abstract: 'Objective Return to work following occupational injury is an important

  rehabilitation milestone; however, it does not mark the end of the

  return-to-work process. Following a return to the workplace, workers can

  experience difficulties that compromise their rehabilitation gains.

  Although there has been investigation of factors related to a return to

  the workplace, little attention has been paid to understanding what

  facilitates continued retum-to-work success as this paper aims to do.

  Methods This study used data gathered during one-on-one telephone

  interviews with 146 people who experienced a work-related injury that

  resulted in their being unable to return to their pre-injury job, but

  who returned to work following an extended period of absence and the

  receipt of vocational services.

  Results Numerous return-to-work facilitators were reported, including

  features of the workers'' environmental and personal contexts, as well as

  body function, activities, and participation. Influences that stood out

  included a perception that the work was appropriate, supportive

  workplace relationships, and a sense of satisfaction/achievement

  associated with being at work.

  Conclusions The findings support the contention that initiatives aimed

  at improving return-to-work outcomes can go beyond the removal of

  barriers to include interventions to circumvent difficulties before they

  are encountered. Together with providing ideas for interventions, the

  study''s findings offer an insight into research and theoretical

  development that might be undertaken to further the understanding of the

  return-to-work process and the factors that impact upon it.'
affiliation: 'Young, AE (Corresponding Author), 71 Frankland Rd, Hopkinton, MA 01748
  USA.

  Young, Amanda E., Liberty Mutual Res Inst Safety, Ctr Disabil Res, Hopkinton, MA
  USA.'
author: Young, Amanda E.
author-email: amandae.young@libertymutual.com
author_list:
- family: Young
  given: Amanda E.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2986
eissn: 1795-990X
files: []
issn: 0355-3140
journal: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF WORK ENVIRONMENT \& HEALTH
keywords: 'disablement; long-term sickness absence; return-to-work; vocational

  rehabilitation'
keywords-plus: 'TO-WORK; MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS; REDUCED PRODUCTIVITY; BACK-PAIN;

  BARRIERS; DISABILITY; HEALTH; REHABILITATION; EXPERIENCES; PERCEPTIONS'
language: English
month: NOV
number: '6'
number-of-cited-references: '47'
orcid-numbers: Young, Amanda Ellen/0000-0002-7288-3469
pages: 473-483
papis_id: b86831b8dc80b712ec01f287c43f5953
ref: Young2010returnwork
researcherid-numbers: 'Normandeau, Amanda/HHN-8881-2022

  Young, Amanda Ellen/HDN-1629-2022'
times-cited: '49'
title: Return to work following disabling occupational injury - facilitators of employment
  continuation
type: Article
unique-id: WOS:000283701800007
usage-count-last-180-days: '2'
usage-count-since-2013: '16'
volume: '36'
web-of-science-categories: Public, Environmental \& Occupational Health
year: '2010'