Trusson Diane, Powers Katie, Radford Kate, Bowen Audrey, Craven Kristelle, Farrin Amanda, McKevitt Christopher, Murray John, Phillips Julie, Stevens Judith, Clarke David
School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Front Sociol. 2025 Jul 2;10:1434353. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1434353. eCollection 2025.
Returning to work is a goal for many stroke survivors, with benefits for individuals and society. The ReTurn to work After stroKE (RETAKE) trial, which aimed to improve stroke survivors' work outcomes through early stroke-specific vocational rehabilitation (ESSVR), was ongoing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to understand the impact of the pandemic on stroke survivors' work ability and return-to work support.
Nine stroke survivors and five employers were interviewed. Thematic analysis informed by Normalisation Process Theory, found that biographical disruption experienced as a result of stroke was compounded by disruption on a global scale due to the pandemic.
Attempts to mobilise resources in response to disruption were hampered by pandemic-related issues. Although returning to work offered continuity in pre-stroke identity, businesses were also disrupted by the pandemic. Findings suggest that returning to work was easier for stroke survivors able to work from home and those receiving ESSVR. The opportunity to work from home helped stroke survivors adapt to new ways of working necessitated by the impact of stroke and social distancing rules during the pandemic.
Post-pandemic, remote working is more acceptable, which may benefit future stroke survivors aiming to return to work whilst managing post-stroke fatigue. This may mitigate disruption to lives and post-stroke identities.
重返工作岗位是许多中风幸存者的目标，对个人和社会都有益处。“中风后重返工作岗位”（RETAKE）试验旨在通过早期针对性中风职业康复（ESSVR）改善中风幸存者的工作成果，该试验在新冠疫情期间仍在进行。本研究旨在了解疫情对中风幸存者工作能力和重返工作岗位支持的影响。
对9名中风幸存者和5名雇主进行了访谈。基于常态化过程理论的主题分析发现，中风导致的个人经历中断因疫情造成的全球范围的破坏而更加复杂。
应对破坏而调动资源的尝试受到与疫情相关问题的阻碍。虽然重返工作岗位能让中风幸存者在中风前的身份上保持连续性，但企业也受到了疫情的干扰。研究结果表明，对于能够在家工作的中风幸存者和接受ESSVR的人来说，重返工作岗位更容易。在家工作的机会帮助中风幸存者适应了中风影响和疫情期间社交距离规定所带来的新工作方式。
疫情后，远程工作更容易被接受，这可能会使未来旨在重返工作岗位同时应对中风后疲劳的中风幸存者受益。这可能会减轻对生活和中风后身份的干扰。
