Setting the context
Like any specialized field, the field of rehabilitation and return to work has its own vocabulary. In order to better communicate between the actors, here is a glossary (not exhaustive!) of the most frequently used words. The terms underlined in this glossary lead to their definition in this same document.
The definitions of the words presented come from different sources: documentation, scientific literature and the Tool for Facilitating Dialogue among Occupational Rehabiliation Stakeholders developed by the MIST-CAPRIT research team (Mobilisation Intersectorielle pour la Santé au Travail du Centre d’Action en Prévention et Réadaptation de l’Incapacité au Travail). This tool was developed from discussion groups composed of researchers, workplace actors and labour law representatives.
To understand the terms used in science, here is a complementary glossary.
a
Ability
A person’s capabilities to carry out a physical or mental activity.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017With regard to the Disability Creation Process Model: https://ripph.qc.ca/en/hdm-dcp-model/the-model/
Ability to work
A person’s capability to perform a job.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017The ability at present and in the near future of an employee to do his/her work with respect to the work demands, health and mental resources.
Ilmarinen and Tuomi, 2004, as cited in Notenbomer, Groothoff, van Rhenen and Roelen, 2015
Ilmarinen et Tuomi, 2004, cités par Notenbomer, Groothoff, van Rhenen et Roelen, 2015Absenteeism
Absence from the workplace when one’s presence is expected.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Absenteeism acts as an indicator of the state of health of employees and a marker of the organizational situation of companies.
Actions
An action is a concrete fact, realized individually or in interaction with other actors.
Actor (stakeholder)
A person who is called upon to assist in the RTW process.
Adapted and translated from St-Vincent et al, 2011
Définition adaptée de St-Vincent et collal., 2011Actor (individual or group) concerned by a given situation or phenomenon and that may play an active or passive role in it.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Aging worker
A worker who is 45 years of age or older, mid-way through his/her working life and likely to run into difficulties performing his/her work or finding a job. Term often used interchangeably with older worker.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017b
Biological sex
Biological categories defining a man or a woman (reproductive organs, hormones, etc.).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017In the most fundamental sense, sex is biologically determined, which must be differentiated from gender, which is culturally determined.
c
Case Management
Joint process that consists of studying, planning, implementing, coordinating, supervising, and evaluating the options and services required to meet an individual’s health needs.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Chronic
Characterizes a persistent and ongoing pathological condition, as opposed to a recurrent illness or injury that gives rise to repeated relapses interspersed with periods of remission.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Chronicity
Persistence of a health condition that can affect a worker’s ability to return to work and stay at work.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a time-sensitive, structured, present-oriented psychotherapy that evolves over time. It focuses on resolving current problems and teaching clients the skills necessary to change their dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors. CBT is a psychotherapy based on the cognitive model: the way individuals perceive a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself.
Common goal
This is an essential element for a cooperative structure to be established and maintained.
There is never a starting point for a dialogue, but it can emerge quickly when the actors explicitly agree on the formulation of the result they wish to have at the end of the dialogue, each of the actors finding his or her interest in it.
Translated from St-Arnaud, 2003, p.260
St-Arnaud, 2003, p.260Common Mental Disorder (CMD)
Mental disorder occurring frequently in the population. Includes mood, anxiety and adjustment disorders.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Communicate
Ability to clearly convey facts, concepts, and reasoning to others and to receive and understand the communication of others.
Dyck, 2009Communication (and information)
Communication that maintains a high quality of messages thanks to paralinguistic language: hesitations, intonations, pauses, sentence constructions.
In person: the richest form of communication that allows for the easiest adjustment to the reactions of the interlocutor.
Electronic: two major functions of communication are recognized in health care, namely the exchange of information and the establishment of a relationship with the worker (Translated from Richard and Lussier, 2016, p.150-156). There are different forms of communication.
On the telephone: a poorer form of communication that can lead to misinterpretation of the message due to the absence of non-verbal and paralinguistic language.
In writing: a form of communication that promotes clarity in the transmission of information and helps to limit the risk of misunderstanding.
Communication (communication skills)
Represent specific communication knowledge. They refer to “what” (e.g., the accuracy of the information exchanged), “how” (e.g., the strategies needed to initiate, maintain, and terminate contact), and perceptions, i.e., being aware of what one is thinking and feeling during contact. The latter is particularly important to avoid discrimination and stigmatization of workers.
Translated from Richard and Lussier, 2016
Richard et Lussier, 2016Concertation
An approach to labour relations that involves several aspects such as information exchange and consultation, joint examination of problems and selection of solutions acceptable to the actors involved, and collaboration to implement various measures.
Translated from Maschino, 2003
Maschino, 2003Consent
Acquiescence given to a project; decision not to oppose it.
Translated from Le Robert
Le RobertConsent to treatment may be implied or it may be specifically expressed either orally or in writing. The clinical situation determines the approach to be taken.
Canadian Medical Protective Association
Association canadienne de protection médicaleConstruct validity by factorial analysis
Consists in evaluating the adequacy of the tool’s dimensions to the theoretical construct/concept. Validation by exploratory factor analysis consists of extracting, from a pool of items, one or more factors (or dimensions) composed of strongly intercorrelated items. Validation by confirmatory factor analysis makes it possible to confirm or refute these groupings of items (or dimensions) using a different sample (adapted and translated from Corbière and Fraccaroli, 2020).
Convergent validity
Consists of verifying whether the results of the tool are similar to the results of other tools measuring similar constructs/concepts. The more positively correlated the results of the tools are, the higher the convergent validity (adapted and translated from Corbière and Fraccaroli, 2020).
Cooperation
A particular type of relationship where partners work together toward a common goal. They recognize each other’s competencies with respect to the goal and share power, each exerting influence on the other and respecting their own area of competence
Translated from St-Arnaud, 2003, p. 267
St-Arnaud, 2003, p. 267Core activities
A core activity, here derived from research, is an action or a set of actions directed toward the same end (RTW or prevention of prolonged disability) and carried out by an individual or a group of individuals. For example, collaboration with the worker is mandatory for a sustainable return to work. It involves actions on the part of both the supervisor and the other players who share the same objective, and this at different stages of the return to work and stay at work
d
Decision latitude
Decision latitude refers to the margin of manoeuver or leeway available to workers in their work (Karasek, 1979). It is defined as the possibility workers have to participate in decision making that concerns them, and to use and fully develop their skills in their work environment (Karasek, 1979). In summary, it means the possibility workers have to be actors, rather than simply passive participants, in their work.
Karasek, 1979Dependency
Psychological and/or physical condition manifested in an irrepressible and recurrent need that is never truly met. May be related to product consumption (alcohol, tobacco, psychotropic drugs, etc.) or to a behaviour (gambling, Internet use, etc.).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Disability
Restriction in ability to perform an activity in a particular way or within limits that are considered normal for a human being.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Disability insurance
A state of temporary or permanent physical or mental incapacity resulting from an illness or accident, which prevents a person from carrying out all or part of his or her professional activities and receiving remuneration.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Disability Management
All the actions needed to ensure follow-up during a period of sick leave for health reasons.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Disabling situation
Situation resulting from the interaction between personal factors (e.g. impairment, disability) and environmental factors.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017With regard to the Disability Creation Process Model: https://ripph.qc.ca/en/hdm-dcp-model/the-model/
Discrimination
Occurs when a distinction, exclusion or preference based on certain characteristics enumerated in the Charters of Human Rights and Freedoms such as handicap, ethnic origin, sex or age nullifies or impairs the rights and freedoms of an individual or group of individuals.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017e
Effective communication
It is defined by exchanges of information that reduce uncertainty on a given subject while pursuing a specific goal. It is a dynamic and flexible communication that is iterative (repetitive) rather than linear.
Translated definition based on the five principles that characterize effective communication, Richard & Lussier, 2016, p. 210.
Définition basée sur les cinq principes qui caractérisent une communication efficace, Richard et Lussier, 2016, p. 210.Effectiveness
Obtention of the outcomes anticipated.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017The measure of the ability of an intervention, project, program, or policy to do what it was intended to do: produce a specific desired result or effect that can be quantitatively measured.
Efficiency
Relationship between the outcomes obtained and the means used.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Emotional distress
Condition of a person who feels overwhelmed by a request to adapt or by any other situation. May be exhibited in the form of a depressive or anxious mood, irritability, or difficulty paying attention and concentrating.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Empathy
Understanding the other. It is simply a matter of accepting the other’s point of view, without judgment.
Translated from Richard and Lussier, 2016Ethnicity
Ethnic or cultural identity that characterizes a group or an individual and the cultural models that may represent them/him/her; the fact of belonging to such a group. Identity may be confirmed (self-/collective awareness), assigned or institutional.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Ethnocultural
Related to ethnicity.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Evidence
Evidence is data derived from research to inform health care decision making. However, there are differing opinions on what constitutes evidence, namely whether it comes from :
- of any research, taken individually;
- of the best research, taken collectively;
- best research, but also taking into account empirical data (experience and expertise of practitioners or actors) and the characteristics, needs, interests and values of participants.
Our position is related to the second option (better research, taken collectively), particularly to help identify the most effective interventions, but also recognizing the value of empirical data in defining workplace practices and the opinions of our social partners (monitoring committee).
Translated from Bouffard, 2012Evidence-based practice
Conscientious, explicit and sound use of the best available knowledge when making decisions about interventions or the management approach to be used with a given individual.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017f
Face validity
Based on a summary assessment of the appearance (clarity and ease of completion) of the tool by respondents or experts. The more items appear to measure the construct to respondents or experts, the higher the face validity (adapted and translated from Corbière & Fraccaroli, 2020).
Factor
Agent, element that contributes to a result; cause.
Translated from https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/facteur/32600
Functional limitation
Physical or psychological restriction, either temporary or permanent, likely to impair a person’s usual way of functioning or to aggravate his/her condition.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017g
Gender
Correlation between sexual identity and the construction of social roles. May bring to light phenomena such as the sexual division of labour and unequal power relationships.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017In the most fundamental sense, gender is determined by culture, which must be differentiated from sex, which is biologically determined.
Gradual return to work*
Period of rehabilitation that allows a worker to perform all the tasks involved in the job he/she held prior to his/her disability, but according to a different schedule and using different work methods, thus enabling him/her to reintegrate into work on a gradual basis.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017*October 6, 2022 update: According to the Act to modernize the occupational health and safety regime at the CNESST, the gradual return to work takes place after consolidation of the worker’s injury. Prior to this consolidation, the term “gradual resumption of tasks” should be used.
h
Health determinant
Factor that influences the health of a population, without necessarily being a direct cause of specific problems or illnesses. Associated with personal and collective behaviours as well as living and environmental conditions.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017These are the causes of risk factors. They are the characteristics of society that shape the health and well-being of individuals and communities. They can be defined as the causes of poor health or as “upstream factors.” Determinants are social factors, such as an economic downturn or personal circumstances, such as poverty. They include non-specific factors (recession, poverty, lack of education) and specific policies (such as alcohol and tobacco laws) that are aimed at improving health behaviors or health in general, rather than fighting specific diseases. Their influence is transmitted through a chain of intermediary processes that lead to a specific disease.
i
Immigrant
Person who has left his/her country of origin to settle in another country for an indefinite time. In Canada, refers to a person born abroad who has been granted permission to settle here permanently (landed immigrant, permanent resident).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Immigration
Phenomenon in which a person/group of people leaves their country of origin to settle in another country.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Impairment
Loss, absence or change in a structure or a psychological, physiological or anatomical function.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Integrated prevention
Integrated prevention aims at the design or transformation of work situations through coordinated prevention actions carried out by the actors of the work environment. It implies the integrated management of prevention actions (primary, secondary, tertiary) carried out by the actors of a workplace (organization or enterprise). This concept is developed in Appendix 4.O
Internal consistency
Degree of homogeneity of the items of a tool and its dimensions (adapted and translated from Corbière and Fraccaroli, 2020)
Intervention
Taking action or participating in an action to resolve a problem.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017The aspect of interest in experimental and observational studies. Interventions can be therapeutic (e.g. different wound dressings), preventative (e.g. influenza vaccination), and diagnostic (e.g. measurement of blood pressure), targeted at individuals, groups, organizations, communities or health systems.
j
Job adaptation
Work rehabilitation measure that may be granted to a worker to enable him/her to perform his/her job, an equivalent job, or another job deemed to be suitable.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Joint OHS Committee
Committee that concretizes the common commitment of the employer and union parties to prevention. It forms a consultative team that continuously evaluates the state of the prevention situation and advises management on OHS issues, priorities and actions.
Translated from http://asstsas.qc.ca/dossiers-thematiques/comite-paritaire-de-sante-et-de-securite-du-travail-org
l
Litteracy
Health literacy implies the achievement of a level of knowledge, personal skills and confidence to take action to improve personal and community health by changing personal lifestyles and living conditions.
https://www.who.int/activities/improving-health-literacy
m
Management practice
All the practices, programs and behaviours adopted by an organization to provide a framework for and optimize each worker’s contribution to the organization.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Mental disorder
Illness characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in a person’s cognition, emotional regulation or behaviour and that reflects the presence of a dysfunction in his/her psychological, biological or developmental processes.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Mental Health
Ability of the mental structures to function harmoniously, comfortably and effectively and to cope flexibly with difficult situations, allowing balance to be restored.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Mental health disorder
Term used interchangeably with mental illness or mental disorder.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Mental illness
Alterations in thoughts, mood or behaviour (or a combination of all three), accompanied by persistent dysfunction over a long period. Symptoms vary from mild to serious, depending on the type of mental illness, the person, his/her family and the socio-economic environment.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Motivation
Psychological and physical processes responsible for triggering, maintaining and stopping a behaviour, as well as the incentive or disincentive value attributed to the aspects of the environment on which the behaviouracts.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
All symptoms and inflammatory or degenerative lesions of the locomotor system affecting a variety of anatomical structures (such as tendons, muscles, ligaments or joints).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017o
Obstacle to the return to work
Risk factor or problem/situation that currently hinders the return-to-work process.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Organization (company)
Company, organization, work environment
Organization of the work
Refers to the way in which the work activities are structured and combined and in which jobs are managed within an organization in line with its mission and objectives.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Organizational culture
Organizational culture represents a way of thinking, feeling and acting that the company adheres to (e.g., principles, social codes, values). It is defined by senior management and reflected in policies and procedures.
Organizational policies
Organizational policies are the general principles adopted by the organization to guide its actions in managing its activities. They indicate the organization’s objectives and demonstrate its commitment to achieving them.
Organizational strategies
An organizational strategy is a set of actions that, carried out individually or collectively, is directed towards the same goal and allows the resolution of a particular problem. These actions can refer to several actors and steps in the process.
Outcome
Quantification or evaluation of the effects.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017p
Participatory ergonomics
Said of a process focused on analysis of the work, generally by an ergonomist in the workplace, and requiring the involvement of the workers and other concerned actors in the development and implementation of solutions.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Partner
Actor (individual or group) that joins forces with another to attain a common objective, whether they are stakeholders or not.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Performance
All the individual behaviours that an organization expects of a worker and that have a positive impact on the attainment of objectives: productivity, creativity, profitability, growth, quality, customer satisfaction.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Permanent work disability
Inability to perform an occupational activity for good (permanently).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Predictive validity
Consists of verifying whether the results of the tool predict one or more criteria measured later. The more correlated the results are with the criteria, the higher the predictive validity. It is used when the purpose of the instrument is to predict criterion performance (adapted and translated from Corbière and Fraccaroli, 2020).
Prescribed tasks
The expected requirements for performing work. Work to be done within a set timeframe and under certain conditions.
Presenteeism
Phenomenon in which an employee is present at work when his/her physical or mental condition does not allow him/her to work to full capacity.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Prevention
Processes designed to prevent, limit or deal with the scope and severity of the consequences of the materialization of a risk or danger.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Prevention of chronicity
All the actions that help reduce risk or act on factors that may contribute to rendering a worker unable to return to work on a long-term basis.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Prevention of work disability
All the actions designed both to reduce the occurrence of work disability and to resolve it (or make it disappear).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Procedures
Procedures are actions that must be performed in a sequential manner to achieve the desired outcome; in this case, a healthy and sustainable RTW. These procedures must answer the who, what, when, and how questions
Productivity
Relationship between output and the resources used.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Protective factor
Personal or environmental resource or condition that helps preserve people’s health.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Psychological disorder
Mental illness or condition that disturbs a person’s behaviour.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Psychological health
Term used in the context of psychological health in the workplace. Depending on how it is defined, may be used interchangeably with mental health.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Psychosocial factor
Cognitive, affective, relational or environmental factor likely to have an impact on workers’ health.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Psychosocial risk factor
Risk factor pertaining to how the work is organized, management practices, working conditions, and social relations that may have an adverse effect on the psychological or physical health of the individuals exposed.
Translated from https://www.inspq.qc.ca/formation/institut/risques-psychosociaux-au-travail-de-l-identification-la-prevention
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017r
Real tasks
The work actually performed.
Relapse
Recurrence of a sick leave for the same reason as for a prior sick leave within a given period.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Residual capacity
Physical and psychological capacities a worker is left with following an injury or illness and after completing rehabilitation.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Return to Work (RTW)
The moment when the person resumes his/her job (MIST-CAPRIT, 2017). On this website, RT is intended to be healthy and sustainable, i.e., respectful of the improvement of the worker’s health status, which does not lead to worsening of the injury or potential relapses, and promotes job retention
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Return to Work Coordinator
This is a contact person for the workers. It can be the immediate supervisor or the union or union representative for RTW support. He/she is responsible for the overall coordination of actions related to an employee’s RTW process.
Risk factor
A person’s attribute, characteristic or exposure that increases the probability of him/her contracting an illness or sustaining an injury.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Risk factor for chronicity
Factor likely to compromise a worker’s long-term ability to return to his/her work.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Role and responsibility
The role is related to a function that a worker in the organization holds. Responsibilities represent the moral obligation or necessity to answer for, and be accountable for, one’s actions or those of others.
Translated from https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/responsabilit%c3%a9/68694?q=responsabilit%c3%a9s#67942
s
Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy is the strength of a person’s conviction in his or her ability to exhibit a certain behaviour.
Bandura, 1977Sick leave and disability management program
All the actions required to prevent, reduce, and monitor employees’ sick leave for a health problem.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Social support at work
Social support at work can come from colleagues as well as from superiors. It includes behaviours that provide practical or psychological help, but also positive working relationships that are not explicitly supportive.
Gollac et Bodier, 2011Staying at work
Actively at work, being present at work, participating in a productive activity.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Stigmatization
Phenomenon in which a stigma is attributed, i.e. an identity or attribute that debases the person to whom it is attributed.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Subjective work overload
A person’s perception that the amount of work required is greater than his/her capacity allows.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017t
Temporary assignment
https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/en/prevention-and-safety/healthy-workplace/return-work/temporary-assignment
Temporary work disability
Inability to perform an occupational activity for a short time (temporarily).
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Test-retest reliability
Stability of the tool’s results over time in cases where participants’ conditions have not changed. The more positively correlated the results of the two runs are, the higher the test-retest reliability.
adapted and translated from Corbière and Fraccaroli, 2020Therapeutic return to work
Measure involving the gradual resumption of tasks, offered in the context of a work rehabilitation program in the real workplace and under the weekly supervision of an occupational therapist and/or interdisciplinary team.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017w
Work accommodations
In Canada, these terms are coloured by a legal and juridical context. The following definition (MIST-CAPRIT, 2017) provides a summary.
Employer’s obligation to put in place reasonable measures that will allow a person to perform a job, by eliminating any reasons for claims of discrimination on the grounds of excessive demands, and the obligation of the parties concerned to participate in these measures in accordance with Québec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Work disability
Inability to perform an occupational activity. To know more about it
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Work environment
All the physical, psychological and social conditions in which the worker performs his/her job and makes his/her contribution.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Work reintegration
All the actions taken to facilitate a person’s return to work, following a period of disability.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Work-life balance
Search for balance between demands associated with work-related responsibilities and those associated with personal, family or social responsibilities and activities.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Worker in a vulnerable situation
A person who, based on sociodemographic or occupational characteristics and the potentially related work contexts, runs a higher risk of occupational injury or long-term disability.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Worker's contribution
Contribution made by each worker to the results achieved by an organization, in exchange for remuneration. Defined on the basis of the person’s job description.
MIST-CAPRIT, 2017Workload
Amount of cognitive, physical and/or emotional effort expended by a worker to perform his/her job.
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