Environmental and personal factors that support early return-to-work: a qualitative study using the ICF as a...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Occupational physicians recognize environmental and personal factors influencing early return-to-work (RTW).
• Understanding these factors is crucial for tailoring professional interventions for employees on sick leave.
• Further insight is needed into specific environmental and personal factors that stimulate RTW.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify environmental and personal factors supporting early RTW.
• Examine the applicability of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in describing these RTW factors.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 14 employees, 15 employers, and 4 occupational physicians.
• Data analysis employed a qualitative approach based on the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven.
• Participants were from diverse organizations across various industries and sizes.

Main Results:

• Environmental factors supporting RTW include social support, belief in work's health benefits, stakeholder cooperation, and employer communication skills.
• A positive perception of the work situation (e.g., job enjoyment) was the key personal factor.
• Most factors directly stimulated RTW; social support and treatment also aided medical recovery.
• Environmental factors were partially or fully classifiable using ICF codes, but personal factors were not.

Conclusions:

• RTW interventions should target identified environmental and personal factors.
• The ICF can be effectively utilized by professionals to categorize most environmental factors influencing RTW.