Women on sickness absence - Views of possibilities and obstacles for returning to work. A focus group study

Purpose: The aim was to learn how women on sickness absence due to work related strain perceive and describe their possibilities and obstacles for returning to work. Method: The focus group method was used. Five groups were conducted and each group met at one occasion. Twenty women participated in total. Results: Three different themes were found. In 'The process of losing control' the participants describe the process from controlling every day living, to total loss of control of private and working life. The second theme, 'Not finding alternatives', deals with the difficulties of finding an alternative way back to work. 'Mastering life as a whole' contains strategies for regaining control over daily activities and life as a whole. The results show that personal as well as environmental factors have an impact for returning to work. Conclusions: In this study we have received an understanding of the complex situation of being on sickness absence due to work related strain. We have learned the importance of recognizing the context of the individual and understanding the interplay between the person and the environment. As professionals in rehabilitation we can use this knowledge to create a rehabilitation programme supporting people back to work.