Sample and Recruitment Procedures
psychiatric illness, psychosis, pain
HYPERTHYROIDISM, RECRUITMENT
The study was advertised via an occupational health care service that covers public sector workplaces such as healthcare services, schools and administrative departments. Information was sent out via email to all first-line supervisors at associated workplaces. Recruitment of employees took place at information meetings at the workplace, after inclusion of a supervisor. For employees, inclusion criteria were: (1) employed at a workplace associated to the occupational health care service, (2) self-reported pain and/or stress-related ill-health, and (3) their immediate supervisor participated in the study. Inclusion criteria for supervisors were: (1) a first-line management position at a workplace associated with the occupational health care unit, (2) personal and continuous contact with employees, and (3) time and willingness to participate in the scheduled program. Exclusion criterion for supervisors was to work less than 75% of the time, and for employees to be currently on 100% sick leave, to report an underlying non-musculoskeletal or stress-related medical condition (e.g. cancer-related pain, hyperthyroidism) affecting work ability or to suffer from severe psychiatric illness (e.g. psychosis, personality disorder).Supervisors who expressed interest were screened to check they met inclusion criteria and received information about the study via telephone from a research coordinator. If they fulfilled the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate, informed consent was obtained and information meetings with the employees at the workplace were scheduled. The employees received information about the study and got the opportunity to ask questions of the researcher coordinator and supervisor. Volunteering employees who reported difficulties with pain and/or stress provided written informed consent when the research coordinator and the supervisor left the room, or sent them in via post in prepaid envelopes. Those who applied and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were registered in the study. Consent for social insurance data was provided separately. Supervisors were not informed about the identity, or any data from employee assessments.