Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Unit of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Apr 23;21(1):785. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10821-w.
Work resumption is a big challenge in the rehabilitation process for individuals with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). To better meet the needs of individuals with WAD in their return to work process, more knowledge on their experiences and perspectives is needed. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of work ability and the work situation of individuals who participated in a neck-specific exercise programme for chronic WAD.
This qualitative study has an exploratory and descriptive design based on data collected through open-ended interviews with 17 individuals with chronic WAD. Data were analysed inductively using conventional content analysis.
Analysis of the data yielded the following five categories related to the participants' narratives on their experiences of work ability and their work situation: Return to work - a process of setbacks and bureaucracy; The need to be understood by health care professionals, and to receive a treatment plan; Individual resources are important for work ability; The consequences of reduced work ability; and Working conditions are important for work ability.
Individuals with chronic WAD often struggle to return to work. Emotional and practical support from stakeholders is imperative and needs to be strengthened. Participating in a neck-specific exercise programme, including being acknowledged and receiving information about WAD, could positively affect the work ability of WAD sufferers. This study has provided management strategies to improve the ability to work for individuals with chronic WAD, and highlights the need to incorporate a healthy and sustainable return to work in the rehabilitation of individuals with WAD, thereby making their return to work a success.
工作的恢复是颈背部挥鞭样损伤（WAD）患者康复过程中的一个巨大挑战。为了更好地满足 WAD 患者重返工作岗位过程中的需求，需要更多地了解他们的经历和观点。本研究旨在探讨参与慢性 WAD 特定颈部运动计划的个体的工作能力和工作状况的体验。
本定性研究采用探索性和描述性设计，基于对 17 名慢性 WAD 患者进行的开放式访谈收集的数据进行分析。使用常规内容分析对数据进行归纳分析。
对数据的分析产生了以下五个与参与者对其工作能力和工作状况的体验的叙述相关的类别：重返工作岗位-一个挫折和官僚主义的过程；需要得到医疗保健专业人员的理解，并获得治疗计划；个人资源对工作能力很重要；工作能力下降的后果；和工作条件对工作能力很重要。
慢性 WAD 患者通常难以重返工作岗位。利益相关者的情感和实际支持至关重要，需要加强。参加特定于颈部的运动计划，包括得到认可和获得关于 WAD 的信息，可能会对 WAD 患者的工作能力产生积极影响。本研究为提高慢性 WAD 患者的工作能力提供了管理策略，并强调需要将健康和可持续的重返工作岗位纳入 WAD 患者的康复中，从而使他们的重返工作岗位取得成功。
