Return to work among workers recovering from severe COVID-19 in Slovenia : a focus group study

Bratun, Urša (author), Švajger, Andreja (author), Domajnko, Barbara (author), Kavčič, Matic (author), Asaba, Eric (author)

Purpose: For working age adults, return to work (RTW) after severe COVID-19 can be an essential component of rehabilitation. We explored the expectations and experiences related to RTW in a group of workers recovering from severe COVID-19 in Slovenia. Materials and methods: Four focus groups were conducted between May 2021 and August 2021. Fifteen men and three women, aged between 39 and 65 years, participated. We analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were developed in the analysis, pertaining to (1) work identity, (2) challenges to work re-entry, (3) personal strengths and support systems, and (4) possible adaptations at work. The disruption of work triggered sentiments about its role in identity. Workers’ personal agency and self-advocacy helped participants cope with various barriers that were beyond their control, such as physical limitations and lack of systematic routines to address RTW. Workers recovering from severe COVID-19 were at risk of developing negative expectations regarding their work re-entry. Conclusions: RTW after severe COVID-19 involves different personal, organizational and systemic dimensions that need to be considered and carefully aligned. Due to the individuality of the process, the worker should be involved as a key partner in the RTW process.

• Language: English
• Keywords: experience, individuality, SARS-CoV-2, vocational rehabilitation, work re-entry, qualitative research
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 3833-3892
• Numbering: Vol. 45, no. 23
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-152325-8ac2b064-594a-0088-ea64-5bf731eaa845
• UDC: 331.103:364-786.4
• ISSN on article: 1464-5165
• DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2142680
• COBISS.SI-ID: 129024003
• Publication date in RUL: 20.11.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Disability and rehabilitation
• Shortened title: Disabil. rehabil.
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1464-5165
• COBISS.SI-ID: 9785366

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: izkušnje, individualnost, SARS-CoV-2, poklicna rehabilitacija, ponovni vstop na delo, raziskave kakovosti