Empowering workplace self-management for individuals with long-term health conditions and health-related disabilities: a randomised controlled feasibility trial of the 'Co-Manage' intervention compared with usual workplace support
Any long-term condition or disability requiring ongoing management for ≥12 months.
Study design and randomisation This is a two-arm cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial, with the organisation as the unit of randomisation. At least eight UK organisations will be recruited and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the Co-Manage intervention or usual practice control. Randomisation will be conducted by an independent statistician and, where possible, stratified by organisational size and type. Intervention arm: Co-Manage Organisations allocated to the intervention arm will receive Co-Manage, a digital, multi-component workplace self-management intervention designed to support workers with long-term health conditions or disabilities. Resources are accessed via a dedicated website and can be downloaded in paper form for offline use. Co-Manage targets multiple workplace levels simultaneously and provides tailored online resources for: • Workers with long-term health conditions/disabilities: self-led toolkits focusing on problem-solving, symptom management at work, communication with managers, requesting adjustments, goal setting, and building support networks. • Managers: e-resources, interactive case studies, and practical tools to support conversations about health at work, provide appropriate adjustments, and address barriers to self-management. • Employer stakeholders (e.g. Human Resources staff, senior leaders, Occupational Health professionals): educational materials outlining evidence-based practices for supporting workplace self-management, reviewing policies and procedures, and fostering a supportive organisational culture. Follow-up. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, as well as 3- and 6-months. Organisational sickness/disability absence data will be collected retrospectively for the 12 months prior to baseline and prospectively during follow-up, where participant consent is provided. Intervention fidelity and dose. Engagement and fidelity will be assessed using website analytics (e.g. logins, time spent on resources
1. For employers, organisations from any sector with ≥10 employees with no existing processes or policies that conflict with Co-Manage (e.g., an alternative self-management support programme). 2. Any individual worker aged ≥18 years with any long-term condition or disability requiring ongoing management for ≥12 months. To enable assessment of the primary outcome, participants must have been employed for at least 12 months prior to the start of the intervention. 3. Managers supporting workers with any LTC or disability. 4. All participants must be able access to the internet and be able to understand English sufficiently to provide informed consent, complete online questionnaires, and use Co-Manage.
1. Organisations with <2% of workers that have taken sick/disability leave (primary outcome) in the past 12 months, making it difficult to demonstrate potential impact of Co-Manage. 2. Worker participants who are <18 years of age, do not have a long-term condition/disability requiring ongoing management for ≥12 months, have been in their current employment for <12 months prior to the start of the intervention, and/or are unable to provide informed consent or participate in study procedures (e.g., due to cognitive or language barriers that cannot be reasonably accommodated).