Development and validation of competencies for return to work coordinators.
BACKGROUND
Return to work (RTW) coordinators are a key element in programs that facilitate RTW of injured or ill workers, yet little research documents the competencies required for success in this role.


METHODS
Competencies were defined as knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. Eight focus groups were conducted with 75 experienced RTW coordinators to identify 904 individual competencies. These were subsequently reduced to 234 unique items through affinity mapping, and sorted into eight groups: administration, individual personal attributes, information gathering, communication, professional credibility, evaluation, problem-solving, and conflict management. A subset of 100 items, including 88 items most often cited, were incorporated in an Internet-based survey that sampled a broad range of RTW coordinators from three countries.


RESULTS
Eighty-three of the questionnaire items were rated 4 or 5 (very important or essential) by over half of the 148 respondents. There were no differences in affinity group mean ratings by country, employer, profession, or type of clients. The highest-rated items reflect general personal characteristics, or specific skills related to coordinating among all involved with the RTW process. RTW coordinators with nursing backgrounds provided slightly higher ratings for items related to medical knowledge, but otherwise their ratings were similar to non-nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate a consensus across a wide range of RTW coordinators, and results can be applied to improve coordinator selection, training, and development. Certain key competencies may be well-established individual attributes, and others may be best developed through mentorship. Most of these competencies are probably best evaluated by direct observation.
Pransky
Glenn
G
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Center for Disability Research, Hopkinton, MA, USA. glenn.pransky@libertymutual.com
Shaw
William S
WS
Loisel
Patrick
P
Hong
Quan Nha
QN
Désorcy
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation