Table 1 Content of topic guides
GP topics | Physiotherapist topics |
|---|---|
▪ Frequency of giving sickness certificates for back pain (e.g. per week/month) | ▪ Involvement of the health professional in deciding whether a patient with back pain should be at work or should have a period of work absence |
▪ Diagnosing whether patients are likely to have problems at work because of their back pain. (e.g. family circumstances, mental health impacts and physical disability, in addition to the suitability of the workplace for a patient with back pain). | ▪ Diagnosing whether patients are likely to have problems at work because of their back pain. (e.g. family circumstances, mental health impacts and physical disability, in addition to the suitability of the workplace for a patient with back pain). |
▪ Whether patients mention their work when talking about their back pain (e.g. frequency, the way in which this is raised by patients). | ▪ Whether patients mention their work when talking about their back pain (e.g. frequency, the way in which this is raised by patients). |
▪ GPs’ own ability to manage back pain in the context of their patients’ work. | ▪ Health professionals’ own ability to manage back pain in the context of their patients’ work. |
▪ The use of specific management plan for treating patients with back pain e.g.: | ▪ The use of specific management plan for treating patients with back pain e.g.: |
▪ Return to work planning, assessment of psychosocial of back pain as well as biological aspects. | ▪ Return to work planning, assessment of psychosocial of back pain as well as biological aspects. |
▪ Contact with employers to assess the workplace/suitability of the patient for return to work | ▪ Contact with employers to assess the workplace/suitability of the patient for return to work |
▪ Whether GPs require further help or information to manage patients’ back pain in the context of work. | ▪ Whether health professionals require further help or information to manage patients’ back pain in the context of work. |
▪ Ideas of whether and how the system of sickness certification could be improved. | ▪ Ideas of whether and how the system of sickness certification could be improved. |