Restricted accessReview articleFirst published online 2016-9-27
Return to work after vocational rehabilitation for sick-listed workers with long-term back,neck and shoulder problems: A follow-up study of factors involved
BACKGROUND: Absence from work due to musculoskeletal disorders is a
significant problem from a number of perspectives, and there is a great need to identify
factors that facilitate return to work (RTW).
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to RTW after vocational
rehabilitation for sick-listed workers with long-term back, neck and/or shoulder problems,
and to compare the results with those from a previous literature review based on studies
from 1980 to 2000.
METHODS: A literature review based on studies published 2001–2014 in PubMed,
CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC and the Cochrane Library.
RESULTS: Major risk factors for not returning to work are: higher age,
factors related to pain such as higher levels of pain and pain related fear, avoidance of
activity, high distress and depression. Facilitating factors for RTW are: lower functional
disability, gaining control over one’s own condition, believing in RTW and work-related
factors such as occupational training, and having a job coach or an RTW coordinator.
Compared with the results from the previous review, the present review shows less of a
focus on sociodemographic factors and more on psychological factors. Both studies
highlight risk factors such as older age, higher levels of pain, depression and less
internal locus of control.
CONCLUSION: Psychosocial and work-related factors are important and should
be included in interventions for the RTW of people with long-term back, neck and/or
shoulder problems.
Försäkringskassan. Socialförsäkringen i siffror 2013 (In
Swedish). Stockholm:
Danagård LiTHO; 2013.
2.
WaddellG, BurtonAK. Is
work good for your health and well-being?United Kingdom: The Stationary Office
(TCO); 2006.
3.
SelanderJ, MarnecroftS-U, BergrothA, EkholmJ.
Return to work following vocational rehabilitation for neck, back and
shoulder problems: Risk factors reviewed. Disabil
Rehabil2002;24(14):704–12.
4.
ToomingasA, MathiassenSE, TornqvistEW.
Arbetslivsfysiologi (In Swedish)Lund: Studentlitteratur
AB; 2008.
5.
TrinczekR. Demographic
change and work in Europe, [cited 2014 Mar 20]. Available from: www.eurofound.europa.eu.
6.
IlmarinenJ.
The ageing workforce - challenges for occupational
health. Occup Medicine2006;56(6):362–4.
7.
Parent-ThirionA,
VermeylenG, van
HoutenG, Lyly-YrjänäinenM,
BilettaI, CabritaJ, NiedhammerI.
Fifth European Working Conditions Survey.
Luxembourg; 2012.
8.
WaddellG.
Preventing incapacity in people with musculoskeletal
disorders. Br Med Bull2006;77 and
78:55–68.
LoiselP.
Intervention for return to work - what is really
effective?Scand J Work Environ Health2005;31(4):245–7.
11.
HlobilH, StaalJB, SpoelstraM, AriënsGA, SmidT,
van
MechelenW.
Effectiveness of a return-to-work intervention for subacute low-back
pain. Scand J Work Environ Health2005;31(4):249–57.
12.
KoopmanFS, EdelaarM, SlikkerR, ReyndersK, vander WoudeLH
V, HoozemansMJM.
Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary occupational training program for
chronic low back pain: A prospective cohort study. Am J Phys Med
Rehabil2004;83(2):94–103.
13.
LindellO, JohanssonS-E, StrenderL-E.
Predictors of stable return-to-work in non-acute, non-specific spinal
pain: Low total prior sick-listing, high self prediction and young age. A two-year
prospective cohort study. BMC Fam Pract2010;11:53.
14.
SjöströmR, AlricssonM, AsplundR.
Back to work–evaluation of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme
with emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. A two-year follow-up.
Disabil Rehabil2008;30(9):649–55.
15.
JohanssonP, AydinE,
BergendorffS,
GranqvistN, JosephsonM, SohlbergI.
Arbetslivsinriktad rehabilitering (In Swedish). Underlagsrapport nr 7
till den parlamentariska socialförsäkringsutredningen.
Stockholm: Elanders Sverige
AB; 2011.
SandmarkH.
Perspektiv på kvinnors hälsa i arbetslivet (In Swedish).
Lund: Studentlitteratur
AB; 2011.
18.
LarssonG, AhlinL,
Brdarski
JacobsonD, GoineH.
SOU 2000:78. Bilaga 1. Kommittedirektiv. Den arbetslivsinriktade
rehabiliteringen (In Swedish). Dir1999:44. 2000.
19.
AnderssonJ, AhgrenB, Bihari-AxelssonS,
ErikssonA, AxelssonR.
Organizational approaches to collaboration in vocational rehabilitation -
an international literature review. Int J Integr Care2011;11(18):1–10.
20.
AydinE, OdelmarkJ, JeffmarC, KärrholmJ.
Samverkan inom socialförsäkringen (In Swedish).En sammanställning av
uppföljnings- och utvärderingsrapporter inom verksamheter finansierade med
samverkansmedel. Rapport 2010-2Stockholm; 2010.
21.
LukKDK, WanTWM,
WongYW, CheungKMC, ChanKYK, ChengACS, KwanMWW, LawKKP,
LeePWH, CheingGLY. A
multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain: A
prospective study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong)2010;18(2):131–8.
CASP. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Making
sense of evidence. [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2014 May 19]. Available from: www.casp-uk.net/.
25.
STROBE Statement. STROBE Statement Strengthening
the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2014 May
19]. Available from: http://www.strobe-statement.org.
26.
DurandM-J, LoiselP.
Therapeutic Return to Work: Rehabilitation in the
workplace. Work2001;17(1):57–63.
27.
VowlesKE, GrossRT, SorrellJT.
Predicting work status following interdisciplinary treatment for chronic
pain. Eur J Pain2004;8(4):351–8.
28.
JensenIB, BergströmG, LjungquistT, BodinL.
A 3-year follow-up of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for
back and neck pain. Pain2005;115(3):273–83.
29.
ChengAS-K, HungL-K.
Randomized controlled trial of workplace-based rehabilitation for
work-related rotator cuff disorder. J Occup Rehabil2007;17(3):487–503.
30.
MaroisE, DurandM-J.
Does participation in interdisciplinary work rehabilitation programme
influence return to work obstacles and predictive factors? Disabil
Rehabil2009;31(12):994–1007.
31.
StaalJ, HlobilH, TwiskJW, SmidT,
KökeAJ, van
MechelenW. Graded
Activity for Low Back Pain in Occupational Health Care. Ann
Intern Med2004;(140):77–84.
32.
ArnetzBB, SjögrenB, RydéhnB, MeiselR. Early
workplace intervention for employees with musculoskeletal-related absenteeism: A
prospective controlled intervention study. J Occup Environ
Med2003;45(5):499–506.
33.
HamerH, GandhiR, WongS,
MahomedNN.
Predicting return to work following treatment of chronic pain
disorder. Occup Med (Lond)2013;63(4):253–9.
34.
StorheimK, BroxJI,
HolmI, BøK.
Predictors of return to work in patients sick listed for sub-acute low
back pain: A 12-month follow-up study. J Rehabil Med2005;37(6):365–71.
35.
MagnussenL, StrandLI, SkouenJS, EriksenHR.
Motivating disability pensioners with back pain to return to work–a
randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med2007;39(1):81–7.
36.
MagnussenL, NilsenS, RåheimM.
Barriers against returning to work–as perceived by disability pensioners
with back pain: A focus group based qualitative study. Disabil
Rehabil2007;29(3):191–7.
37.
LydellM, BaigiA,
MarklundB, MånssonJ.
Predictive factors for work capacity in patients with musculoskeletal
disorders. J Rehabil Med2005;37(5):281–5.
38.
SelanderJ, MarnetoftS-U, AsellM.
Predictors for successful vocational rehabilitation for clients with back
pain problems. Disabil Rehabil2007;29(3):215–20.
39.
JensenOK, Stengaard-PedersenK,
JensenC, NielsenCV.
Prediction model for unsuccessful return to work after hospital-based
intervention in low back pain patients. BMC Musculoskelet Disord.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders2013;14(1):140.
40.
CoutuM-F, BarilR,
DurandM-J, CôtéD,
CadieuxG.
Health and illness representations of workers with a musculoskeletal
disorder-related work disability during work rehabilitation: A qualitative
study. J Occup Rehabil2011;21(4):591–600.
41.
DurandM-J, BertheletteD, LoiselP, ImbeauD.
Validation of the programme impact theory for a work rehabilitation
programme. Work2012;42(4):495–505.
42.
SullivanMJL, WardLC,
TrippD, FrenchDJ, AdamsH,
StanishWD.
Secondary prevention of work disability: Community-based psychosocial
intervention for musculoskeletal disorders. J Occup
Rehabil2005;15(3):377–92.
43.
MolinerCE, DurandM-J, DesrosiersJ, CoutuM-F.
Subjective quality of life according to work status following
interdisciplinary work rehabilitation consequent to musculoskeletal
disability. J Occup Rehabil2007;17(4):667–82.
44.
CutlerRB, FishbainDA, Steele-RosomoffR,
RosomoffHL.
Relationships between functional capacity measures and baseline
psychological measures in chronic pain patients. J Occup
Rehabil2003;13(4):249–58.
45.
LoiselP, FalardeauM, BarilR,
José-DurandM,
LangleyA, SauvéS,
GervaisJ.
The values underlying team decision-making in work rehabilitation for
musculoskeletal disorders. Disabil Rehabil2005;27(10):561–9.
46.
CoutuM-F, BarilR,
DurandM-J, CôtéD,
RouleauA, CadieuxG.
Transforming the meaning of pain: An important step for the return to
work. Work2010;35(2):209–19.
47.
SvajgerA, WindingK.
Perceptions of possibilities of returning to work with chronic
musculoskeletal disorders. Work2009;32(4):443–54.
48.
WatsonPJ, BookerCK, MooresL, MainCJ.
Returning the chronically unemployed with low back pain to
employment. Eur J Pain2004;8(4):359–69.
49.
BrymanA, BellE.
Business Research Methods. 3rd
Edition. New York: Oxford
University Press; 2011.
50.
RossRH, CallasPW, SargentJQ, AmickBC, RooneyT.
Incorporating injured employee outcomes into physical and occupational
therapists’ practice: A controlled trial of the Worker-Based Outcomes Assessment
System. J Occup Rehabil2006;16(4):607–29.
WatsonPJ, MainCJ.
Influence of benefit type on presenting characteristics and outcome from
an occupationally orientated rehabilitation programme for unemployed people with chronic
low back pain. Physiotherapy2004;90(1):4–11.
