How to avoid long-term sickness absence : The advice from women with personal experience

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe women's perceptions of what can be done to avoid extended sickness absence with following suffering and passivity. Methods. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 82 women who had been on sickness absence (60 days or more) or were receiving disability pensions. The data were analysed using phenomenological methods. Results. To be able to get back to work was found to be equivalent to breaking away from the prospect of isolation and loneliness. To support this, four parties were identified along with suggestions for their actions: the healthcare professionals, the woman who is on sick leave herself, the employer, and the social insurance official. Most interestingly, the family and close relatives were almost not mentioned at all. The results are connected to a theoretical model of distress in terms of enduring and suffering. Conclusions. It is necessary to look more carefully at how women on sickness absence use the resources in the world (like their families) to get well. More generally, the task is to understand why society deals insufficiently with women who need time off and cannot keep up with their duties because of illness. © The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.