Abstract
Objectives
Since the extent of sick leave and the problems of vocational school students are relatively large, we aimed to tailor a sick leave protocol at Dutch lower secondary education schools to the particular context of vocational schools.
Methods
Four steps of the iterative process of Intervention Mapping (IM) to adapt this protocol were carried out: (1) performing a needs assessment and defining a program objective, (2) determining the performance and change objectives, (3) identifying theory-based methods and practical strategies and (4) developing a program plan. Interviews with students using structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, a literature research and, finally, a pilot implementation were carried out.
Results
A sick leave protocol was developed that was feasible and acceptable for all stakeholders. The main barriers for widespread implementation are time constraints in both monitoring and acting upon sick leave by school and youth health care.
Conclusions
The iterative process of IM has shown its merits in the adaptation of the manual ‘A quick return to school is much better’ to a sick leave protocol for vocational school students.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Attwood G, Croll P (2006) Truancy in secondary school pupils: prevalence, trajectories and pupil perspectives. Res Papers Educ 21:467–484
Aust B, Helverskov T, Nielsen MB et al (2012) The Danish national return-to-work program–aims, content, and design of the process and effect evaluation. Scand J Work Environ Health 38(2):120–133
Bartholomew LK, Parcel GS, Kok GJ (1988) Intervention mapping: a process for developing theory and evidence-based health education programs. Health Educ Behav 25:545–563
Brouwer S, Krol B, Reneman MF et al (2009) Behavioral determinants as predictors of return to work after long-term sickness absence: an application of the theory of planned behavior. J Occup Rehabil 19(2):166–174
Carbonaro W, Workman J (2013) Dropping out of high school: effects of close and distant friendships. Soc Sci Res 42(5):1254–1268
De Vries H, Dijkstra M, Kuhlman P (1988) Self-efficacy: third factor besides attitude and subjective norm as a predictor of behavioral intentions. Health Educ Res 3:273–282
De Vries H, Backbier E, Kok G, Dijkstra M (1995) The impact of social influences in the context of attitude, self-efficacy, intention and previous behaviour as predictors of smoking onset. J Appl Social Psychol 25:237–257
Dowrick PW, Crespo N (2005) School failure. In: Gullota TP, Adaas GR (eds) Handbook of adolescent behavioral problems: evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment. Springer, New York, pp 589–610
Eaton DK, Brener N, Kann LK (2008) Associations of health risk behaviors with school absenteeism. Does having permission for the absence make a difference? J Sch Health 78(4):223–229
Elffers L, Oort FJ (2011) The transition to post-secondary vocational education: students’ entrance, experiences, and attainment. Research Institute Child Development and Education (CDE) UvA-DARE, Amsterdam. http://hdl.handle.net/11245/1.361147
Expatia (2009) Dutch vocational education in a nutshell. http://www.expatica.com/nl/education/courses_workshops/Dutch-vocational-education-and-training-in-a-nutshell_14318.html. Accessed 19 May 2015
Freudenberg N, Ruglis J (2007) Reframing school dropout as a public health issue. Prev Chronic Dis 4(4):A107
Hoefsmit N, Houkes I, Nijhuis FJ (2012) Intervention characteristics that facilitate return to work after sickness absence: a systematic literature review. J Occup Rehabil 22(4):462–477
Junger-Tas J (2002) Diploma’s en goed gedrag II: Preventie van antisociaal gedrag in het onderwijs. Ministerie van Justitie, Den Haag
Kant I, Jansen NW, van Amelsvoort LG, van Leusden R, Berkouwer A (2008) Structured early consultation with the occupational physician reduces sickness absence among office workers at high risk for long-term sickness absence: a randomized controlled trial. J Occup Rehabil 18(1):79–86
Kearney CA (2008) School absenteeism and school refusal behavior in youth: a contemporary review. Clin Psychol Rev 28(3):451–471
NIPO het marktonderzoeksinstituut (2002) Rapport Schoolverzuim in het Voorgezet onderwijs. NIPO, Amsterdam
Rijksoverheid. Brief aan de tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal van 17-02-2011 van de minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (2011). Daling voortijdig schoolverlaters, recentelijk en toekomstig, referentie 276701. http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/kamerstukken/2011/02/17/daling-voortijdig-schoolverlaters.html
Rumberger RW (2001) Why students drop out of school and what can be done. Dropouts in America: how severe is the problem? What do we know about intervention and prevention? http://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/reserach/k-12-education/school-dropouts/why-students-drop-out-of-school-and-what-can-be-done/rumberger-why-students-dropout-2001.pdf. Accessed 14 April 2016
Schuring M, Mackenbach J, Voorham T, Burdorf A (2011) The effect of re-employment on perceived health. J Epidemiol Community Health 65(7):639–644
Smink J, Reimer MS (2005) Fifteen effective strategies for improving student attendance and truancy prevention. National Dropout Prevention Center, Clemson
Statistics, S.E.N., Edinburgh: the Scottish Government, Statistics (2007) Results of pupil attendance and absence for session 2006/7. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/12/4199/17. Accessed 20 December 2015
van Dijk P, Hogervorst W, ter Riet G, van Dijk F (2008) A protocol improves GP recording of long-term sickness absence risk factors. Occup Med 58(4):257–262
van Eekelen J (2010) Bevindingen dossieronderzoek thuiszitters 2010: thuiszitters, sneller terug naar school. Ingrado, Arnhem
van Lippeveld W, Verloigne M, De Bourdeaidhuij I et al (2012) Does parental involvement make a difference in school-based nutrition and physical activity in interventions? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Public Health 57:673–678
Vanneste Y, van Loo M, Feron F et al (2016) Attitudes towards addressing medical absenteeism of students: a qualitative study among principals and special education needs coordinators in Dutch secondary schools. PLoS One 11(2):e0148427
Vaughn MG, Maynard BR, Salas-Wright CP, Perron BE, Abdon A (2013) Prevalence and correlates of truancy in the US: results from a national sample. J Adolesc. 36(4):767–776
Verbeek JH, de Boer AG, van der Weide WE, Piirainen H, Anema JR, Van Amstel RJ, Hartog F (2005) Patient satisfaction with occupational health physicians, development of a questionnaire. Occup Environ Med 62:119–123
Vermeulen SJ, Tamminga SJ, Schellart AJ, Ybema JF, Anema JR (2009) Return-to-work of sick-listed workers without an employment contract—what works? BMC Public Health 14(9):232
Acknowledgments
We gratefully thank all students and stakeholders for their time and efforts. The study was funded by the Health Research and Development Council of the Netherlands (ZONMw Grants) and the municipalities of Amsterdam. The first author of this manuscript and principal investigator had full access to all the data in the study, and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data-analysis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Kroon, M.L.A., Bulthuis, J., Mulder, W. et al. Reducing sick leave of Dutch vocational school students: adaptation of a sick leave protocol using the intervention mapping process. Int J Public Health 61, 1039–1047 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0840-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0840-x