Background
The number of persons on sick-leave and disability pension is high in Europe. Occupational rehabilitation and the return to work process is challenging for both the health personnel and the person involved. Illness perception and behavior is recognized as important factors in the return to work process. Assessing function must take personal and environmental factors, in addition to health factors, into account. There is an increased focus on communication skills to ensure good return to work processes.

There is an increasing knowledge about factors that promote and inhibit return to work. Spreading information to all those working in this area is important. Researches and health personnel working in the occupational rehabilitation field need to discuss and explore existing knowledge, the need for clinically relevant research and experiences about bridging the gap between health and work.

Objectives
The course/workshop will provide a learning arena with the aim to:
1. update the participants' knowledge about the most recent scientific data, views and comprehensions of occupational rehabilitation and factors promoting return to work
2. share relevant experiences within the field
3. create possibilities to implement existing knowledge in practice
4. explore the need for further research

Target group
The workshop is aimed at researchers and health personnel working within the field of occupational rehabilitation and the return to work process, e.g. personnel working in occupational rehabilitation institutions, HR services, occupational health services,
out-patient clinics etc. The workshop will also be relevant for administrators and health care planning professionals who are interested in bridging the gap between work and health. The number of participants will be limited to 50.

Course structure and working method
There will be five workshops with a combination of lectures, reflections and dialogue.
The participants are invited to share their own experiences in smaller groups and explore how to create possibilities for implementing new knowledge in practice. Possible new research areas relevant for the practice field will also be discussed.

Main topics
The return to work process and the work place
Assessment of function and workability
Predictors for sick leave and return to work
Motivational and resource orientated communication
Changing health beliefs and behaviour and RTW
Consequences for practice

Call for abstracts
Participants are encouraged to send in an abstract on the above mentioned topics. Deadline for abstract is 1st June 2010. Please, indicate whether you want to present a poster or oral presentation, max 15 min.

Course committee
Liv Haugli, MD, PhD, Irene Øyeflaten, Physiotherapist, Marianne Sempler, Pedagogic senior adviser, National Competence Centre in Occupational Rehabilitation, Rauland, Norway
Merete Labriola, Senior researcher, IRIS, University of Rogaland, Norway
Timo Leino, MD, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland
Professor Kerstin Ekberg, Linköping University, Sweden

Main lecturers
Professor Patrick Loisel, Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada
Eldri Steen,PhD, Psychologist, National Centre for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Norway
Pirjo Juvonen-Posti, MD, Rehabilitation Foundation, Finland
Thomas Lund, Senior research scientist, PhD, IRIS, Norway
Christian Ståhl, PhD, Linköping University, Sweden

Location, transport and accommodation
The workshop will be organized at Rauland Høgfjellshotel, Norway. The National Center for Occupational Rehabilitation is situated in Rauland. Rauland is a village in the mountain area in West-Telemark, Norway. The nature and surroundings are fantastic and the workshop is arranged at a time of the year when usually the mountain colors are at their best.
The organizers will reserve rooms for the participants at the course venue.

For more information about the hotel please visit the website:
http://www.rauland.no/english/index.php
We will organize bus from Oslo airport to Rauland in the morning of the 14th Sept. and return on the 17th in the early afternoon. The bus-ride takes approx. 4 hours.

Registration fee
EUR 450
(accommodation and meals not included).
All teaching and course material are included in the fee.

Language
The teaching language is English.

Course leader
Senior Researcher
Liv Haugli, MD, PhD
National Centre for Occupational Rehabilitation (AiR)
3864 Rauland
liv.haugli@air.no

Course coordinator
Annika Bärlund, NIVA
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
00250 Helsinki
Finland
annika.barlund@ttl.fi



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