Obstacles to and Facilitators of Return to Work After Work-disabling Back Pain: the Workers' Perspective

Overview

Journal J Occup Rehabil

Publisher Springer

Specialties Occupational Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2012 Nov 6

PMID 23124686

Citations 15

Authors

Clermont E Dionne

Renee Bourbonnais

Pierre Fremont

Michel Rossignol

Susan R Stock

Eve Laperriere

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Back pain entails considerable costs, particularly because many injured workers are absent from work for long periods. Factors that influence return to work among workers with back pain are still, however, not well understood. This qualitative study aimed at documenting affected workers' perspective on the: 1--difficulties caused by back pain, and 2--most important obstacles to and facilitators of return to work.

Methods: Two focus groups composed of workers having suffered from work-disabling back pain were held: a group of participants who had returned to work (n = 9) and a group of participants who had not returned or had recently returned to work (n = 10). The verbatim accounts of the discussions were transcribed and a content analysis was carried out that included a ranking of items.

Results: Difficulties caused by back pain were related to: (1) personal, (2) family, (3) social, (4) occupational, and (5) financial factors, and (6) health services. Obstacles to and facilitators of return to work were of 4 different types: (1) occupational factors, (2) factors associated with the utilization of health services, (3) clinical, and (4) personal factors. Persistent pain, lack of access to information or support groups, and lack of collaboration and understanding from employer were the most important obstacles identified, whereas knowledge of one's limits and physical training were perceived to be the most important facilitators of return to work, ahead of work-related factors. Differences between groups' perceptions were attributed mainly to control beliefs.

Conclusions: Personal, clinical, occupational and health services factors are perceived by workers with back pain to play a crucial role in determining whether they return to work or not.

Citing Articles

Have my back as I get back to work-Experiences of stakeholder support in returning to work after sick leave due to chronic pain: A qualitative interview study.

Lundin A, Ekman I, Andrell P, Lundberg M, Wallstrom S PLoS One. 2024; 19(10):e0312478.

PMID: 39441786 PMC: 11498695. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312478.

Electronic Health Records for Predicting Outcomes to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Wassell M, Vitiello A, Butler-Henderson K, Verspoor K, McCann P, Pollard H J Occup Rehabil. 2024; 34(4):770-782.

PMID: 38536622 PMC: 11550283. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-024-10175-1.

Including a Three-Party Meeting Using the Demand and Ability Protocol in an Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Programme for a Successful Return to Work Process.

Aili K, Hellman T, Svartengren M, Danielsson K Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(24).

PMID: 36554495 PMC: 9778674. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416614.

Barriers to accessing health care for people with chronic conditions: a qualitative interview study.

Schwarz T, Schmidt A, Bobek J, Ladurner J BMC Health Serv Res. 2022; 22(1):1037.

PMID: 35964086 PMC: 9375930. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08426-z.

Exploring Employer Perspectives on Their Supportive Role in Accommodating Workers with Disabilities to Promote Sustainable RTW: A Qualitative Study.

Jansen J, Boot C, Alma M, Brouwer S J Occup Rehabil. 2022; 32(1):1-12.

PMID: 35166974 DOI: 10.1007/s10926-021-10019-2.

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