{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T10:39:48Z","timestamp":1777891188778,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["WOR"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,13]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is amongst the top three leading causes of mortality in South Africa and the world. The effects of cardiovascular disease can be seen in limitations of function within all spheres of life, including work function. Cardiac rehabilitation programs have been documented to improve functional abilities, however further research is required with regard to activity limitation, participation restrictions, facilitators, and barriers of return to work, after cardiac rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aimed to determine and explore the barriers and enablers of return to work for individuals with cardiovascular disease who completed a cardiac rehabilitation program in the Western Cape, South Africa. The qualitative exploration was part of a study that resulted in a return-to-work program for individuals with cardiac disease. METHODS: Qualitative methodology was employed for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used with 10 participants that attended a cardiac rehabilitation program. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data was completed. RESULTS: The participants described the barriers and facilitators of their return-to-work process and the factors that were of critical importance in the resumption of the worker role or the result of unemployment. The four major themes were 1) Cardiac conditions negatively affect function, 2) Being unemployed, 3) Participation in ADLs and lifestyle modification enhances one\u2019s activity levels, and 4) Return to work. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle modification, vocational rehabilitation and reasonable accommodation were viewed as helpful in enabling a successful return to work after a cardiac incident.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3233\/wor-220065","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,10]],"date-time":"2023-01-10T12:39:21Z","timestamp":1673354361000},"page":"667-678","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A qualitative enquiry regarding the factors influencing return to work after a cardiac incident in the Western Cape, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"75","author":[{"given":"Zakeera","family":"Ganie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Occupational Therapy Department, University of The Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mogammad Shaheed","family":"Soeker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Occupational Therapy Department, University of The Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-172646","article-title":"Predicting return to work following a cardiac event in Malaysia","volume":"58","author":"Mustafah","year":"2017","journal-title":"Work"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref4","first-page":"38","article-title":"Cardiac rehabilitation past, present and future: An overview","volume":"2","author":"Mampuya","year":"2012","journal-title":"Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy"},{"issue":"3","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref5","first-page":"C0107D48","article-title":"Interventions to support return to work for people with coronary heart disease","volume":"3","author":"Hegewald","year":"2019","journal-title":"The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref6","first-page":"100876","article-title":"Prevalence of Return to Work in Cardiovascular Patients After Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","author":"Sadeghi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Current Problems in Cardiology"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref7","unstructured":"Jacobs K . Ergonomics for therapists (2nd edition). USA: Butterworth-Heinemann Publishers; 1999."},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref8","unstructured":"Tesch R . Qualitative research: Analysis types and software tools. New York: Falmer; 1990."},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dreyer RP , Dickson VV . Return to work after acute myocardial infarction: The importance of patient\u2019s preferences. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2018;11(6).","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCOUTCOMES.118.004806"},{"issue":"1","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1186\/s12955-018-0860-8","article-title":"Quality of life of patients with first-time AMI: A descriptive study","volume":"16","author":"Bahall","year":"2018","journal-title":"Health Qual Life Outcomes"},{"issue":"5","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pcad.2013.10.018","article-title":"Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Implications for Worksite Health Promotion Programs in Brazil","volume":"56","author":"Cipriano","year":"2014","journal-title":"Prog Cardiovasc Dis"},{"issue":"4","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref12","first-page":"137","article-title":"Return to work after an acute cardiac event: The role of psychosocial factors","volume":"3","author":"Fiabane","year":"2014","journal-title":"Prevention and Research"},{"issue":"2","key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-192997","article-title":"The experiences and perceptions of employers and caregivers of individuals with mild-moderate traumatic brain injury in returning to work","volume":"64","author":"Soeker","year":"2019","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"10.3233\/WOR-220065_ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Smedegaard L , Nume AK , Charlot M , Kragholm K , Gislason G , Hansen PR . Return to work and risk of subsequent detachment from employment after myocardial infarction: Insight form Danish nationwide registries. 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