publish information in peer review clinical Introduction literature to increase credibility of the This report contains the findings and advice and improve uptake of recommendations from a project comprising recommended management strategies by two large clinical studies that investigated the health, employer, insurer and rehabilitation early identification and management of stakeholders. psychosocial risk factors known to affect recovery and return to work of workers with Project outline musculoskeletal work injury. This report is an update of the discussion paper Work-related The project comprised two large prospective back pain study: measuring biopsychosocial risk studies involving more than three thousand factors. workers with pain related work injuries to the back, shoulder, neck or knee. Of those three thousand workers, fourteen hundred actively Aims participated by completing a series of The primary aim of the project was to identify questionnaires with the remainder used as a and assess the long term impact of key risk control group; both participants and control factors for delayed recovery, and return to work groups were tracked for return to work and and function. The risk factors chosen included health outcomes. those that were identified in the available The study focussed on people with low back literature as potentially amenable to evidence injuries, while the second study looked at informed rehabilitation and health workers with injuries to low back, upper back, interventions. shoulder, neck or knee injuries. People with A secondary aim was to assess the accuracy of serious injuries, existing injury claims and severe risk assessment undertaken in the acute injury and specific pathologies were excluded. phase.by health practitioners and their The studies assessed specific psychosocial, compliance with treatment guideline workplace and treatment related risk factors for recommendations each participant within each study from time of The anticipated project outcomes included: injury at regular intervals up to three years. The screening of participants comprised clinical develop and validate local norms for assessment tools, claims and qualitative data selected psychometric tools and provide and information on long term work, recovery these for use by clinicians to help improve and health outcomes. Medical and accuracy of their risk identification, physiotherapy assessment data was also treatment planning and outcomes. analysed for risks to recovery. All participants in develop guidance for clinicians and key the study were (not informed) about stakeholders (employers, rehabilitation ‘blinded’ any information from the assessment or staff and insurers) on strategies to improve database data obtained. return to work.
Introduction This report contains the findings and recommendations from a project comprising two large clinical studies that investigated the early identification and management of psychosocial risk factors known to affect recovery and return to work of workers with musculoskeletal work injury. This report is an update of the discussion paper Work-related back pain study: measuring biopsychosocial risk factors. Aims The primary aim of the project was to identify and assess the long term impact of key risk factors for delayed recovery, and return to work and function. The risk factors chosen included those that were identified in the available literature as potentially amenable to evidence informed rehabilitation and health interventions. A secondary aim was to assess the accuracy of risk assessment undertaken in the acute injury phase.by health practitioners and their compliance with treatment guideline recommendations The anticipated project outcomes included: develop and validate local norms for selected psychometric tools and provide these for use by clinicians to help improve accuracy of their risk identification, treatment planning and outcomes. develop guidance for clinicians and key stakeholders (employers, rehabilitation staff and insurers) on strategies to improve return to work. publish information in peer review clinical literature to increase credibility of the advice and improve uptake of recommended management strategies by health, employer, insurer and rehabilitation stakeholders. Project outline The project comprised two large prospective studies involving more than three thousand workers with pain related work injuries to the back, shoulder, neck or knee. Of those three thousand workers, fourteen hundred actively participated by completing a series of questionnaires with the remainder used as a control group; both participants and control groups were tracked for return to work and health outcomes. The study focussed on people with low back injuries, while the second study looked at workers with injuries to low back, upper back, shoulder, neck or knee injuries. People with serious injuries, existing injury claims and severe and specific pathologies were excluded. The studies assessed specific psychosocial, workplace and treatment related risk factors for each participant within each study from time of injury at regular intervals up to three years. The screening of participants comprised clinical assessment tools, claims and qualitative data and information on long term work, recovery and health outcomes. Medical and physiotherapy assessment data was also analysed for risks to recovery. All participants in the study were ‘blinded’ (not informed) about any information from the assessment or database data obtained.
Outcomes-of-early-psychosocial-screening.docx