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Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Client and staff perspectives regarding effective work injury rehabilitation

Diana Dorstyn https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-8177 A * , Melissa Oxlad A , Sharni Whitburn A , Boris Fedoric A B , Rachel Roberts A and Anna Chur-Hansen A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia.

B WorkGain Solutions, Export Park, Adelaide Airport, SA, Australia.

* Correspondence to: diana.dorstyn@adelaide.edu.au

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.


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