Document Detail


Injured Workers' Construction of Expectations of Return to Work with Sub-Acute Back Pain: The Role of Perceived Uncertainty.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21656253     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Introduction: Little is known about the formation of expectations of return to work (RTW) from the perspective of injured workers with back injuries. This modified grounded theory study uses a biopsychosocial approach that considers the workers' complex social circumstances, to unpack the multidimensional construct of expectations of RTW from the injured worker's perspective. Method: Initial semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 individuals with sub-acute back pain, who were off work between 3 and 6 months. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 7 participants for the purposes of member checking. The interview data was coded, compared and analyzed over the course of data collection, until saturation was reached. Results: Data analysis revealed that expectations of return-to-work are constructed based on perceived uncertainty which subsumes five inter-related categories (1) perceived lack of control over the return-to-work process, (2) perceived lack of recognition by others of the impact of the injury, (3) perceived inability to perform the pre-injury job, (4) fear of re-injury, and (5) perceived need for workplace accommodations. Expectations, once formed, were influenced by the worker's experience of coping with perceived uncertainty. Conclusion: Perceived uncertainty plays a key role in injured workers' formation of expectations of return-to-work. Implications are discussed regarding how this perceived uncertainty plays a role in the development of (re)injury prevention and rehabilitation programs. The importance of further research on perceived uncertainty is presented, along with potential future research considerations.
Authors:
Alison M Stewart; Emily Polak; Richard Young; Izabela Z Schultz
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-6-9
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of occupational rehabilitation     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1573-3688     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-6-9     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9202814     Medline TA:  J Occup Rehabil     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, alisonatubc@gmail.com.
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