Physical therapists and importance of work participation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a focus group study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Research Article

Elvira Nouwens¹  J Bart Staal²  Nathan Hutting³  Josephine A Engels³  Yvonne F Heerkens³  Wiebke Oswald⁴  Maria WG Nijhuis van-der Sanden⁵ 

[1] Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Physical Therapy, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Research Group Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Research Group Occupation & Health, HAN University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 6960, 6503, Nijmegen, GL, Netherlands;Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Research Group Occupation & Health, HAN University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 6960, 6503, Nijmegen, GL, Netherlands;Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Physical Therapy, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands;Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands;

关键词: Musculoskeletal disorders;    Physical therapy;    Occupational health;    Work participation;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12891-017-1546-9

 received in 2017-01-18, accepted in 2017-05-04,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders are a major health problem resulting in negative effects on wellbeing and substantial costs to society. Work participation is associated with positive benefits for both mental and physical health. Potentially, generalist physical therapists (GPTs) can play an important role in reducing absenteeism, presenteeism and associated costs in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. However, work participation is often insufficiently addressed within generalist physical therapy practice (GPTP). Therefore, this study evaluates whether GPTs take work participation into account as a determining factor in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and how this might be improved.MethodsThis qualitative study consisted of seven focus groups involving 30 participants: 21 GPTs and 9 occupational physical therapists (OPTs). Based on an interview guide, participants were asked how they integrate work participation within their practice, how they collaborate with other professionals, and how GPTs can improve integration of the patient’s work within their practice.ResultsAlthough participants recognized the importance of work participation, they mentioned that the integration of this item in their GPTP could be improved. Generally, GPTs place insufficient priority on work participation. Moreover, there is a lack of cooperation between the generalist physical therapist and (other) occupational healthcare providers (including OPTs), and the borderlines/differences between generalist physcial therapy and occupational health physcial therapy were sometimes unclear. GPTs showed a lack of knowledge and a need for additional information about several important work-related factors (e.g. work content, physical and psychosocial working conditions, terms of employment).ConclusionsAlthough a patient’s work is important, GPTs take insufficient account of work participation as a determining factor in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. GPTs often lack specific knowledge about work-related factors, and there is insufficient cooperation between OPTs and other occupational healthcare providers. The integration of work participation within GPTP, and the cooperation between GPTs and other occupational healthcare providers, show room for improvement.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017