Challenges for first contact physiotherapists' managing sickness absence: Consensus development using the nominal...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Physiotherapy
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Limited access to Occupational Health (OH) services in the UK impacts employee well-being.
• First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are increasingly involved in sickness absence certification.
• Understanding FCPs' challenges and training needs is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Framework:

• A modified online Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was employed.
• Expert consensus was established with a priori agreement threshold of >60%.

Implementation:

• Twenty-one expert OH physiotherapists participated in the study.
• The NGT method facilitated structured group discussion and consensus building.
• Data were collected on challenges and learning needs related to fitness for work and sickness absence certification.

Implications:

• Key challenges for FCPs include time limitations and knowledge deficits in certification.
• Priority learning needs involve enhancing skills in work-related conversations and OH-specific training.
• Addressing these needs can improve the quality of advice and reduce long-term sickness absence.