title: Applying principles of self-management to facilitate workers to return to or remain at work with a chronic musculoskeletal condition.
abstract: It is incumbent on health care professionals to support patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions to manage the impact of the condition on their life. Work is a positive health behaviour for which self-management skills are essential. In this paper, self-management is defined and the role of clinicians in promoting self-management for return to work is outlined with examples and tips on how the clinician can incorporate self-management into practice. The clinician is ideally placed to assist individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions manage to remain at work or return to work. This can be achieved through such activities as the promotion of the core self-management skills of problem-solving, decision making, resource utilisation, developing a cooperative partnership between clinician and patient and making an action plan.
authors: Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Level 7, Therapies Building 84A, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. v.johnston@uq.edu.au
authors: Venerina
authors: V
authors: Johnston
authors: Gwendolen
authors: G
authors: Jull
authors: Dianne M
authors: DM
authors: Sheppard
authors: Niki
authors: N
authors: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004647:Employee Discipline / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009790:Occupations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D020127:Recovery of Function; D062707:Return to Work / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013997:Time Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data