Background: Chronic pain (CP) remains the second commonest reason for being off work. Tertiary return to work (RTW) interventions aim to improve psychological and physical capacity amongst workers already off sick. Their effectiveness for workers with CP is unclear.
Aims: To explore which tertiary interventions effectively promote RTW for CP sufferers.
Methods: We searched eight databases for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of tertiary RTW interventions for CP sufferers. We employed the Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB) and methodological quality assessment tools for all included papers. We synthesized findings narratively. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of study characteristics.
Results: We included 16 papers pertaining to 13 trials. The types, delivery format and follow-up schedules of RTW interventions varied greatly. Most treatments were multidisciplinary, comprising psychological, physical and workplace elements. Five trials reported that tertiary interventions with multidisciplinary elements promoted RTW for workers with CP compared to controls. We gave a high ROB rating for one or more assessment criteria to three out of the five successful intervention trials. Two had medium- and low-risk elements across all categories. One compared different intensity multidisciplinary treatment and one comprised work-hardening with a job coach. Seven trials found treatment effects for secondary outcomes but no RTW improvement.
Conclusions: There is no conclusive evidence to support any specific tertiary RTW intervention for workers with CP, but multidisciplinary efforts should be considered. Workers' compensation is an important area for RTW policymakers to consider.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa066 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The severe functional impact of long COVID presents a significant challenge for clients seeking to return to work. Despite emerging clinical management guidelines, long COVID remains a concern in the rehabilitation field. There is a need to establish optimal practices for sustainable rehabilitation paths that enhance the recovery of clients with long COVID, all while understanding the challenges faced by rehabilitation professionals working with this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReferring psychiatric patients to occupational health services for earlier return to work - a qualitative implementation study of barriers and facilitators.
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
University of Eastern Finland, School of Medicine, Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Yliopistonranta 1, Kuopio, 70210, Finland.
Background: Mental disorders are a major public health challenge, and their prevalence is globally increasing. They substantially affect work ability, quality of life, and the number of years of disability. A new model for referring psychiatric patients to occupational health services (OHS) aims to improve the continuity of care and to promote the early return to work (RTW) of workers with diagnosed mental health conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFactors associated with health-related quality of life in women with paid work at breast cancer diagnosis: a German repeated cross-sectional study over the first five years after primary surgery.
BMC Cancer
January 2025
Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Background: Evidence suggests a deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQL) after breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. This study examines sociodemographic and health-related factors that could be associated with the HRQL of working women with breast cancer during the first five years after primary surgery. Second, it explores potential vulnerable groups with respect to HRQL using decision tree analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReturn to work after lumbar microdiskectomy - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976)
January 2025
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Objective: To investigate evidence on the prevalence and timeline of RTW after lumbar microdiskectomy.
Summary Of Background Data: While lumbar microdiskectomy is a widely used and well-studied procedure, there is lack of evidence on the postoperative prevalence and schedule of return to work after this type of surgery.
Return to work of major trauma survivors from a private level 1 trauma centre in South Africa.
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg
January 2025
Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Purpose: Trauma is known as a leading cause of mortality and injury related disability globally. In South Africa (SA) the socioeconomic burden of trauma is magnified as the working age is most affected. The aim of this study was to describe the proportion of major trauma survivors who returned to work (RTW) during a 6-month period post hospital discharge and to identify the factors associated with the RTW outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!