Work Disability Prevention — Bridging Research and Practice
About this course
Interested in bridging the gap between research and practice in work disability prevention?
Work disability can manifest as reduced performance while still at work (i.e. presenteeism) or as sick leave (i.e. sickness absence). As such, it imposes considerable individual, social, and economic burdens.
This course will provide participants with insights into current research on work disability prevention and sickness absence, key risk factors, theoretical frameworks, and intervention strategies aimed at preventing work disability.
Perspectives from multiple disciplines
Most researchers and practitioners entering the field of work disability and sickness absence research come from a specific discipline (e.g. medicine, rehabilitation, biomechanics, psychology, or social sciences). Based on their background and training, they often adopt a mono-disciplinary perspective and may be insufficiently prepared to address the complex factors that influence staying at or returning to work after illness or injury. This course brings together perspectives from multiple disciplines to better understand and respond to these challenges. It also considers how research and practice can inform one another, with the aim of improving intervention strategies and decision-making in everyday working life.
Participants will engage with relevant evidence, reflect on challenges in applying research findings in practice, and examine how different sectors, such as healthcare, occupational health, and policy, can collaborate more effectively in the field of work disability.
Main Topics
The course will cover and integrate the following topics:
- Introduction and background, including an overview of the research field
- Intervention research in work disability prevention
- Sociopolitical challenges in the field, including the implementation of evidence-based practice and the transferability of findings
Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to disseminate knowledge, with a focus on theoretical, methodological, ethical, and practical challenges related to the prevention of work disability and sickness absence.
Target Group
The course is primarily aimed at Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows. Practitioners and researchers within the field of work disability are also welcome.
Course Summary |
|
| 15th – 17th of April 2026 | |
| Onsite course | |
| Scandic Star Sollentuna, Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Deadline 13th of March 2026 | |
| EUR 770 – 960 (depending on the day package) | |
| Register now |
Price information
The price of the course consists of the course fee of EUR 500
and the day package of choice.
Day package I
This package includes:
- conference facilities and technical equipment
- course material
- coffees, lunches
- dinner on Wednesday evening
- dinner and social program on Thursday evening
We strongly encourage you to take part in the social program, as this is a vital part of the NIVA course experience. We believe in the power of networking and strive to create an inspiring possibility for that through the social program.
The total price of the course is EUR 960 (course fee EUR 500 + day package fee EUR 460).
Day package II
This package includes:
- conference facilities and technical equipment
- course material
- coffees, lunches
Kindly note that the day package II does not include dinners, nor the social program.
The total price of the course is EUR 770 (course fee EUR 500 + day package fee EUR 270).
Accommodation
14th – 17th of April 2026 at Scandic Star Sollentuna, Stockholm, Sweden.
NIVA has made a block reservation for the accommodation 14th – 17th of April 2026 at Scandic Star Sollentuna, Stockholm, Sweden.
To book a room from the block, kindly make the reservation through this link using the booking code: BNIV140426 (available until 15.3.2026).
The room price for a single standard room is approx. EUR 132 (SEK 1450) including breakfast.
The block reservation will be available until 15th of Match 2026.
General course fee and cancellation information
The courses and workshops vary in price. Please note that the course fee does not cover meals or accommodation. The course fee and day-package fee are invoiced after the registration deadline.
Travel arrangements
Please refrain from booking any travel tickets until we have confirmed the course. The confirmation, which will be sent at the latest after the registration deadline, will include detailed information on the payment of the course fee and day-packages, as well as information on practical arrangements. Please note that you are not insured by NIVA.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Our venues for organising courses have carefully considered accessibility to ensure they cater to the needs of all participants. For detailed information about the hotel’s accessibility features, please read more here.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received by 13th of March 2026: full refund
Cancellations received by 14th of March 2026 or later: no refund
NIVA will issue an invoice or send information on how to pay the course with credit card (depending on the option chosen in the registration form) after the registration deadline.
The price is subject to minor changes.
Contact persons
Course leader
Emilie Friberg, Principal Researcher at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
email: emilie.friberg@ki.se
In practical matters, please contact:
Julia Hemgård, Project Manager at NIVA
email: julia.hemgard@niva.org
