Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain - the struggle within: A qualitative study of the patient's experience

Ryan, CG; Lauchlan, D; Rooney, L; Hollins-Martin, CJ; Gray, H

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of work absence. Assisting individuals back into work is an important part of rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of individuals returning to work after an episode of sickness absence due to LBP. PARTICIPANTS: Five women employed by a UK University who had returned to work. METHOD: In this qualitative study, participants underwent semi-structured interviews about their experiences. The transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Two primary themes emerged 1) perceived pressure to return to work and 2) strategies employed to relieve the pressure to return. Pressure to return to work arose from a number of sources including guilt and a personal work ethic, internally, and from colleagues and management, externally. This pressure led to the individual employing a number of strategies to reduce it. These ranged from a simple denial of health concerns and decision to return to work regardless of their condition, to placing the responsibility of the decision not to return to work onto a significant other, such as a family member or health care professional. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals returning to work with LBP experience considerable pressure to return and use a range of strategies to mediate that pressure.

Citation

Ryan, C., Lauchlan, D., Rooney, L., Hollins-Martin, C., & Gray, H. (2014). Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain - the struggle within: A qualitative study of the patient's experience. WORK, 49(3), 433-444. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131646

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 4, 2016
• Journal: Work
• Print ISSN: 1051-9815
• Publisher: IOS Press
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 433-444
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131646
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-131646