title: Obstacles to and facilitators of return to work after work-disabling back pain: the workers' perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Back pain entails considerable costs, particularly because many injured workers are absent from work for long periods. Factors that influence return to work among workers with back pain are still, however, not well understood. This qualitative study aimed at documenting affected workers' perspective on the: 1--difficulties caused by back pain, and 2--most important obstacles to and facilitators of return to work.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two focus groups composed of workers having suffered from work-disabling back pain were held: a group of participants who had returned to work (n = 9) and a group of participants who had not returned or had recently returned to work (n = 10). The verbatim accounts of the discussions were transcribed and a content analysis was carried out that included a ranking of items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difficulties caused by back pain were related to: (1) personal, (2) family, (3) social, (4) occupational, and (5) financial factors, and (6) health services. Obstacles to and facilitators of return to work were of 4 different types: (1) occupational factors, (2) factors associated with the utilization of health services, (3) clinical, and (4) personal factors. Persistent pain, lack of access to information or support groups, and lack of collaboration and understanding from employer were the most important obstacles identified, whereas knowledge of one's limits and physical training were perceived to be the most important facilitators of return to work, ahead of work-related factors. Differences between groups' perceptions were attributed mainly to control beliefs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personal, clinical, occupational and health services factors are perceived by workers with back pain to play a crucial role in determining whether they return to work or not.
authors.affiliation: URESP, Centre de recherche FRQS du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050, chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec City, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada. clermont.dionne@uresp.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Clermont E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dionne
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bourbonnais
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frémont
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossignol
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laperrière
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support