Return-to-work activities in a Chinese cultural context

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Return to work (RTW) coordination is crucial for injured workers in Western countries.
• Limited research exists on RTW activities and coordination in China.
• Understanding stakeholder perspectives is key to effective RTW programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the views of key stakeholders in China regarding necessary activities for RTW coordination.
• To identify commonalities and differences in RTW activities across stakeholder groups.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey conducted in Guangdong province, China.
• Utilized focus groups and panel reviews to identify and classify RTW activities.
• Employed descriptive statistics and intra-class correlation (ICC) for analysis.
• Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed differences among stakeholder groups.

Main Results:

• RTW activity domains in China include workplace assessment, social problem-solving, role clarification, and medical advice, similar to Western models.
• High agreement (ICC: 0.729-0.844) was found in classifying RTW activities.
• Significant differences in perceived importance of RTW activities were noted between healthcare providers and employers/injured workers.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholder perspectives on RTW coordination priorities vary in China.
• Establishing a national RTW coordination terminology and integrated system is essential.
• Further research and training are needed to address diverse stakeholder needs and facilitate cross-provincial studies.