A health system program to reduce work disability related to musculoskeletal disorders.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a frequent cause of work disability, accounting for productivity losses in industrialized societies equivalent to 1.3% of the U.S. gross national product.

Objective: To evaluate whether a population-based clinical program offered to patients with recent-onset work disability caused by MSDs is cost-effective.

Design: Randomized, controlled intervention study. The inclusion and follow-up periods each lasted 12 months.

Setting: Three health districts in Madrid, Spain.

Patients: All patients with MSD-related temporary work disability in 1998 and 1999.

Intervention: The control group received standard primary care management, with referral to specialized care if needed. The intervention group received a specific program, administered by rheumatologists, in which care was delivered during regular visits and included 3 main elements: education, protocol-based clinical management, and administrative duties.

Measurements: Efficacy variables were 1) days of temporary work disability and 2) number of patients with permanent work disability. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis.

Results: 1,077 patients were included in the study, 7805 in the control group and 5272 in the intervention group, generating 16,297 episodes of MSD-related temporary work disability. These episodes were shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (mean, 26 days compared with 41 days; P < 0.001), and the groups had similar numbers of episodes per patient. Fewer patients received long-term disability compensation in the intervention group (n = 38 [0.7%]) than in the control group (n = 99 [1.3%]) (P < 0.005). Direct and indirect costs were lower in the intervention group than in the control group. To save 1 day of temporary work disability, 6.00 dollars had to be invested in the program. Each dollar invested generated a benefit of 11.00 dollars. The program's net benefit was in excess of 5 million dollars.

Limitations: The study was unblinded.

Conclusions: Implementation of the program, offered to the general population, improves short- and long-term work disability outcomes and is cost-effective.