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Communicating with Employers: Experiences of Occupational Therapists Treating People with Musculoskeletal Conditions

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Abstract

Purpose Many employed people with musculoskeletal conditions rely on healthcare practitioners, including occupational therapists, for work-related advice and support. Good communication between healthcare practitioners and employers is considered vital in facilitating work retention and return to work. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of occupational therapists in communicating with patients’ employers. Methods Qualitative data were collected from the responses of occupational therapists to ten statements/open questions in a questionnaire survey of UK occupational therapists. Data were copied verbatim into word documents and analysed thematically. Results A total of 649 comments were made by 143 respondents. Five themes were identified that were associated with communicating with employers: patient-dependent; employer-dependent; therapist-dependent; extrinsic factors; methods of communication. Conclusion This study has identified that communication between occupational therapists and employers is influenced by a number of factors, including those which are outside the therapists’ control. These need to be acknowledged and addressed by therapists, their professional organisation, employers, commissioners, therapy service managers, educators and employees in order to support return-to-work and work retention of people with musculoskeletal conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the occupational therapists who took part in the survey and members of the study steering group (Alison Hammond, George Morris). This work was supported by the United Kingdom Occupational Therapy Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Carol Coole, Emily Birks & Avril Drummond

  2. Emeritus Professor of Pain Management and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Sciences, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, LE5 4PW, UK

    Paul J. Watson

Authors
  1. Carol Coole
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  2. Emily Birks
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  3. Paul J. Watson
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  4. Avril Drummond
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Correspondence to Carol Coole.

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Coole, C., Birks, E., Watson, P.J. et al. Communicating with Employers: Experiences of Occupational Therapists Treating People with Musculoskeletal Conditions. J Occup Rehabil 24, 585–595 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-013-9476-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-013-9476-3

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