What do employers need when supporting stroke survivors to return to work?: a mixed-methods study

Employers are key in supporting stroke survivors to return to work (RTW) but do not always have knowledge/skills or guidance to do so. To explore employers’ needs for provision of post-stroke RTW support. Mixed-methods study. Participants recruited through voluntary response/purposive sampling. Survey of employers investigated stroke knowledge (maximum score: 7), RTW process knowledge (maximum score: 8), and perceived competency for actions supporting RTW (maximum score: 100%). Regression analyses explored relationships between employers’ demographic/contextual characteristics and knowledge and perceived competency scores. Interviews with employers explored factors influencing their post-stroke RTW support. Interview data were analyzed using a framework analysis. Survey/interview findings were synthesized with those from a qualitative systematic review. Across the survey (<i>n</i> = 50), interviews (<i>n</i> = 7), and review (25 studies), employers’ support was influenced by stroke survivors’ decisions to disclose stroke-related limitations, employers’ knowledge regarding roles/responsibilities, employers’ communication skills, and information provided by healthcare. Regression analyses: Human resources/occupational health support was positively associated with stroke knowledge (ß = 2.30, 95% CI 0.36–4.41, <i>p</i> = 0.013) and RTW process knowledge (ß = 5.12, 95% CI 1.80–6.87, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Post-stroke RTW experience was positively associated with stroke knowledge (ß = 1.36, 95% CI 0.46–2.26, <i>p</i> = 0.004) and perceived competency (ß = 31.13, 95% CI 18.40–44.76, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Organization size (i.e. working in a larger organization) was positively associated with RTW process knowledge (ß = 2.96, 95% CI 1.52–4.36, <i>p</i> = &lt;.001). Employers’ RTW support was influenced by personal and environmental factors; they may benefit from education and guidance on stroke and their roles/responsibilities during the RTW process.