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| Themes | Subthemes | Illustrative quotes |
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| Recovery involves a focus on return to health | Focused on a return to physical functioning | “Turn my head more as I have a restricted range of movement” (RTW2) |
| “First rest, then learning how to walk on two legs again” (NO3) |
| Focused on complete or partial symptom resolution | “Leg healing, once that is right, I am happy” (NO8) |
| “Pins to come out of (leg) and for it (the bone) to knit” (RTW4) |
| “Hand therapy for my little finger on right hand so that I can recover movement and feeling” (NO6) |
| Focused on following instructions and/or advice of their health providers | “That I follow the therapist’s instructions as closely as possible” (NO12) |
| “Listening to advice of medical/physio people and adhering to their advice” (RTW1) |
| “Rest and keeping my leg elevated, don’t overdo it” (RTW3) |
| Focused on healthcare, providers, and resources | “Better sling for my arm, one that doesn’t cut the circulation off at my neck” (RTW16) |
| “Get strength back in my leg, different doctors all the time doesn’t help me recover” (RTW14) |
| Focused on others: unsure of their role | “Up to the doctors and physios—I don’t want to start doing things without seeing the doctor” (NO11) |
| “Keep going back to Dr for tests and X-rays” (RTW11) |
| Focused on their own mental health | “Good healthy outlook, I need to believe that I am going to recover” (RTW9) |
| “Keep my mind active, feel as if I am contributing” (RTW7) |
| Focused on quality of life | “Keep up the social activities with family and friends” (RTW15) |
| “Family support, enjoy life and my hobbies” (NO2) |
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| Recovery involves an ongoing plan after they had returned to health | Focused on recovery with an emphasis on financial or employer support | “Having my job held open for me, not working till I am well enough “ (RTW12) |
| “Not having the financial burden of not working” (RTW13) |
| “Confidence of my employer to look after me” (RTW8) |
“Flexibility in working hours, understanding from my employer re mobility restrictions” (RTW5)
“Consideration at work for my temporary limitations, I will need assistance with parking” (RTW5) |
| “Different tasks at work, no heavy lifting” (RTW6) |
| Focused on a return to physical functioning without expressed concern about their work or employer | “Strengthen my heel so that I get full movement back in my foot and can return to work” (RTW10) |
| “Being able to work again normally, get back to where I was” (NO5) |
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| Recovery involves a focus on current status. | Focused on the injury and the impact of the event | “So your injury never occurred, to turn back time” (NO9) |
| “Nothing will help, doctors say I won’t improve” (NO7) |
| “Being told the truth by my doctors to allow me to heal myself” (NO4) |
| “My thumb needs to be perfect for me to do my job properly and I can't see that happening” (NO1) |
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