Physicians’ Perspectives on Person-Related Factors Associated with Work Participation and Methods Used to Obtain Information about These Factors

OBJECTIVE: Person-related factors influencing work participation of employees with health problems are important. However, the best method to obtain information about them, according to occupational physicians (OPs) and insurance physicians (IPs), is unknown. METHODS: Questionnaires in which OPs and IPs rated the importance of and described methods to obtain information about 10 person-related factors: expectations regarding recovery or return to work, optimism/pessimism, self-efficacy, motivation, feelings of control, perceived health, coping strategies, fear-avoidance beliefs, perceived work-relatedness, and catastrophizing. RESULTS: OPs and IPs perceived all person-related factors, except for optimism/pessimism and perceived health as important for work participation. Information about the factors could best be obtained with use of a topic list during consultations. CONCLUSIONS: OPs and IPs should take person-related factors into account during consultations and it is best to use a topic list when discussing them.