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Irene Jensen

Irene Jensen

Professor, Senior | Docent
Telephone: +46852483212
Visiting address: Nobels väg 13, 17177 Solna
Postal address: C6 Institutet för miljömedicin, C6 IIR Björklund, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • My current position is professor of corporate health and research director. I lead a research group that tries to understand mechanisms that create good work health and work ability. The aim of the research conducted in my group is to contribute to improve working conditions and environment for employers and employees where health, well-being and productivity goes hand in hand. Facilitating this supports the development of healthy work places. To enable the translation of research into practice my group work in close cooperation with partners, i.e. end users of our research results, organized as practice based research network. My special area of interest is work place interventions to prevent work related illness and the promotion of work ability. A further interest is work-health economics, an area where the economic aspects from an employer perspective is considered. I hold Sweden's first professorship in research on occupational healthcare methods, as well as a program support to develop this research area.

    Commisons of trust
    - Member of the Board of the National Research Center for the Work Environment (NFA), Copenhagen. Member of the Quality Council at the Agency for Work Environment (MynAK), 2018-ff Chairman of the committee at FORTE in the area of work organization 2015 - 2016 and from 2017 in the field of occupational health.
    - Member of a scientific council and expert advisory board for the institute for evaluation of labour market and education policy
    - Member of a scientific council and expert advisory board for the Ministry of social affairs, Swedish government concerning rehabilitation and sick leave Member of a scientific council and expert advisory board for the Ministry of Employment, Swedish government concerning work environment Scientific advisor within the AFA Insurance program Work & Health Member of the Scientific Council for the Development of Back Rehabilitation Centres in Stockholm County council Board member of the Swedish Society of Behavioural Medicine Member of Cochrane Collaboration Musculoskeletal Working Group on Back Pain. Member in an international task force Sex, gender and Pain within IASP. Member of expert group on sick leave in the the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Member of an international expert group within EU of chronic back problems (COST). Co-chair within a task force in the EU Work Life 2000. Implementation and dissemination of guidelines.

    Education
    Psychologist, BSc. in 1985, Örebro University. PhD in ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ science, personal injury prevention. Thesis ‘Non-specific spinal pain. Multidisciplinary intervention, a cognitive-behavioural approach’, 1993 at Karolinska Institute. Associate professor at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in 1999. Professor in personal injury prevention in 2004 and Professor in corporate health in 2011, at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. Lic. Psychotherapist in 2005.

Research

  • The research is multidisciplinary and focused on developing and evaluating interventions in order to identify cost-effective methods for improving occupational health, and to scientifically study how methods can be implemented cost-effectively in society. Implementation of research findings in to society - so-called evidence-based practice (EBP) - is a relatively new and undeveloped research area. Implementation research is about studying processes for implementation and developing effective methods for changing and introducing new ways of working. Evaluation of implementation into everyday practice is essential and a tool for improving processes and compliance with new methods. Evaluation of implementation should include both process analysis, effect evaluation in terms of behavioral change and quality of performance, as well as measurement of the effects the intervention is expected to generate i.e employee sickness absence, lifestyle, health, etc. My research team has developed methods for cost-effective interventions for back pain and methods for reducing sick leave while increasing productivity in companies.

    In 1997 professor Irene Jensen initiated the first scientific study on yoga in Sweden at the Karolinska institute, a pilot study on yoga as seconday prevention for unspciified spine problems. When she 14 years later followed it up with a larger study she had already initiated a chain of events that in 2010 had led to the implementation of MediYoga as regular rehab in the Swedish NHS.

    Our research is conducted in close collaboration with occupational healthcare, the parties of the labor market, industry, insurance companies, municipalities, county councils, and more, as a prerequisite for successful implementation of new methods is that research is conducted close to those who will use the methods. I hold Sweden's first professorship in research on occupational healthcare methods, as well as a program support to develop this research area.

    Research areas
    - Back and neck pain
    - Stress related illness and common mental disorders
    - Rehabilitation
    - Work site health promotion
    - Psychosocial work environment
    - Workers health
    - Health economics
    - Work health economics
    - Implementation research

Teaching

  • Min forskning är huvudsakligen inriktad pÃ¥ metoder för hälsofrämjande pÃ¥ arbetsplatsen. En stor del av forskningen har fokuserat pÃ¥ smärta och besvär frÃ¥n nacke/rygg, som är en av de dominerande orsakerna till lÃ¥ngvarig sjukfrÃ¥nvaro. Relationen mellan hälsa och arbete studeras utifrÃ¥n antagandet att den anställdes hälsa (oberoende av orsak till ohälsa) pÃ¥verkar arbetsförmÃ¥ga och prestation och därmed produktiviteten i organisationen. Därför är det viktigt att finna kostnadseffektiva metoder för att förebygga och Ã¥tgärda ohälsa pÃ¥ arbetsplatsen. Genom att arbeta med detta skapas förutsättningar för människor att leva ett liv med god livskvalitet, bÃ¥de i privat- sÃ¥väl som i arbetslivet.

    Forskningen är tvärvetenskaplig och inriktad på att utveckla och utvärdera interventioner i syfte att identifiera kostnadseffektiva metoder för att förbättra arbetshälsan, samt att vetenskapligt studera hur metoderna kostnadseffektivt kan implementeras i samhället. Implementering av vetenskapligt belagda metoder - så kallad evidensbaserad praktik (EBP) - är ett relativt nytt och ännu oetablerat forskningsområde. Implementeringsforskning handlar om att studera processer för implementering och utveckla effektiva metoder för att förändra och föra in nya arbetssätt. Utvärdering av implementeringen är essentiell och blir ett redskap för att förbättra processer och följsamheten med nya metoder. Utvärderingar av implementering bör innehålla både process analys, effektmätning i form av beteendeförändring och kvalitet i utförande samt mätning av de effekter som interventionen/metoden förväntas generera på exempelvis anställdas sjukfrånvaro, livsstil, hälsa, etc. Genom att följa upp både process och effekt får man mer av ett helhetsperspektiv på en implementering.

    Min forskargrupp har bland annat utvecklat metoder för kostnadseffektiv rehabilitering av långvariga ryggbesvär samt metoder för att kostnadseffektivt minska sjukfrånvaro och samtidigt höja produktiviteten i företag. Forskningen bedrivs i nära samarbete med företagshälsovård, arbetsmarknadens parter, industrin, försäkringsbolag, kommuner, landsting, med flera, eftersom en förutsättning för att framgångsrikt implementera nya metoder är att forskningen bedrivs nära de som skall bruka metoderna.

    Research areas

    Ryggbesvär Stress relaterad mental ohälsa Rehabilitering Hälsopromotion på arbetsplatsen Psykosocial arbetsmiljö Arbetshälsa

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    Implementeringsforskning

    Finansiering

    FORTE
    AFA
    EU
    Departement
    MynAK
    ECCR

Articles

  • Article: STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. 2025;50(2):406-418
    Olsson C; Toropova A; Jensen I; Bjorklund C
  • Article: BMC PSYCHOLOGY. 2024;12(1):559
    Johansson F; Rozental A; Edlund K; Grotle M; Rudman A; Jensen I; Skillgate E
  • Article: BMJ OPEN. 2023;13(9):e072178
    Johansson F; Billquist J; Andreasson H; Jensen I; Onell C; Berman AH; Skillgate E
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF WORK ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH. 2023;49(6):428-438
    Toropova A; Roedlund A; Bjoerklund C; Elinder LS; Jensen I; Kwak L
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2023;18(9):e0291551
    Olsson C; Ljungberg HT; Bramberg EB; Nybergh L; Jensen I
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2023;18(9):e0292109
    Ljungberg HT; Olsson C; Jensen I; Nybergh L; Bramberg EB
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2023;18(6):e0286819
    Wallberg M; Ljungberg HT; Bramberg EB; Nybergh L; Jensen I; Olsson C
  • Article: IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE. 2022;17(1):59
    Kwak L; Toropova A; Powell BJ; Lengnick-Hall R; Jensen I; Bergstrom G; Elinder LS; Stigmar K; Wahlin C; Bjorklund C
  • Article: BMJ OPEN. 2022;12(4):e056489
    Edlund K; Sundberg T; Johansson F; Onell C; Rudman A; Holm LW; Grotle M; Jensen I; Cote P; Skillgate E
  • Article: IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE. 2022;17(1):23
    Toropova A; Bjorklund C; Bergstrom G; Elinder LS; Stigmar K; Wahlin C; Jensen I; Kwak L
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;19(4):2431
    Jensen I; Arapovic-Johansson Z; Aboagye E
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;19(2):934
    Lohela-Karlsson M; Jensen I; Bjorklund C
  • Article: STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. 2021;46(12):2556-2567
    Bjorklund C; Vaez M; Jensen I
  • Article: STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. 2021;46(12):2610-2628
    Jensen I; Bjorklund C; Hagberg J; Aboagye E; Bodin L
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2021;49(7):741-749
    Johansson F; Cote P; Hogg-Johnson S; Rudman A; Holm LW; Grotle M; Jensen I; Sundberg T; Edlund K; Skillgate E
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS. 2021;20:16094069211032071
    Olsson C; Ljungberg HT; Bramberg EB; Jensen I; Nybergh L
  • Article: PLOS ONE. 2021;16(6):e0253049
    Nybergh L; Bergstrom G; Jensen I; Hellman T
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;17(19):E7285-7285
    Arapovic-Johansson B; Jensen I; Wahlin C; Bjorklund C; Kwak L
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;17(15):E5283-5283
    Jensen IB; Bramberg EB; Wahlin C; Bjorklund C; Hermansson U; Karlson ML; Elinder LS; af Rosenschold PM; Nevala T; Carter N; Mellblom B; Kwak L
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2020;17(14):E5234-5234
    Van de Poll MK; Bergstrom G; Jensen I; Nybergh L; Kwak L; Lornudd C; Lohela-Karlsson M
  • Show more

All other publications

  • Review: SCIENTOMETRICS. 2021;126(4):3283-3301
    Aboagye E; Jensen I; Bergstrom G; Bramberg EB; Pico-Espinosa OJ; Bjorklund C
  • Preprint: RESEARCH SQUARE. 2021
    Johansson F; Côté P; Hogg-Johnson S; Rudman A; Holm L; Grotle M; Jensen I; Sundberg T; Edlund K; Skillgate E
  • Preprint: RESEARCH SQUARE. 2020
    Johansson F; Côté P; Hogg-Johnson S; Rudman A; Holm LW; Grotle M; Jensen I; Sundberg T; Edlund K; Skillgate E
  • Conference publication: IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE. 2020;15
    Kwak L; Bjorklund C; Bostrom M; Bergstrom G; Nybergh L; Elinder LS; Stigmar K; Wahlin C; Jensen I
  • Preprint: JMIR PREPRINTS. 2019
    Rasmussen CDN; Højberg H; Larsen AK; Munch PK; Osborne R; Kwak L; Jensen I; Linnan L; Jørgensen MB
  • Review: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE. 2018;60(2):147-166
    Grimani A; Bergstrom G; Casallas MIR; Aboagye E; Jensen I; Lohela-Karlsson M
  • Letter: INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 2013;86(6):723-724
    Emdad R; Alipour A; Hagberg J; Jensen IB
  • Conference publication: ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES. 2013;72:766
    Asenlof P; Bergman P; Demmelmaier I; Jensen I; Nordgren B; Opava CH
  • Scholarly edition: 2012
    The relationship between psychosocial work factors, employee health and organisational production – a systematic review
    Lohela Karlsson M; Björklund C; Jensen I
  • Conference publication: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2006;16:57-58
    Bergstrom G; Bjorklund C; Lisspers J; Nathell L; Hermansson U; Fried I; Helander A; Bodin L; Jensen I
  • Conference publication: ICECOM 2005: 18TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETICS AND COMMUNICATIONS, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2005;:293-296
    An optimized stepped profiled horn with low cross polarization for a 20/30 GHz DVB-RCS terminal
    Jensen I
  • Review: ACTA OTO-LARYNGOLOGICA. 2004;32:109-151
    Hansson T; Jensen I
  • Conference publication: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY. 2000;35(3-4):14
    Jensen IB; Bergström G; Bodin L; Ljungkvist T; Nygren Å
  • Conference publication: RECENT ADVANCES IN INSULIN ACTION AND ITS DISORDERS. 1991;930:1-13
    BIOACTIVITY OF INSULIN ANALOGS FROM INVITRO RECEPTOR-BINDING TO INVIVO GLUCOSE-UPTAKE
    DREJER K; RIBEL U; KRUSE V; SORENSEN AR; JENSEN I; GAMMELTOFT S

Grants

  • Forte i sambarbete med Försäkringskassan
    1 December 2023 - 1 November 2026
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 December 2023 - 30 November 2026
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 July 2020 - 30 June 2024
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2020 - 31 December 2023
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 September 2017 - 31 August 2019
  • Managers in the Firing Line! A study of managers who have been subjected to bullying and/or managers who have been accused of bullying
    AFA Insurance
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2017
  • Work environment and performance in academia (Part 1)
    ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2016
  • Network grant: Support to networks for interprofessional teams to develop evidence-based methodology in occupational healthcare...
    Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 July 2012 - 31 December 2013
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 March 2011 - 28 February 2017
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2011 - 31 December 2016
  • Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy
    1 September 2009 - 30 June 2010
  • A randomized cost-effectiveness trial of an early intervention to improve work ability in individuals with neck pain...
    Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2009 - 31 December 2011
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2009 - 31 December 2011

Employments

  • Professor, Senior, Institute of Environmental Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2025-2025
  • Professor, Institute of Environmental Medicine, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2011-2024

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 1999

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