Journal Article

Perceptions of health professionals towards the management of back pain in the context of work: a qualitative study

Cowen, Jemma, Artus, Majid, Ong, Bie Nio, van der Windt, Danielle, Wynne-Jones, Gwenllian, Bishop, Annette, Sanders, Tom

2014

Overview

Background Musculoskeletal complaints have a significant impact on work in terms of reduced productivity, sickness absence and long term incapacity for work. This study sought to explore GPs’ and physiotherapists’ perceptions of sickness certification in patients with musculoskeletal problems. Methods Eleven (11) GPs were sampled from an existing general practice survey, and six (6) physiotherapists were selected randomly using ‘snowball’ sampling techniques, through established contacts in local physiotherapy departments. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with respondents lasting up to 30 minutes. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, following which they were coded using N-Vivo qualitative software and analysed thematically using the constant comparative methodology, where themes were identified and contrasted between and within both groups of respondents. Results Three themes were identified from the analysis: 1) Approaches to evaluating patients’ work problems 2) Perceived ability to manage ‘work and pain’, and 3) Policies and penalties in the work-place. First, physiotherapists routinely asked patients about their job and work difficulties using a structured (protocol-driven) approach, whilst GPs rarely used such structured measures and were less likely to enquire about patients’ work situation. Second, return to work assessments revealed a tension between GPs’ gatekeeper and patient advocacy roles, often resolved in favour of patients’ concerns and needs. Some physiotherapists perceived that GPs’ decisions could be influenced by patients’ demand for a sick certificate and their close relationship with patients made them vulnerable to manipulation. Third, the workplace was considered to be a specific source of strain for patients acting as a barrier to work resumption, and over which GPs and physiotherapists could exercise only limited control. Conclusion We conclude that healthcare professionals need to take account of patients’ work difficulties, their own perceived ability to offer effective guidance, and consider the ‘receptivity’ of employment contexts to patients’ work problems, in order to ensure a smooth transition back to work.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Analysis / Attitude of Health Personnel / Back Pain - diagnosis / Back Pain - physiopathology / Back Pain - therapy / Care and treatment / Eligibility Determination / Epidemiology / Female / Gatekeeping / General Practitioners - psychology / Health aspects / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Humans / Internal Medicine / Interviews as Topic / Job Description / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Occupational Health / Orthopedics / Pain / Perception / Physical Therapists - psychology / Physical therapy / physical therapy and occupational health / Physician-Patient Relations / Practice / Practice Patterns, Physicians / Primary Health Care / Qualitative Research / Rehabilitation / Research Article / Return to Work / Rheumatology / Sick Leave / Sports Medicine / Surveys / Therapeutics, Physiological / Work Capacity Evaluation / Workplace