Opportunities and Challenges in the Care of Patients with Somatic Complaints and Patients with Additional Work-Related Anxiety—A Mixed Methods Study

TL;DR

This study explores how work-related anxiety affects patients' healthcare and rehabilitation experiences, revealing the need for tailored interventions and multi-level support.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the distinct challenges and support needs of patients with work-related anxiety in somatic healthcare settings.

Findings

JA patients report unmet psychological needs and limited work-related treatment focus.

nJA patients benefit from stronger social networks and better access to healthcare.

Both groups show mixed experiences with workplace support.

Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Work-related anxiety can result in prolonged work incapacity and decrease the chances of returning to work, causing high economic cost.Despite available therapeutic approaches, little is known about patient-reported challenges and support needs across healthcare, workplace, and rehabilitation contexts.

Work-related anxiety can result in prolonged work incapacity and decrease the chances of returning to work, causing high economic cost.

Despite available therapeutic approaches, little is known about patient-reported challenges and support needs across healthcare, workplace, and rehabilitation contexts.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
Reveals substantial differences in barriers and support needs between patients with and without work-related anxiety in somatic healthcare settings.Highlights the need for preventive, multi-level approaches involving health professionals, employers, and organizational systems to address work-related anxiety before it progresses to prolonged work disability.

Reveals substantial differences in barriers and support needs between patients with and without work-related anxiety in somatic healthcare settings.

Highlights the need for preventive, multi-level approaches involving health professionals, employers, and organizational systems to address work-related anxiety before it progresses to prolonged work disability.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policymakers, and/or researchers?
Practitioners should implement work-related interventions specifically tailored to the needs of patients with work-related anxiety.Policymakers should promote mental health literacy training for both workers and supervisors to enable early identification and timely support for employees facing work-related mental health challenges.

Practitioners should implement work-related interventions specifically tailored to the needs of patients with work-related anxiety.

Policymakers should promote mental health literacy training for both workers and supervisors to enable early identification and timely support for employees facing work-related mental health challenges.

Background: Work-related anxiety can result in prolonged work incapacity and reduce return-to-work probabilities. Despite the prevalence of work-related anxiety in somatic rehabilitation settings, there has been little research examining the experiences of affected patients from a public health perspective. This research project aims to address this gap by providing initial insights into the care provided to patients with somatic complaints and patients with additional work-related anxiety. Methods: A sequential mixed methods approach was employed, beginning with semi-structured interviews (2022, n = 18 orthopedic rehabilitation patients), followed by questionnaire distribution (2023, n = 53). Qualitative analysis distinguished between patients with higher (JA) and lower (nJA) Job Anxiety Scale scores (cut-off 2.5). Results: The findings highlight notable differences between JA and nJA patients. JA patients often report that they face unmet psychological needs, limited work-related treatment focus, financial barriers, and inadequate occupational support, relying more on self-initiative for reliable information. In contrast, nJA patients appear to benefit from stronger social networks, stable financial resources, and improved access to healthcare. Both groups report mixed experiences with workplace support. For professionals the findings underline that JA patients are specifically in need of work-related interventions, even patients themselves remind about this. Conclusions: The findings illustrate significant differences between JA and nJA patients in terms of their experiences, challenges, and support needs within healthcare, workplace, and rehabilitation contexts. While qualitatively insightful, these findings are pilot and explorative and warrant further research. Trial registration: DRKS00029004 (25 May 2022).

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