title: Transforming the meaning of pain: an important step for the return to work.
abstract: Previous studies have found illness representations to be associated with the degree to which patients adopt health behaviours. Surprisingly, pain representations, especially those in a work rehabilitation context, have rarely been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a thorough investigation of the pain representations held by workers who were on sick leave due to persistent musculoskeletal pain during the process of an intensive work rehabilitation program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants (male, female), three times during the program and one month after discharge. Data analysis was based on a narrative approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Throughout the process, pain representation was an indicator of the type of action the participants were ready to take to control the immediate or possible consequences of their pain. Using the context of a work rehabilitation trajectory we identified the differential impact of reconstruction or status quo in pain representations that eventually led to a return to work, or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the importance of identifying and acknowledging workers' pain representations in facilitating their return to work.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation School, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Québec, Canada. Marie-France.Coutu@USherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Coutu
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baril
authors.forename: Marie-José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rouleau
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cadieux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D018582:Sick Leave