Affiliations: Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering,
École Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Department of Community Health Sciences, Sherbrooke
University & PREVICAP Occupational Rehabilitation Centre,
Charles-LeMoyne Hospital, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada | Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et
en Securité du travail (IRSST), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kátia Maciel Costa-Black, Chaire
de recherche du Canada en ergonomie, Département de mathématiques et de
génie industriel, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Campus de
l'Université de Montréal, 2500, Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal,
Québec, Canada H3T 1J4. Tel.: +1 514 340 4711, ext. 3962; Fax: +1 514 340
4173; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: From both a social and cost-benefit perspective, disability
prevention and associated management strategies for assisting employees with
back pain are only successful if they address critical return-to-work (RTW)
determining factors present in the workplace, including ergonomic factors.
Despite our current knowledge of the importance of an integrated team approach
targeting these factors, questions remain regarding the conceptual framework
adopted by contemporary rehabilitation teams as it relates to work-oriented
interventions to accommodate employees back to work. The purpose of this study
was to explore and describe the work environment issues discussed by an
interdisciplinary team engaged in the work rehabilitation process of low back
disability cases. A qualitative content analysis was conducted for 10 sample
cases that underwent a rehabilitation program in Quebec (Canada). Drawing on
the results of these analyses, a framework representing a synopsis of
practitioners' involvement in the person-environment dynamic is presented and
discussed. This study makes a unique contribution to the understanding of the
'real-life' content of an interdisciplinary activity in disability management,
thus, helping rehabilitation practitioners to build knowledge on the practical
application of a cross-disciplinary framework to address work environment
issues during the RTW process of those patients sick-listed due to back
pain.
Keywords: Low back disability, qualitative research, work environment, interdisciplinary team, work rehabilitation program
