Experiences of Participating in Return to Work Group Programmes (RTW-GP)

Experiences of Participating in Return to Work Group Programmes for People With Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Focus Group Study

To explore the experiences of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) who have participated in return-to-work group programmes (RTW-GPs) and see how the programmes could strengthen their work ability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Programme

Detailed Description

For a representative sampling of experiences, participants who had participated in various groups over time in outpatient and inpatient groups in the RTW-GP were invited to enrol in the study. Other inclusion criteria were age between 25 and 65 years, different musculoskeletal diagnosis and that they should come from the rural district/city of residence.

The participants received requests by letter to participate in the focus group interview six months after the final group intervention, the same time as they were invited to a follow-up visit. Only a few men had participated in the RTW-GPs and none of them wanted to take part in the study.

All participants were given written and oral information about the study, the use of recording and transcribing devices, and their right to withdraw from the study at any time. The interviews were carried out after the participants gave written, informed consent.

Three focus group interviews were conducted: one with six participants, and two with five. One participant who could not participate in the focus group interview participated at an individual interview with the same questions as in the focus groups. The individual interview was conducted first and served as a test for the questions in the interview guide.

Interventions The participants of this study had participated in one of three different RTW-GPs. These programmes are designed to enable participants to proactively take action in their daily lives and in collaboration with employers achieve the best possible working conditions. All the group sessions are based on cognitive theory where attention, awareness and reflection on one's own work and life situation is important. Motivation is instilled by helping participants recognise opportunities for change. Participants set work-related goals and receive individual feedback from multidisciplinary personnel in addition to various group-based sessions with teaching, activities and exercises. The participants are referred to the programme by a rheumatologist or a member of the hospital's multidisciplinary team as soon as possible after starting sick-leave.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 17

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Lillehammer, Norway, 2609
    • Revmatismesykehuset

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 28 years to 57 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A total of 17 female informants participated in the study, age 28 - 57 years

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participating RTW-GP
• Musculoskeletal diagnoses
• From the rural district/city of residence
• Speaking Norwegian

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Programme 1; RTW group in day clinics	Behavioral: Programme; The participants of this study had participated in one of three different RTW-GPs. These programmes are designed to enable participants to proactively take action in their daily lives and in collaboration with employers achieve the best possible working conditions. All the group sessions are based on cognitive theory where attention, awareness and reflection on one's own work and life situation is important; Other Names: Programme 1; Programme 2; Programme 3
Programme 2; RTW group in day clinics for people with fibromyalgia	Behavioral: Programme; The participants of this study had participated in one of three different RTW-GPs. These programmes are designed to enable participants to proactively take action in their daily lives and in collaboration with employers achieve the best possible working conditions. All the group sessions are based on cognitive theory where attention, awareness and reflection on one's own work and life situation is important; Other Names: Programme 1; Programme 2; Programme 3
Programme 3; My work and I	Behavioral: Programme; The participants of this study had participated in one of three different RTW-GPs. These programmes are designed to enable participants to proactively take action in their daily lives and in collaboration with employers achieve the best possible working conditions. All the group sessions are based on cognitive theory where attention, awareness and reflection on one's own work and life situation is important; Other Names: Programme 1; Programme 2; Programme 3

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient experiences after participating at RTW-GP	Focus group interviews	May 2012 - November 2013
Quality of life	Focus group interviews	May 2012 - November 2013
Work ability	Focus group interview	May 2012 - November 2013

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Revmatismesykehuset AS
• Collaborators: South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority
• Investigators: Study Chair: Bente Hamnes, PhD, Revmatismesykehuset AS

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 28, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): December 29, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 2, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2016
• Last Verified: December 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders; Qualitative study; Return to Work Programme
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2012/7266 UiO

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO