sink or SWIM hypothesis; a roadmap from pathology to work instability

Abstract

Purpose: Selecting the most appropriate health-related work outcome to evaluate an intervention can be fraught with difficulty. To aid clinicians in navigating this problem we have developed a model, which illustrates how pathology can affect specific measureable quantities, such as work instability.

Methods: Using a modified-Delphi procedure, a panel of experts met initially to analyze the content of 95 health-related work outcome measures and organize the identified areas of measurement into a coherent model, complemented by a narrative review of the literature. This initial model underwent two rounds of stakeholder-based feedback, the results of which were incorporated in the final expert panel meeting to produce the States-traits Work Instability Model (SWIM).

Results: The States-traits Work Instability Model (SWIM) illustrates how changes to an individual’s physical and psychological states and traits might affect their work-related performance, well-being and self-efficacy. Moreover, each concept utilized in the model was specifically selected as it represents a measurable quantity, for which there are tools available.

Conclusion: The SWIM is arguably the first holistic model of work that is based on both the clinical realities of vocational rehabilitation, sociological research, and is born from analyzing the basis of practical measurements.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Work Instability

•   • Work instability has multiple causes many of which are amenable to intervention

•   • The model clarifies the measureable domains of vocational rehabilitation interventions, which is of particular benefit for services working with people with disability at work who are struggling to remain in work

•   • The model conceptualizes how the potential areas for intervention may be related based on evidence available in the literature.

Keywords:

• Work instability
• health-related work outcomes
• vocational rehabilitation

Disclosure statement

Dr Diane Playford was supported by the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Center. The authors have no conflict of interests to declare. This study received no funding.

Additional information

Funding

Dr Diane Playford was supported by the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Center.