Östlind E1,2, Grahn B3,4, Stigmar K1,2
1Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden, 2Lund University, Health Sciences, Lund, Sweden, 3Lund University, Clinical Sciences, Orthopaedics, Lund, Sweden, 4Region Kronoberg, Research and Development, Växjö, Sweden
Background: Communication between healthcare and workplace can facilitate return to work in patients on sick leave or at risk of sick leave. WorkUp is a two-armed cluster-randomized controlled trial, conducted in primary health care in southern Sweden targeting patients with acute/subacute back- and neck pain. A convergence dialogue method (CDM) in three steps between the physiotherapist, the patient and the employer was tried. The CDM aimed to retrieve factors supporting return to work or inhibiting sick leave. The main results were in favour for the dialogue (CDM) and showed that a larger number of patients receiving the CDM had workability at 12-months follow-up compared to patients in the reference group.
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe patients' experience of a workplace dialogue in physiotherapy practice.
Methods: The first author (EÖ) interviewed 10 patients individually. A semi-structured interview guide was used. The interviews covered different aspects of the patients' experience of the CDM. The first (EÖ) and third (KS) author processed the data in several steps using qualitative content analysis.
Results: A main theme emerged from the analysis; Bridging the gap between health care and workplace. Three categories were settled; Physiotherapist as a facilitator, The employer as a key stakeholder and Unclear frames of the concept and the outcomes.
Conclusion(s): This study describes patients' experience of a workplace dialogue in physiotherapy practice. Even though few patients experienced concrete changes at the workplace, they were supportive for the intervention as well as how the physiotherapists conducted the CDM. The patients expressed trust in the physiotherapists and saw them as someone who could facilitate changes at the workplace, being proficient and supportive. The CDM could be a method to facilitate communication between stakeholders and support work ability.
Implications: This workplace dialogue method used in physiotherapy practice supports work ability and is experienced by patients to facilitate communication between stakeholders in a rehabilitation process.
Keywords: Workplace dialogue, Musculoskeletal disorders, Return to work
Funding acknowledgements: Funding for the WorkUp-study came from the Vårdal Foundation (http://www.vardal.se/) [RF11-005] and from the County Councils involved in the study.
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe patients' experience of a workplace dialogue in physiotherapy practice.
Methods: The first author (EÖ) interviewed 10 patients individually. A semi-structured interview guide was used. The interviews covered different aspects of the patients' experience of the CDM. The first (EÖ) and third (KS) author processed the data in several steps using qualitative content analysis.
Results: A main theme emerged from the analysis; Bridging the gap between health care and workplace. Three categories were settled; Physiotherapist as a facilitator, The employer as a key stakeholder and Unclear frames of the concept and the outcomes.
Conclusion(s): This study describes patients' experience of a workplace dialogue in physiotherapy practice. Even though few patients experienced concrete changes at the workplace, they were supportive for the intervention as well as how the physiotherapists conducted the CDM. The patients expressed trust in the physiotherapists and saw them as someone who could facilitate changes at the workplace, being proficient and supportive. The CDM could be a method to facilitate communication between stakeholders and support work ability.
Implications: This workplace dialogue method used in physiotherapy practice supports work ability and is experienced by patients to facilitate communication between stakeholders in a rehabilitation process.
Keywords: Workplace dialogue, Musculoskeletal disorders, Return to work
Funding acknowledgements: Funding for the WorkUp-study came from the Vårdal Foundation (http://www.vardal.se/) [RF11-005] and from the County Councils involved in the study.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Disability & rehabilitation; Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Lund University
Ethics committee: The regional ethical review board in Lund
Ethics number: (Dnr: 2012/497)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
