2024, Van Velsen, Lex, Schokking, Lotte, Siderakis, Eva, Knospe, Gloria-Mona, Brandl, Lena, Mooser, Bettina, Madörin, Sarah, Bilreiro Jacinto Braga, Ana Sofia, Gouveia, Afonso, Brodbeck, Jeannette

To support older mourners after the loss of their partner, LEAVES, an online self-help service that delivers the LIVIA spousal bereavement intervention, was developed. It integrates an embodied conversational agent and an initial risk assessment. Based on an iterative, human-centered, and stakeholder inclusive approach, interviews with older mourners and focus groups with stakeholders were conducted to understand their perspective on grief and on using LEAVES. Subsequently, the resulting technology and service model were evaluated by means of interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. While digital literacy remains a challenge, LEAVES shows promise of being supportive to the targeted end-users.

2022, Friedli, Tom, Brodbeck, Jeannette, Gantschnig, Brigitte E.

Purpose To examine associations between factors of social inclusion and participation and productivity loss in employed persons with chronic pain, assessed for an interprofessional pain rehabilitation programme. We hypothesized that factors of social inclusion and participation and work related social factors are significantly associated with productivity when experiencing chronic pain and we expected a moderate effect. Methods Cross-sectional study using data collected prospectively in an interprofessional patient registry for chronic pain. The primary end point was productivity loss, measured with the iMTA Productivity Costs Questionnaire. We included data from 161 individuals. To be included, persons had to be 18 years old or older, in paid work, and had to have a medical diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome with actual or potential tissue damage. In addition, participants had to have indicators of significant impairments in psychosocial functions. Results Linear regression analysis showed that a highly stressful professional situation, frequent problems regarding the compatibility of the family and job and not being Swiss were associated with a significantly higher total productivity loss. Similar results were found for productivity loss in paid work. However, problems concerning the compatibility of the family and job did not reach the significance level for productivity loss in paid work. Conclusion The results of this study underscore the importance of factors of social inclusion and participation for interprofessional rehabilitation programmes to manage chronic pain especially when focussing on productivity loss.