A qualitative evaluation of occupational
therapy-led work rehabilitation for people
with inflammatory arthritis : patients’ views

Prior, Y; Amanna, A; Bodell, SJ; Hammond, A

Abstract

Introduction: This qualitative study, nested in a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial, explored the views of working people
with inflammatory arthritis on the impact of a work rehabilitation programme received.

Method: Thirty-two participants, drawn from the 55 participants in the associated randomised controlled trial, were recruited from
secondary care in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted at six (n = 32) and
nine months follow-up (n = 31). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a constant comparative
approach, under the theoretical framework of critical realism.

Findings: Three overarching themes emerged: (1) intervention group participants valued the work rehabilitation programme
received, and highlighted the benefits of occupational therapy; (2) control group participants reported no benefits in relation to the
written work advice pack, and lacked future aspirations to stay employed; (3) the majority of participants reported not reading the
written work advice pack provided, which was the only work advice received by the control group.

Conclusion: Working people with inflammatory arthritis highly valued the practical support received from the therapists, and
emphasised the value of the therapeutic relationship in the rehabilitation process. A tailor-made work rehabilitation programme,
which incorporates cognitive-behavioural strategies into patient education, may help to reduce work instability in people with
inflammatory arthritis, and increase their perceived self-efficacy

Citation

with inflammatory arthritis : patients’ views. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616672666

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Nov 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Journal: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Print ISSN: 0308-0226
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-6006
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 39-48
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616672666
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308022616672666
• Related Public URLs: http://bjo.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/11/17/0308022616672666.full.pdf?ijkey=tWiJbgnx6lYwVT5&keytype=finite
• Additional Information: Projects : Work Rehabilitation in Inflammatory Arthritis. Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of an occupational therapy (OT) job retention intervention: a pilot randomised controlled trial.