School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Phys Ther. 2012 Oct;92(10):1306-15. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20110194. Epub 2012 Jun 28.
Physical therapists have an active role in the rehabilitation of injured workers. However, regulations in Queensland, Australia, do not afford them the opportunity to participate in return-to-work (RTW) decisions in a standardized way. No prior research has explored the experiences and perceptions of therapists in determining work capacity.
The aim of this study was to investigate physical therapists' experiences with and perspectives on their role in determining readiness for RTW and work capacity for patients receiving workers' compensation in Queensland. Design A qualitative design was used. Participants were physical therapists who manage injured workers.
Novice (n=5) and experienced (n=20) therapists managing patients receiving workers' compensation were selected through purposeful sampling to participate in a focus group or semistructured telephone interviews. Data obtained were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. Physical therapists' confidence in making RTW decisions was determined with 1 question scored on a 0 to 10 scale.
Themes identified were: (1) physical therapists believe they are important in RTW, (2) physical therapists use a variety of methods to determine work capacity, and (3) physical therapists experience a lack of role clarity. Therapists made recommendations for RTW using clinical judgment informed by subjective and objective information gathered from the injured worker. Novice therapists were less confident in making RTW decisions.
Therapists are well situated to gather and interpret the information necessary to make RTW recommendations. Strategies targeting the Australian Physiotherapy Association, physical therapists, and the regulators are needed to standardize assessment of readiness for RTW, improve role clarity, and assist novice practitioners.
物理治疗师在受伤工人的康复中发挥着积极的作用。然而，澳大利亚昆士兰州的法规并没有让他们有机会以标准化的方式参与重返工作岗位（RTW）的决策。以前没有研究探讨过治疗师在确定工作能力方面的经验和看法。
本研究旨在调查物理治疗师在确定接受工人赔偿的患者 RTW 准备情况和工作能力方面的经验和观点。
采用定性设计。参与者为管理受伤工人的物理治疗师。
通过目的抽样选择新手（n=5）和经验丰富的（n=20）治疗师参与焦点小组或半结构化电话访谈，以管理接受工人赔偿的患者。记录下获得的数据，并逐字转录为音频。对记录进行主题分析。通过 0 到 10 分的评分来确定物理治疗师对做出 RTW 决策的信心。
确定的主题有：（1）物理治疗师认为他们在 RTW 中很重要，（2）物理治疗师使用多种方法来确定工作能力，（3）物理治疗师体验到角色不清。治疗师根据从受伤工人那里收集的主观和客观信息，运用临床判断做出 RTW 建议。新手治疗师在做出 RTW 决策方面的信心较低。
治疗师非常适合收集和解释做出 RTW 建议所需的信息。需要针对澳大利亚物理治疗协会、治疗师和监管机构采取策略，以标准化 RTW 准备情况评估、提高角色清晰度，并帮助新手从业者。
