Women on sick leave – Participation in rehabilitation encounters

Abstract The aim of the study was to examine how women on long-term sick leave because of shoulder, neck or low back pain experienced their participation in rehabilitation encounters. Qualitative data from four focus group interviews in which 12 women participated, were analysed based on a method described by Krueger & Casey. Participants described successful encounters with their rehabilitation professionals as an open dialogue with discussions on equal footing and with respect for each other's opinions. According to the women, prerequisites for the interaction to be considered an open dialogue were the women's abilities to be active and to feel listened to. Furthermore, the rehabilitation professionals’ attitudes were described as either supporting or hindering an open dialogue, and were crucial to the participants’ experiences. The women's abilities to be active were, to some extent, also regarded as having an influence on the rehabilitation professionals’ attitudes. This study evaluated experiences of participation in the rehabilitation process from the perspective of women on long-term sick leave. A central theme noted was the women's abilities to be active and to feel listened to. It can be concluded that all personnel involved in the rehabilitation process should focus on ways to facilitate patient participation. Factors to be considered are the awareness of one's own attitudes, how attitudes are communicated and the ability to listen actively.