Client and staff perspectives regarding effective work injury rehabilitation
Diana Dorstyn
A * , Melissa Oxlad A , Sharni Whitburn A , Boris Fedoric A B , Rachel Roberts A and Anna Chur-Hansen A
A Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia.
B WorkGain Solutions, Export Park, Adelaide Airport, SA, Australia.
Australian Health Review 47(3) 339-343 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH22256
Submitted: 10 November 2022 Accepted: 1 March 2023 Published: 16 March 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.
Abstract
Objective Early, targeted treatment is critical to recovery and overall health following a work-related illness or injury. Limited research has explored the important dimensions of work-specific injury rehabilitation from both client and staff perspectives.
Methods A total of 17 participants (13 clients with work-related injuries, 3 physiotherapists, 1 project manager) involved in a unique program providing allied health treatment in combination with return-to-work services, were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results Four themes were generated: (1) a biopsychosocial approach to rehabilitation; (2) a self-paced environment where client outcomes are optimised through transparent and collaborative team processes; (3) comprehensive care aids client recovery and return to work; and (4) a desire for service expansion is hampered by systemic barriers.
Conclusions Injured workers and staff provided very positive feedback about the biopsychosocial supports needed for successful return to work, particularly the use of in-house work-specific simulation tasks as gradual in-vivo exposure and collaboration with scheme stakeholders. How to best provide this holistic care within current legislative requirements remains a challenge.
Keywords: employment, mental health, occupational injuries, qualitative research, rehabilitation, return to work, unemployment, work disability.
References
[1] Safe Work Australia. The Cost of Work-Related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers, and the Community: 2012–2013. 2015. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/cost-of-work-related-injury-and-disease-2012-13.docx.pdf[2] Safe Work Australia. Australian workers’ compensation statistics 2018-19. 2020. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/australian-workers-compensation-statistics-2018-19
[3] Xiang J, Mittinty M, Tong MX, Pisaniello D, Bi P. Characterising the burden of work-related injuries in South Australia: a 15-year data analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17 2015
| Characterising the burden of work-related injuries in South Australia: a 15-year data analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Kamper SJ, Apeldoorn AT, Chiarotto A, Smeets RJEM, Ostelo RWJG, Guzman J, van Tulder MW. Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2015; 350 h444
| Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for chronic low back pain: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[5] Haveraaen LA, Skarpaas LS, Berg JE, Aas RW. Do psychological job demands, decision control and social support predict return to work three months after a return-to-work (RTW) programme? The rapid-RTW cohort study. Work 2016; 53 61–71.
| Do psychological job demands, decision control and social support predict return to work three months after a return-to-work (RTW) programme? The rapid-RTW cohort study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[6] Russell E, Kosny A. Communication and collaboration among return-to-work stakeholders. Disabil Rehabil 2019; 41 2630–2639.
| Communication and collaboration among return-to-work stakeholders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[7] Buys N, Matthews LR, Randall C. Contemporary vocational rehabilitation in Australia. Disabil Rehabil 2015; 37 820–824.
| Contemporary vocational rehabilitation in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[8] Joyce S, Modini M, Christensen H, Mykletun A, Bryant R, Mitchell PB, Harvey SB. Workplace interventions for common mental disorders: a systematic meta-review. Psychol Med 2016; 46 683–697.
| Workplace interventions for common mental disorders: a systematic meta-review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Venning A, Oswald TK, Stevenson J, Tepper N, Azadi L, Lawn S, Redpath P. Determining what constitutes an effective psychosocial ‘return to work’ intervention: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMC Public Health 2021; 21 2164
| Determining what constitutes an effective psychosocial ‘return to work’ intervention: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] Cancelliere C, Donovan J, Stochkendahl MJ, Biscardi M, Ammendolia C, Myburgh C, Cassidy JD. Factors affecting return to work after injury or illness: best evidence synthesis of systematic reviews. Chiropr Man Therap 2016; 24 32
| Factors affecting return to work after injury or illness: best evidence synthesis of systematic reviews.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[11] Rashid M, Kristofferzon ML, Nilsson A, Heiden M. Factors associated with return to work among people on work absence due to long-term neck or back pain: a narrative systematic review. BMJ Open 2017; 7 e014939
| Factors associated with return to work among people on work absence due to long-term neck or back pain: a narrative systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[12] Tracy SJ. Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qual Inq 2010; 16 837–851.
| Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[13] Braun V, Clarke V. Thematic analysis: a practical guide. GB: Sage Publications; 2022.
[14] Nicholas MK, Costa DSJ, Linton SJ, Main CJ, Shaw WS, Pearce G, Gleeson M, Pinto RZ, Blyth FM, McAuley JH, Smeets RJEM, McGarity A. Implementation of early intervention protocol in Australia for ‘high risk’ injured workers is associated with fewer lost workdays over 2 years than usual (stepped) care. J Occup Rehabil 2020; 30 93–104.
| Implementation of early intervention protocol in Australia for ‘high risk’ injured workers is associated with fewer lost workdays over 2 years than usual (stepped) care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[15] Gardner T, Refshauge K, McAuley J, Hübscher M, Goodall S, Smith L. Goal setting practice in chronic low back pain. What is current practice and is it affected by beliefs and attitudes? Physiother Theory Pract 2018; 34 795–805.
| Goal setting practice in chronic low back pain. What is current practice and is it affected by beliefs and attitudes?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[16] White C, Green RA, Ferguson S, Anderson SL, Howe C, Sun J, Buys N. The influence of social support and social integration factors on return-to-work outcomes for individuals with work-related injuries: a systematic review. J Occup Rehabil 2019; 29 636–659.
| The influence of social support and social integration factors on return-to-work outcomes for individuals with work-related injuries: a systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[17] SafeWork SA. Conditions of Approval South Australian Return to Work Service providers. 1 August 2022. Available at https://www.rtwsa.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/181300/return-to-work-services-conditions-of-approval.pdf
[18] Safe Work Australia. National Return to Work Strategy 2020–2030. 2019. Available at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1909/national_return_to_work_strategy_2020-2030.pdf
[19] The Royal Australasian College of Practitioners, The Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM). It Pays to Care – Bringing evidence-informed practice to work injury schemes helps workers and their workplaces: A values and principles-based approach. 2022. Available at https://www.racp.edu.au/advocacy/division-faculty-and-chapter-priorities/faculty-of-occupational-environmental-medicine/it-pays-to-care
