I.B. Jensen, H. Busch, L. Bodin, J. Hagberg, Å. Nygren, G. Bergström
This prospective observational study presents a follow-up seven years after rehabilitation using two different evidence-based work-oriented regimens. Individuals on sick leave for neck and back pain were referred to two rehabilitation programmes in Sweden. The first programme was a relatively low-intensity programme based on orthopaedic manual therapy and exercise programme (OMTP). The second programme was a full-time multidisciplinary programme (MDP). The primary outcome was sickness absence seven years after intervention. Cost effectiveness was calculated on the basis of loss of production due to sickness absence.
The results of this study show that MPD but not OMTP achieves the goal of working life-oriented rehabilitation. A direct comparison between the rehabilitation programmes strengthened the assumption that long-term sickness absence prior to rehabilitation is associated with more days on sick leave after rehabilitation. This analysis also indicated the importance of participants’ pain self-efficacy beliefs and recovery beliefs on rehabilitation outcome.
Pain,13 February 2009, online article ahead of print