The Lived Experience of Return to Work in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury in Saudi Arabia: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q1 REHABILITATION

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Pub Date : 2025-10-24 DOI:10.1007/s10926-025-10332-0

Walaa AlAmmar, Teena J Clouston, Hadeel R Bakhsh

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering condition that often results in varying degrees of sensory and motor impairment. In Saudi Arabia, SCI predominantly affects young individuals aged 16-30 years, disrupting their daily activities and limiting their participation in work and community life. Despite this, no prior research in Saudi Arabia has explored the experiences of individuals with SCI regarding returning to work (RTW) or how they manage the long-term impacts of their disability. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of returning to employment amongst individuals with SCI in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A qualitative study design was employed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Semi-structured interviews lasting 45-90 min were conducted with three individuals living with SCI. Data were analysed following the IPA framework outlined by Smith et al. (2009).

Results: Six themes emerged from the analysis: employment history, RTW barriers, RTW facilitators, personal factors, community, and RTW itself.

Conclusion: The RTW experience of individuals with SCI in Saudi Arabia is shaped by personal, social, and systemic factors. The individual's capacity for coping and problem-solving is central to this process. However, structural barriers and limited societal inclusion often lead to occupational injustice. There is an urgent need for policymakers and rehabilitation professionals to implement supportive frameworks that promote equitable work reintegration and community participation for people with SCI.

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沙特阿拉伯脊髓损伤患者重返工作岗位的生活经验：解释性现象学分析。

目的：脊髓损伤（SCI）是一种改变生活的疾病，通常导致不同程度的感觉和运动障碍。在沙特阿拉伯，脊髓损伤主要影响16-30岁的年轻人，扰乱他们的日常活动，限制他们参与工作和社区生活。尽管如此，之前在沙特阿拉伯没有研究探索脊髓损伤患者重返工作岗位（RTW）的经历或他们如何管理残疾的长期影响。本研究旨在探讨沙特阿拉伯脊髓损伤患者重返工作岗位的生活经历。方法：采用解释现象学分析的定性研究设计。对三名脊髓损伤患者进行了45-90分钟的半结构化访谈。数据是根据Smith等人（2009年）概述的IPA框架进行分析的。结果：从分析中得出六个主题：就业历史、RTW障碍、RTW促进因素、个人因素、社区和RTW本身。结论：沙特阿拉伯脊髓损伤患者的RTW体验受个人、社会和系统因素的影响。个人应对和解决问题的能力是这个过程的核心。然而，结构性障碍和有限的社会包容往往导致职业不公正。决策者和康复专业人员迫切需要实施支持性框架，促进脊髓损伤患者公平的重返工作和社区参与。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Multiple-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

12.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation is an international forum for the publication of peer-reviewed original papers on the rehabilitation, reintegration, and prevention of disability in workers. The journal offers investigations involving original data collection and research synthesis (i.e., scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses). Papers derive from a broad array of fields including rehabilitation medicine, physical and occupational therapy, health psychology and psychiatry, orthopedics, oncology, occupational and insurance medicine, neurology, social work, ergonomics, biomedical engineering, health economics, rehabilitation engineering, business administration and management, and law. A single interdisciplinary source for information on work disability rehabilitation, the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation helps to advance the scientific understanding, management, and prevention of work disability.