Assessing factors influencing return back to work after cholecystectomy: a qualitative research

BMC Gastroenterology

Research Article

Jolanda de Vries¹  Frederik Keus²  Cornelis JHM van Laarhoven²  Hein G Gooszen³ 

[1] Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands;Department of Surgery of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Department of Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands;Department of Surgery of the University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands;

关键词: Focus Group;    Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy;    Sick Leave;    Focus Group Discussion;    Physician Group;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-230X-10-12

 received in 2009-03-20, accepted in 2010-01-27,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCholecystectomy causes considerable financial burden on society with a major part caused by sick-leave. There are wide variations in duration of sick-leave. The aim of our study was to identify all aspects that influence the moment of return to work by using focus groups and to compare responses from patients and physicians.MethodsA qualitative research design was planned using focus group discussions. Four focus group discussions were organized: two patient groups and two physician groups. Employed patients who had recovered after cholecystectomy were included in the patient groups. The physicians groups consisted of general practitioners, surgeons, and company physicians. Three investigators independently searched transcriptions of the sessions for all items relating to return to work. The importance of items and categories were assessed by determining frequencies.ResultsIn the patients groups physical limitations (35.3%) and individual patient factors (17.5%) were important factors in the duration of sick-leave, while influence or advice comprised only 8.4% of the items. In the physicians groups influence or advice (21.8%) and information-related factors (21.4%) were thought to be important categories.ConclusionsPhysicians perceive their advices as an important factor in patients' duration of sick-leave. In contrast, patients seldom mention this factor and experience physical complaints as the major reason influencing the moment of return to work.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Keus et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010