Occupational performance and factors associated with outcomes in patients participating in a musculoskeletal pain rehabilitation programme.

Objectives: To assess outcomes after a pain rehabilitation programme in terms of occupational performance and satisfaction with occupational performance, and to investigate whether socio-demographic factors and pain-related factors were associated with outcomes at follow-up.

Methods: A pre- and post-test study of 555 participants with musculoskeletal pain who completed a pain rehabilitation programme. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used as the primary outcome measure. Socio-demographic and pain-related factors were collected using background questionnaires, the Disability Rating Index (DRI) and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI). Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: Statistically significant improvements were seen on occupational performance and satisfaction with occupational performance at the 1-year follow-up. Female gender, less severe disability, less life interference and more life control predicted improvements 1 year after the programme. High initial scores on occupational performance and satisfaction with performance predicted reduced possibilities for improvements in these respects.

Conclusion: A pain rehabilitation programme can, for a majority of participants, affect occupational performance and satisfaction with performance. Men and those with more severe pain-related consequences may need additional or modified rehabilitation interventions in order to improve their occupational performance and satisfaction with occupational performance.