Self-responsibility and coping with pain: disparate attitudes toward psychosocial issues in recovery from work place...

To compare injured worker and health professional ratings of psychosocial variables as they relate to recovery.

Seventy patients and 70 health care staff at an injured worker rehabilitation centre completed a 17-item checklist. Each subject selected five psychosocial variables believed to be most important to recovery. Group ratings were compared using chi-square with a Bonferroni adjustment.

In general, patients and health professionals agreed on the relative importance of 15 of 17 variables. However, the groups did differ significantly on two items--staff rated 'self-responsibility' higher than patients, while patients rated 'coping with pain' higher than staff.

The ratings reflect the occasionally divergent goals and expectations of the rehabilitation staff and patient groups. Consequently, some patients may be moved into inappropriate treatment modalities, resulting in non-compliance. Being aware of patient beliefs and expectations should assist health care professionals in generating improved rehabilitation outcomes by promoting better co-operation through shared perceptions and goals.