Employees and healthcare professionals’ experiences and perspectives on the secondary back pain prevention program in Belgium

Objectives Given the continuously high socio-economic burden of LBP, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of employees and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the widely implemented multidisciplinary-based rehabilitation (MBR) program for secondary prevention of low back pain (LBP) in Belgium. The Federal Agency for Occupational Risks partially reimburses this program with the goal of helping prevent chronicity and facilitate return to work (RTW) for specific categories of ergonomically burdened employees unable to work due to LBP. Design A qualitative st... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Bernaers, Lisa
Willems, Tine
Lam, Gia Hien
Mahy, Morgane
Rusu, Dorina
Demoulin, Christophe
Van de Velde, Dominique
Braeckman, Lutgart
Dokumenttyp: conference
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Schlagwörter: Medicine and Health Sciences
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28958183
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HME2NFFHY3E50D0MS9VJ97XF

Objectives Given the continuously high socio-economic burden of LBP, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of employees and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the widely implemented multidisciplinary-based rehabilitation (MBR) program for secondary prevention of low back pain (LBP) in Belgium. The Federal Agency for Occupational Risks partially reimburses this program with the goal of helping prevent chronicity and facilitate return to work (RTW) for specific categories of ergonomically burdened employees unable to work due to LBP. Design A qualitative study conducted with data collection through six multicenter, semi-structured focus groups and data analysis using a grounded theory approach with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants Fifteen employees who attended the MBR program and 24 HCPs involved in the program. Results Three major themes emerged: functional and work-related outcomes, content-related influencing factors, and duration and continuation. The findings indicate an overall positive reception of the program, but varied perspectives on its long-term pain effectiveness. Improved RTW capacity was highlighted, emphasizing the need to address barriers to RTW, employ gradual RTW approaches, assess reintegration feasibility, and foster effective communication. Key elements encompass education, exercise, motivation, social interaction, individualized care, a comprehensive approach, and lifestyle modifications. Some employees reported a lack of follow-up, hindering the maintenance of their benefits. Conclusions As a part of a broader initiative evaluating this Belgian MBR program, this qualitative study highlights the strengths of the program while providing valuable insights into some areas for improvement, setting the stage for future research on enhanced rehabilitation strategies.