Barriers and facilitators to return to work post-acute orthopedic trauma in upper limbs: An integrative literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic upper limb injuries often lead to work disability. Ensuring the maintenance of the worker occupational role is a goal for occupational therapists in occupational health, using prevention and rehabilitation techniques. Therefore, it is important to know the factors that influence return to work. Objective: To document evidence of barriers and facilitators elements of return to work after acute upper limb trauma. Method: A review study using the integrative review approach. The search included Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), Scielo, Lilacs, Periódicos Capes and Pubmed databases. Articles that mentioned a return to work and upper limb trauma in their abstract, published between 2005 and 2015 and written in Portuguese, English or Spanish, were also used. Results: The final sample consists of 13 articles, after qualitative analysis the results were grouped into four categories: Patient, Injury, Rehabilitation, and Work. Injury severity, hospitalization time, number of surgical procedures, insertion in a rehabilitation program, work-related rehabilitation, family and workplace support were the main elements identified. Conclusion: The rehabilitation program should be integrated and multidisciplinary with actions aimed at pain management, functional recovery, and preparation for a return to work. Support family member and whenever possible work environment should be considered within the vocational rehabilitation program to ensure the return to work.