Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain
Abstract Low back pain (LBP) can lead to disability and sick leave, impacting work participation and overall health. Given the complex and multifactorial nature of LBP, Belgium’s Federal Agency for Occupational Risks (FEDRIS) promotes a secondary prevention strategy for LBP among workers engaged in...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97683-z |
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| author | Lisa Bernaers Tine Marieke Willems Gia Hien Lam Morgane Mahy Dorina Rusu Christophe Demoulin Dominique Van de Velde Lutgart Braeckman |
| author_facet | Lisa Bernaers Tine Marieke Willems Gia Hien Lam Morgane Mahy Dorina Rusu Christophe Demoulin Dominique Van de Velde Lutgart Braeckman |
| author_sort | Lisa Bernaers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Low back pain (LBP) can lead to disability and sick leave, impacting work participation and overall health. Given the complex and multifactorial nature of LBP, Belgium’s Federal Agency for Occupational Risks (FEDRIS) promotes a secondary prevention strategy for LBP among workers engaged in ergonomically demanding tasks. This strategy includes multidisciplinary-based rehabilitation (MBR) and an optional workplace intervention. This paper explored the experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the secondary prevention program with a focus on the MBR component, aiming to identify its strengths, challenges, and potential solutions. A multicenter qualitative design involving six semistructured focus groups was employed. The participants included 15 employees who attended the program because of LBP and 24 HCPs involved in its delivery. The data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Three major themes were identified: functional and work-related outcomes, content-related factors, and duration and continuation. Positive outcomes included improvements in pain, function, and return to work (RTW), with workplace adaptations and ergonomic guidance playing key roles. Success factors such as education, exercise therapy, motivation, and social interaction were highlighted. However, challenges were identified, including limited communication between centers and employers, insufficient psychological support, and a lack of follow-up to sustain the program’s effects. This qualitative evaluation highlights that person-centered, biopsychosocial approaches—encompassing individualized education, ergonomic adaptations, and psychological support—are crucial for optimizing the FEDRIS MBR program’s long-term impact on LBP and RTW outcomes. Consistency in staffing, structured follow-up, and systematic prescreening are key areas for improvement. Although limited by a small sample size and retrospective design, these findings pinpoint actionable refinements that future longitudinal studies can explore to ensure sustained, cost-effective rehabilitation benefits. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a748cfaaafca4097be0c7a19664d58332025-08-20T02:24:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-97683-zExperiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back painLisa Bernaers0Tine Marieke Willems1Gia Hien Lam2Morgane Mahy3Dorina Rusu4Christophe Demoulin5Dominique Van de Velde6Lutgart Braeckman7Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Quartier Hôpital, University of LiègeFaculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Quartier Hôpital, University of LiègeFaculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Quartier Hôpital, University of LiègeFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent UniversityAbstract Low back pain (LBP) can lead to disability and sick leave, impacting work participation and overall health. Given the complex and multifactorial nature of LBP, Belgium’s Federal Agency for Occupational Risks (FEDRIS) promotes a secondary prevention strategy for LBP among workers engaged in ergonomically demanding tasks. This strategy includes multidisciplinary-based rehabilitation (MBR) and an optional workplace intervention. This paper explored the experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the secondary prevention program with a focus on the MBR component, aiming to identify its strengths, challenges, and potential solutions. A multicenter qualitative design involving six semistructured focus groups was employed. The participants included 15 employees who attended the program because of LBP and 24 HCPs involved in its delivery. The data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Three major themes were identified: functional and work-related outcomes, content-related factors, and duration and continuation. Positive outcomes included improvements in pain, function, and return to work (RTW), with workplace adaptations and ergonomic guidance playing key roles. Success factors such as education, exercise therapy, motivation, and social interaction were highlighted. However, challenges were identified, including limited communication between centers and employers, insufficient psychological support, and a lack of follow-up to sustain the program’s effects. This qualitative evaluation highlights that person-centered, biopsychosocial approaches—encompassing individualized education, ergonomic adaptations, and psychological support—are crucial for optimizing the FEDRIS MBR program’s long-term impact on LBP and RTW outcomes. Consistency in staffing, structured follow-up, and systematic prescreening are key areas for improvement. Although limited by a small sample size and retrospective design, these findings pinpoint actionable refinements that future longitudinal studies can explore to ensure sustained, cost-effective rehabilitation benefits.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97683-zLow back painMultidisciplinary rehabilitationReturn to workQualitative researchFocus groupsSecondary prevention |
| spellingShingle | Lisa Bernaers Tine Marieke Willems Gia Hien Lam Morgane Mahy Dorina Rusu Christophe Demoulin Dominique Van de Velde Lutgart Braeckman Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain Scientific Reports Low back pain Multidisciplinary rehabilitation Return to work Qualitative research Focus groups Secondary prevention |
| title | Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| title_full | Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| title_fullStr | Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| title_short | Experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| title_sort | experiences and perceptions of employees and healthcare professionals on a multidisciplinary program for the secondary prevention of low back pain |
| topic | Low back pain Multidisciplinary rehabilitation Return to work Qualitative research Focus groups Secondary prevention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97683-z |
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