Disempowerment of workers in vocational rehabilitation: would self-management help?

Abstract

This case study is a sub-study to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of adding self-management training to usual vocational rehabilitation for chronic, compensated musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this sub-study was to assess overlap and differences between vocational rehabilitation and self-management as it is currently practised in Australia. Analysis of high-level policy and procedure documents, key informant interviews and an audit of seven case files using an adapted tool for assessing the principles of self-management were conducted. Results showed that payer influence is high in the determination of service delivery models and that vocational rehabilitation as practised in Australia currently does not embrace the principles of self-management.