G. Skamagki¹, C. Carpenter², A. King³, C. Wåhlin^4,5

¹University of Birmingham, Physiotherapy, Birmingham, United Kingdom, ²University of British Columbia, Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, Vanvouver, Canada, ³Coventry University, Physiotherapy, Coventry, United Kingdom, ⁴Linköping University, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Prevention, Division of Rehabilitation and Community Medicine, Linköping, Sweden, ⁵Karolinska Institute, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research, Institute for Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal disorders (CMSDs) are globally accounted for the second-highest number of years lived with disability. Demographic changes have prompted governments to change retirement policies and extend working years. However, the movement towards sustained employability poses many challenges to the ageing population.

Purpose: This Mixed Methods Research (MMR) study explored older employees’ experiences of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (CMSDs) in relation to their employment, their perspectives on managing these conditions in the workplace, the strategies used to facilitate and maintain their roles and responsibilities, and identified what services were offered to them.

Methods: A Mixed Methods exploratory sequential design was implemented. In the first qualitative phase, 16 semi-structured interviews gathered in-depth information from older employees. Findings informed the development of an online questionnaire in the survey phase which was administered to older employees (N=107). Both findings were then integrated using a narrative joint display.

Results: The phenomena of presenteeism and leaveism were important components to employees’ strategies for managing their condition. The integrated findings highlighted the roles of employers, managers and social support in encouraging disclosure and supporting the management of CMSDs. Results also emphasised how self-management and professional health services are crucial in sustaining employability.

Conclusions: Current challenges call for employers to identify effective ways to support the ageing workforce and invest in training opportunities for managers and collaborative opportunities with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. A flexible, empathetic, and resourceful work environment is optimal in supporting sustained employability for an ageing workforce.

Implications:

Discrepancies exist between how employers, managers, and supervisors interpret and implement current employment policies and strategies to support older employees in managing CMSDs at work.
The social context of the workplace and the positive attitudes and understanding of colleagues and managers significantly contribute to how older employees view their future work ability and how they manage CMSDs in the workplace.
The involvement of relevant healthcare professionals can make an important contribution in supporting work adjustments, translating best evidence into practice, and assisting managers and employers to build an inclusive work environment and individualised strategies for employees with CMSDs.
Research related to OHS provision needs to be developed that encompasses the impact on work of musculoskeletal health and the co-existence of multiple chronic conditions particularly in relation to the ageing workforce and subgroups, such as, women.

Funding acknowledgements: This research received no external funding.

Keywords:
Chronic musculoskeletal disorders
Occupational health and safety
Ageing workforce

Topics:
Occupational health & ergonomics
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Coventry Univerisity

Committee: Coventry University Research Ethics Committee

Ethics number: (P68926, 5/04/2018 and P89732, 29/5/2019)

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.

Back to the listing

Get all the latest physiotherapy news, views and events straight to your inbox