Affiliations: Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, University College
Sealand, Naestved, Denmark | Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health, University
College Sealand, Naestved, Denmark | CopenRehab, Institute of Social Medicine, Department
of Public Health and Centre for Healthy Ageing, Faculty of Heath Sciences,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Marianne Lindahl, Faculty of Health,
University College Sealand, Parkvej 190, 4700 Naestved, Denmark. Tel.: +45 55
75 52 47; Fax: +45 55 75 51 01; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Research in quality of rehabilitation has mostly
concerned patients with chronic diseases, but the aim of the present study was
to investigate what constitutes good quality in rehabilitation after a person
has sustained a fracture at working age, from both patients' and therapists'
perspectives. PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients with bone fracture, aged 32–60
years, and 23 occupational therapists and physiotherapists from hospitals,
municipalities and private practices in Denmark. METHODS: Qualitative study with in-depth semi-structured interviews.
Data were analyzed according to grounded theory method. RESULTS: Partnership was a central theme that was constituted by
continuity of rehabilitation and therapists' use of a patient-centred approach.
Patients' experiences of continuity of rehabilitation was supported, not only
by organizational factors, but depended also on values constituting the
patient-centred approach. Therapists used their professional network to refine
the transition process from hospital into the community, but there was no
co-operation between departments in the municipalities about patients' return
to work. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that patients with acute injuries
need partnership, respect, and understanding through the rehabilitation course.
Personal relations were important for continuity of rehabilitation (i.e. that
organizational quality depended more on therapists' efforts to promote
continuity for the patient than organizational tools).
Keywords: Injury, occupational therapy, patient-centred approach, physiotherapy, return to work
