Affiliations: Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University,
Campus Östersund, Sweden | Section of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of
Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Nord Trondelag University College, Faculty of Health
Science, Norway | Karolinska Institutet Department of Clinical Sciences,
Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden | Stockholm Rehabilitation Medicine University Clinic,
Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Björn Jakobsson, Department of
Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, SE – 831 25 Östersund, Sweden.
E-mail: bjorn.jakobsson@miun.se
Abstract: Many women require vocational rehabilitation before they can return
to work. The objective with the present study was to describe female clients'
situation during the rehabilitation process, as it became apparent during the
rehabilitation meetings with the various actors involved. The clients'
diagnoses varied, but the majority was affected with musculoskeletal disorders.
The meetings were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, after which they were
analysed by qualitative content analysis. The following themes emerged:
Adaptation to the rehabilitation group; client's health status; the workplace's
significance for rehabilitation; and the client's decision-point. Conflict
between health and work was immensely important for rehabilitation. Differences
in attitude were apparent during the rehabilitation meetings, as some clients
were passive and exercised less influence on the planning, than the other more
active clients did.
Keywords: Adaptation, group process, women, qualitative research, vocational, rehabilitation
