title: Doctors' health: obstacles and enablers to returning to work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For doctors returning to work after absence due to ill-health or performance concerns, the obstacles can seem insurmountable. Doctors' perspectives of these obstacles have been investigated. To support them more effectively, the perspectives of organizations that interact with such doctors should also be considered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the obstacles and enablers to doctors' return to work after long-term absence from the perspective of key organizations involved in assessment and support.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified organizations operating in the field of doctors' health, well-being and performance. We conducted semi-structured, 30-45 min telephone interviews with representatives of the organizations, exploring problems that they had encountered that were experienced by doctors with health or performance concerns returning to work after absence of a month or longer. We analysed our field notes using theoretical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted 11 telephone interviews. Data analysis identified four key themes of obstacles and enablers to returning to work: 'communication', 'return to work', 'finance and funding' and 'relationships and engagement'. Sub-themes relating to the organization and the individual also emerged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organizations responsible for supporting doctors back to work reported poor communication as a significant obstacle to doctors returning to work after illness. They also reported differences between specialities, employing organizations, occupational health departments and human resources in terms of knowledge and expertise in supporting doctors with complex issues. Clear communication channels, care pathways and support processes, such as workplace advocates, were perceived as strong enablers to return to work for doctors after long-term absence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Education, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK, cohenda@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhydderch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reading
authors.affiliation: School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010559:Personnel Management; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013192:Staff Development
keywords: Physician health; rehabilitation; return to work.