Key Push and Pull Factors Affecting Return to Work Identified by Patients With Long-Term Pain and General Practitioners in Sweden

Lundberg, Tove; Melander, Stina

doi:10.1177/1049732319837227

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Other work has identified the importance of work adjustments as factors ‘pulling’ people back into work [30]. In our study, participants described how being in pain left them feeling isolated from wider society, including the working world, and this made them feel less confident when they considered returning to work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Obstacles to returning to work with chronic pain: in-depth interviews with people who are off work due to chronic pain and employers

Grant

Rees

Underwood

et al. 2019

BMC Musculoskelet Disord

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The global burden of chronic pain is growing with implications for both an ageing workforce and employers. Many obstacles are faced by people with chronic pain in finding employment and returning to work after a period of absence. Few studies have explored obstacles to return-to-work (RTW) from workers' and employers' perspectives. Here we explore views of both people in pain and employers about challenges to returning to work of people who are off work with chronic pain. Methods: We did individual semi-structured interviews with people who were off work (unemployed or off sick) with chronic pain recruited from National Health Service (NHS) pain services and employment services, and employers from small, medium, and large public or private sector organisations. We analysed data using the Framework method. Results: We interviewed 15 people off work with chronic pain and 10 employers. Obstacles to RTW for people with chronic pain spanned psychological, pain related, financial and economic, educational, and work-related domains. Employers were concerned about potential attitudinal obstacles, absence, ability of people with chronic pain to fulfil the job requirements, and the implications for workplace relationships. Views on disclosure of the pain condition were conflicting with more than half employers wanting early full disclosure and two-thirds of people with chronic pain declaring they would not disclose for fear of not getting a job or losing a job. Both employers and people with chronic pain thought that lack of confidence was an important obstacle. Changes to the job or work conditions (e.g. making reasonable adjustments, phased return, working from home or redeployment) were seen by both groups as facilitators. People with chronic pain wanted help in preparing to RTW, education for managers about pain and supportive working relationships. Conclusions: People with chronic pain and employers may think differently in terms of perceptions of obstacles to RTW. Views appeared disparate in relation to disclosure of pain and when this needs to occur. They appeared to have more in common regarding opinions about how to facilitate successful RTW. Increased understanding of both perspectives may be used to inform the development of improved RTW interventions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Obstacles to returning to work with chronic pain: in-depth interviews with people who are off work due to chronic pain and employers

Grant

Rees

Underwood

et al. 2019

BMC Musculoskelet Disord

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several studies suggest that general practitioners face challenges in providing evidence-based and patient-centered chronic pain care. Some of these include dealing with the diverse perspectives that patients and health professionals hold regarding the causes of pain (Nielsen et al, 2013; Phelan et al, 2009) and the different expectations on appropriate interventions (Brown, 2004; Darlow, 2016; Lundberg & Melander, 2019; Matthias & Bair, 2010). Competing expectations of patients and providers give rise to situations where providers try to avoid conflicts with patients (Breen et al, 2007; Cushman et al, 2017; Egerton et al, 2017; Leppänen, 2008), for example, in negotiating treatment with opioids (Harle et al, 2015; Matthias et al, 2013, 2014, 2017).…”

Section: Previous Research On General Practitioners and Chronic Pain ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Professional Coping Strategies in a Temporal Perspective: A Pilot Study on How Swedish General Practitioners Deal With Challenges Inherent in Pain Management

Lundberg

Melander

2021

Sage Open

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to explore how general practitioners cope with the challenges they face when trying to provide effective interventions to pain patients within the organizational context of a health center. Based on interviews with 15 Swedish providers, the study suggests that the challenges that general practitioners experience in the consultations with patients must be understood in a temporal perspective related to the process of care (from initial consultations to “post-treatment”) and the help-seeking process (close to the onset of problems or later). The coping strategies used to handle these challenges can be summarized into four major domains. First, participants adopted a biopsychosocial model to provide proper care. Second, they employed strategies to enhance communication. Third, they coped with the organizational environment, and fourth, they used strategies to cope emotionally. The study contributes to a holistic perspective on providers’ coping strategies by addressing temporal and organizational aspects.

show abstract

“…High work value may facilitate work activities, but support is needed to balance work participation and work ability. [9][10][11] Bio-psycho-social interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs (IPRPs) are evidence-based rehabilitation programs offered to patients with chronic pain. 12,13 IPRPs generally include education, physical activity, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and/or interventions to support social and work activities delivered by different professionals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work Interventions Within Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Programs (IPRP) – Frequency, Patient Characteristics, and Association with Self-Rated Work Ability

Svanholm¹,

Björk²,

Löfgren³

et al. 2023

JPR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs (IPRPs) help people with chronic pain improve their health and manage their work; however, the way IPRPs address sick leave could be improved. Although work interventions can be a part of IPRP, it is not well known how and to what extent. Aim This study explores the frequency of work interventions and the characteristics of patients who participate in work interventions as part of IPRP at specialist pain rehabilitation departments in Sweden. In addition, this study explores the association between participation in work interventions and change in patients’ self-rated work ability after IPRP. Methods Data from the Swedish quality registry for pain rehabilitation (SQRP), which includes 3809 patients between 2016 and 2018, were analysed with descriptive statistics and regression analyses. Results The results indicate a high participation rate in work interventions (90%). Some differences were evident concerning characteristics of patients who participated in different work interventions. The return-to-work (RTW) plan, the most frequently used work intervention, had the strongest association with change in self-rated work ability after IPRP. However, the effect sizes were small, and the initial score best explained the change. Furthermore, there were differences between employed and unemployed patients and employment had a positive association with change in self-rated work ability. Conclusion More research is needed to understand IPRP’s mechanisms and work interventions to support patients with chronic pain, reduce sick leave, and manage work. Employment status needs to be considered and interventions should be tailored to match the individual needs.

show abstract

Key Push and Pull Factors Affecting Return to Work Identified by Patients With Long-Term Pain and General Practitioners in Sweden

Cited by 4 publications

References 57 publications

Obstacles to returning to work with chronic pain: in-depth interviews with people who are off work due to chronic pain and employers

Obstacles to returning to work with chronic pain: in-depth interviews with people who are off work due to chronic pain and employers

Professional Coping Strategies in a Temporal Perspective: A Pilot Study on How Swedish General Practitioners Deal With Challenges Inherent in Pain Management

Work Interventions Within Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Programs (IPRP) – Frequency, Patient Characteristics, and Association with Self-Rated Work Ability

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About