Characteristics of Multiprofessional and Client-Oriented Approach in Occupational Health Services: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Occupational Health Professionals.

Abstract

Multiprofessional and client-oriented approaches are considered key factors for successful occupational health services, and for impressive occupational health cooperation between a client organisation and occupational health service provider. The purpose of this study was to find out the views of occupational health physicians, occupational health nurses, occupational physiotherapists, and occupational health psychologists about multiprofessional and client-oriented working methods. These working methods describe the guidelines for good occupational health practice in Finland, also serving the framework of the present study. The survey was conducted in May and June 2022. The data consisted of answers to open-ended questions of a larger questionnaire. The data was analysed with the method of theory-related thematic analysis. Seven occupational health service providers committed to the study. Altogether 121 professionals responded to the question surveying the multiprofessional approach, and 119 professionals responded to the question of client-oriented approach. The results showed that both the multiprofessional and client-oriented approaches are closely related to each other, and the views of these approaches are in line with the good occupational health practice. Multiprofessional approach was most commonly described with the theme of sharing expertise. Respectively, the theme of smooth cooperation most commonly described the client-oriented approach. At its best, the answers showed that a multiprofessional working strategy takes into account the expertise of different professionals so that the client can be offered high-quality, accurate content and timely occupational health services. The results provide up-to-date information on working strategies of occupational health services in Finland. The results can be used in further development of multiprofessional and client-oriented work in occupational health services.