Total hip and knee replacement and return to work: clinicians' perspectives

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• The aging workforce necessitates a better understanding of return-to-work after total hip and knee replacement.
• Current practices may not adequately address the complexities of employed patients undergoing these procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore clinicians' views and experiences in managing working patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement.
• To identify challenges and facilitators in the process of listing employed individuals for surgery.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 40 healthcare professionals.
• Participants included Allied Health Professionals, nurses, orthopedic surgeons, and General Practitioners.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• A key theme was clinicians' perceptions of listing working patients for surgery.
• Sub-themes included perceived likelihood of listing, surgical expectations, work impact, and referral processes.
• Clinicians' decisions are influenced by patient work issues and system-level factors.

Conclusions:

• Listing working patients for hip and knee replacement is complex and requires consistent consideration of work-related factors.
• Enhanced support through commissioning and service delivery is needed for clinicians.
• Further research on patient/clinician expectations and optimal surgical timing is indicated.