Affiliations: Division of Social Medicine and Public Health,
Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping,
Sweden | Department of Behavioral Sciences, Linköping
University, Linköping, Sweden | Personal Injury Prevention, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Ulrika Klanghed, Division of Social
Medicine and Public Health Science, Department of Health and Society, Faculty
of Health Sciences, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. Tel.: +46 13 22 42 32; Fax:
+46 13 22 18 65; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: More knowledge is needed on different factors that can promote
return to work among sick-listed persons. One such factor might be by their
interactions with the rehabilitation professionals they encounter. The aim of
the present study was to identify and analyze statements about positive
encounters with rehabilitation staff, reported by persons who had been absent
from work with back, neck, or shoulder diagnoses. A descriptive and explorative
qualitative approach was used to analyze data from five focus-group interviews.
There were few statements on positive encounters, and they were frequently
attributed to sheer luck. Experiences of positive encounters were assigned to
two major categories: respectful treatment and supportive treatment. Receiving
adequate medical examination or treatment was also mentioned as being positive.
Further efforts are needed to study and develop methods for investigating
interactions with rehabilitation professionals that laypersons experience as
positive and that may contribute to empowerment and influence return to work
when sickness absent.
Keywords: sickness absence, sick leave, rehabilitation, encounter, return to work
