Facilitators of and barriers to return to work after mild traumatic injury: A thematic analysis
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Facilitators of and barriers to return to work after mild traumatic injury : A thematic analysis. / Graff, Heidi Jeannet; Deleu, Nicole W.; Christiansen, Peter ; Rytter, Hana Malá.
In: Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Vol. 31, No. 9, 06.2021, p. 1349-1373.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Facilitators of and barriers to return to work after mild traumatic injury
T2 - A thematic analysis
AU - Graff, Heidi Jeannet
AU - Deleu, Nicole W.
AU - Christiansen, Peter
AU - Rytter, Hana Malá
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may experience protracted symptoms affecting their ability to work. Several actors may facilitate or act as a barrier to a successful return to work (RTW). This qualitative study used semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults with mTBI at 2–5 years post injury, targeting experiences of how different actors facilitated or acted as a barrier in the RTW process, and encompassed the mTBI trajectory from the acute phase to the post-acute phase. A thematic analysis with a hermeneutical phenomenological approach was used to analyse data. Three main themes emerged. (1) Worker–employer relationship: Workplace accommodations such as decreased working hours, modified working conditions, and support from co-workers were lacking. (2) The role of the general practitioner: The general practitioner was lacking treatment and referral opportunities and failed to provide the patient with relevant and individualized guidance. (3) Municipal case management: Participants perceived being met with distrust by social workers, follow-up assessments were too frequent, unnecessary, and did not target concussion, and rehabilitation was referred too late. Clinical practice guidelines to improve referral to relevant concussion rehabilitation in case of persistent symptoms are needed to inform clinicians, employers, and public institutions to facilitate a successful RTW.
AB - Individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may experience protracted symptoms affecting their ability to work. Several actors may facilitate or act as a barrier to a successful return to work (RTW). This qualitative study used semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 adults with mTBI at 2–5 years post injury, targeting experiences of how different actors facilitated or acted as a barrier in the RTW process, and encompassed the mTBI trajectory from the acute phase to the post-acute phase. A thematic analysis with a hermeneutical phenomenological approach was used to analyse data. Three main themes emerged. (1) Worker–employer relationship: Workplace accommodations such as decreased working hours, modified working conditions, and support from co-workers were lacking. (2) The role of the general practitioner: The general practitioner was lacking treatment and referral opportunities and failed to provide the patient with relevant and individualized guidance. (3) Municipal case management: Participants perceived being met with distrust by social workers, follow-up assessments were too frequent, unnecessary, and did not target concussion, and rehabilitation was referred too late. Clinical practice guidelines to improve referral to relevant concussion rehabilitation in case of persistent symptoms are needed to inform clinicians, employers, and public institutions to facilitate a successful RTW.
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - hjernerystelse
KW - arbejde
KW - hovedtraume
KW - Mild traumatic brain injury
KW - Concussion
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Return to work
U2 - 10.1080/09602011.2020.1778489
DO - 10.1080/09602011.2020.1778489
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32584206
VL - 31
SP - 1349
EP - 1373
JO - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
JF - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
SN - 0960-2011
IS - 9
ER -
ID: 243336823