Quality of life and maintenance of improvements after early multimodal rehabilitation: a 5-year follow-up

Purpose. There is a paucity of long-term evaluations on rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders, e.g., neck, shoulder or back pain. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life and the effect of early multimodal rehabilitation on 91 patients with musculoskeletal pain and disability at a 5-year follow-up.

Method. The follow-up assessment, which included questions on pain, function, quality of life, perceived health, sick leave and psychosomatic symptoms, was performed 5 years after the assessment of baseline status.

Results. Improvements in pain, perceived health and psychosomatic symptoms were maintained at the 5-year follow-up. In addition, improvements in function, quality of life, and level of acceptable pain were significant in comparison to baseline. At the time of the baseline assessment all patients were on sick leave (13% were on partial sick leave). At the 5-year follow-up, 58% of the patients were at work part or full time. The results show that those working differed significantly from those not working at the 5-year follow-up on almost all variables, indicating that those working enjoy better health. The most salient prognostic factors for return to work were perceived health and educational level at the time of the baseline evaluation.

Conclusions. These results show that treatment improved quality of life and the effects were basically maintained at 5 years. Work capacity as reflected in return to work increased greatly (81%) at a 1-year follow-up and was substantial (58%) at the 5-year follow-up. Moreover, perceived health and educational levels were important prognostic factors. Finally, the fact that patients working reported better health underscores the probable importance of return to work. Our results imply that it may be feasible to obtain long-term benefits from such a primary care-based intervention.     

Exploring the return-to-work process for workers partially returned to work and partially on long-term sick leave due to common mental disorders: a qualitative study

Purpose.?We conducted a qualitative study into the return-to-work process of workers partially on sick leave due to common mental disorders. Our objectives were to describe the barriers to a full return to work, solutions, communicating to the working environment and the aim of a full return to work, all as perceived by the workers.

Method.?Workers who had partially returned to work and were partially on long-term sick leave due to a stress-related, anxiety or depressive disorder were eligible for this study. Fourteen workers were interviewed and the interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded.

Results.?The perceived main barriers were: inability to set limits, recognise exhaustion and to control cognitions and behaviour such as perfectionism. A general pattern in the process was that all workers perceived barriers to a full return to work; most workers were able to mention solutions; all workers aimed for a full return to work, and after some time all workers were met with sufficient understanding and social support from their supervisor and health care professional. However, hardly any worker intended to implement or utilise the solutions at the workplace, except the structural adaptations of the work demands.

Conclusions.?The pattern we found suggests a critical intention–behaviour gap between solutions and intentions for a full return to work and its implementation at work. This implies that we should develop new interventions that focus on helping workers and their environment to bridge this gap.     

Controlled 3-year follow-up of a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation program in primary health care

Purpose.?The high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain generates significant costs for primary health care and the whole of society. The development of appropriate interventions is therefore necessary. The aim of this effectiveness study was to assess the long-term effects of a primary health care multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in Sweden.

Methods.?An experimental group comprising 89 patients from two primary health care units received individualised treatment interventions after a multidisciplinary investigation. A control group of 69 patients with the same inclusion criteria from four other primary health care units were treated according to routine. All participants completed questionnaires measuring pain, sick leave, quality of life, health care utilisation, drug consumption and psychosocial factors at baseline and at 3-year follow-up.

Results.?After 3 years, utilisation of primary health care was significantly lower in the experimental group and work capacity was slightly but not significantly higher. The control group showed a trend of having a higher risk of high consumption after 3 years compared to the intervention group. There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning remaining variables such as function, catastrophising and pain.

Conclusion.?Both groups demonstrated considerable improvement over the course of 3 years. The experimental group had lower health care utilisation and a reduced risk of using large amounts of medication at the 3-year follow-up, indicating that compared with participants in the control group they were coping in a better way with pain.     

Do psychosocial factors predict disability and health at a 3‐year follow‐up for patients with non‐acute musculoskeletal pain? A validation of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire

Purpose: Early identification and intervention with those that run the risk of developing long‐term disability would offer a great opportunity for reducing costs and personal suffering associated with long‐term work absenteeism. The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) has been used and validated in several studies for participants with mainly acute pain problems. The aim of this study was to validate the ÖMPSQ for patients with non‐acute pain problems (e.g. 1–6 months sick leave) and compare to other relevant questionnaires. Method: One hundred and fifty‐eight patients with musculoskeletal pain and disability recruited to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation project completed a battery of questionnaires at baseline and at 3‐year follow‐up visits. The main analysis involved the relationship between risk levels in the questionnaire and sick leave and perceived health after 3 years. Results: The ÖMSPQ predicted future sick leave and health and was found to have six factors. The function and pain factors were the best predictors of sick leave after 3 years, while the distress factor was the best predictor of perceived mental health and return to work‐expectancy was borderline significant. Perceived physical health at 3 years was best predicted by the function and pain factors with the fear‐avoidance factor being marginally significant. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that psychosocial factors as measured by ÖMPSQ are related to work disability and perceived health even 3 years after treatment for patients with non‐acute pain problems. The ÖMSPQ was a good predictor of outcome.     

Exploring activity limitations and sick leave among patients with spinal pain participating in multidisciplinary rehabilitation

Purpose.?To describe limitations in 12 activities at baseline, after multidisciplinary rehabilitation and at a 6-month follow-up for patients with spinal pain and, further, to investigate whether low limitation in any of the activities or in the mean score at baseline might predict increased working time at follow-up.

Method.?A prospective cohort study of 302 patients, 22- to 63-years old, who participated in multidisciplinary rehabilitation because of chronic neck, thoracic and/or lumbar pain. Data from the Disability Rating Index questionnaire were obtained at baseline, after the 4-week rehabilitation programme, and at the 6-month follow-up. Two subgroups are described: patients who at baseline (1) worked full-time or (2) were on part- or full-time sick leave.

Results.?The degree of limitation in the 12 activities (items) showed large variations in median scores (7–91). Both subgroups showed significant improvements in most activities after rehabilitation, which remained at the follow-up. Nevertheless, in the sick-leave group, patients who had increased their working time at follow-up (62%) were still very limited in running, heavy work, and lifting heavy objects. In logistic regressions, low limitation in standing bent over a sink at baseline was the only single activity that predicted increased working time at the follow-up: odds ratio (OR) 1.93 (95% CI 1.1–3.5). OR for the mean score was 1.8 (1.0–3.3).

Conclusion.?A profile of the separate activities demonstrates the large variation in the degree of limitation, which is concealed in a mean score. The single items can be useful when evaluating interventions. However, to predict increased working time after rehabilitation, the mean score, as well as the activity standing bent over a sink, proved useful.     

Effects of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme on health-related quality of life in patients with prolonged musculoskeletal disorders: A 6-month follow-up of a prospective controlled study

Purpose: The aim of this prospective, controlled, follow-up study (6 months) was to examine the effects of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme on perceived health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with prolonged musculoskeletal disorders (PMSD). The programme focused on body awareness therapy and cognitive and relaxation treatment.

Method: The rehabilitation group comprised 122 patients, and there were 114 patients in the matched control group (CG). Both groups of patients had access to primary health care. Baseline data were compared with 6-month follow-up data within and between the groups. The following measurements were employed: HRQL (Nottingham Health Profile), body awareness, postural control, pain (VAS), pain-related medicine consumption, isometric arm muscle endurance, aerobic capacity, psychosomatic symptoms, physical and psychosocial working environment and sick leave.

Results: Variables that improved significantly as compared with the CG were: HRQL, anxiety, pain related to movements, psychosomatic symptoms and need for pain-related medicines.

Conclusions: The multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme used here improved HRQL in patients with PMSD to a greater extent than the standard treatment provided within primary health care (p = 0–01), at least in the short term.     

'20 days protected learning' - students' experiences of an overseas nurses programme - 4 years on: a retrospective survey

Background

Prospective studies on high-risk populations, such as subgroups of health care staff, are limited, especially prospective studies among staff not on sick-leave. This paper is a report of a longitudinal study conducted to describe and compare the importance and consistency of life domains among registered nurses (RNs) working in a Swedish hospital and evaluate a model based on the consistency of valued life domains for prediction of pain, disability and sick leave.

Method

Importance and consistency ratings of life values, in 9 domains, were collected during 2003 and 2006 from 196 RNs using the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ). Logistic regression analyses were used for prediction of pain, disability and sick leave at the three-year follow-up. The predictors family relations, marriage couples/intimate relations, parenting, friends/social life, work, education, leisure time, psychological well-being, and physical self-care were used at baseline.

Results

RNs rated life values regarding parenting as most important and with the highest consistency both at baseline and at follow-up. No significant differences were found between RNs' ratings of importance and consistency over the three-year period, except for friends/social relations that revealed a significant decrease in importance at follow-up. The explanatory models for pain, disability and sick leave significantly predicted pain and disability at follow-up. The odds of having pain were significantly increased by one consistency rating (psychological well-being), while the odds were significantly decreased by physical self-care. In the model predicting disability, consistency in psychological well-being and education significantly increased the odds of being disabled, while consistency in physical self-care significantly decreased the odds.

Conclusion

The results suggest that there might be a link between intra-individual factors reflecting different aspects of appraised life values and musculoskeletal pain (MSP).     

What factors predict full or partial return to work among sickness absentees with spinal pain participating in rehabilitation?

Purpose.?To identify the factors that predict full or partial return to work among long-term (≥90 days) sickness absentees due to spinal pain who begin a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme.

Method.?In a prospective cohort study, 312 patients with neck, thoracic and/or lumbar pain, aged 20–64, participated in a 4-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in Sweden. Questionnaire data at inclusion were used. Factors included in logistic regressions were as follows: age, gender, type of work, pain location, pain intensity (visual analogue scale), activity limitations [Disability Rating Index (DRI)], health-related quality of life (SF-36), pain-related fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), motivation (Self Motivation Inventory), sickness absence at baseline and number of sick-leave days during the previous 2 years. Outcome factor was increased versus not increased working time at follow-up 6 months later.

Results.?Most patients (68%) reported two or three pain locations. At baseline, 56% were full-time sickness absent and 23% at follow-up; 61% had increased their working time. Predictors for increased working time were age below 40 years, low activity limitation (DRI < 50), low SF-36 bodily pain (>30) and high SF-36 social functioning (>60). Number of sick-leave days during the previous 2 years (md 360; range 90–730) had no influence.

Conclusions.?Even patients with long previous sick leave can increase working time after a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme, especially if they are younger, have lower levels of activity limitations and pain and better social functioning. To include information on part-time work is useful when evaluating work ability following rehabilitation programmes.     

Is an expert diagnosis enough for assessment of sick leave for employees with musculoskeletal and mental disorders?

Purpose.?The aim of this study is to determine differences in self-reported work ability, work conditions, health and function between ICD-10 groups with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), mental disorders (MDs) and MSD ++ MD and to determine which variables are associated with sick leave.

Method.?A cross-sectional study of 210 employees was conducted at an occupational health service unit. Physiotherapists and physicians classified the employees' health problems according to ICD-10 and the employees answered a questionnaire with questions on demographic variables, health, functioning, work ability and work conditions.

Results.?Forty-four per cent of the employees had MSD, 22%% had MD and 34%% had a MSD ++ MD. The group on sick leave had worse results for all health and work measures. Belonging to the MD group, belonging to the MSD ++ MD group, having poor work ability and functioning were associated with being on sick leave. The value for the model explaining being on sick leave was 0.63 (Nagelkerke R²).

Conclusions.?Having a diagnosis of MD based on a professional opinion and having poor work ability and functioning based on self-reports are associated with being on sick leave. The results suggest that self-reported data could be used to complement the expert-based diagnosis.     

Return or no return – psychosocial factors related to sick leave in persons with musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective cohort study

Purpose.?The aim of this study was to compare psychosocial factors between healthy persons and sick-listed persons with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD); both groups with MSD 10 years ago.

Methods.?This cohort study was prospective and 385 persons participated in a rehabilitation program 10 years ago, and 354 persons took part in the follow-up. Of these, 243 persons completed a questionnaire. Two groups were included in the study: a healthy group (not sick-listed) (n?=?112) and a sick-listed group (n?=?74). Psychosocial factors related to sick leave were compared between the groups.

Results.?In the 10-year follow-up, the healthy group showed a significantly higher quality of life, more control over the working situation, better sense of coherence and unexpectedly more life events. There was no significant difference in social integration and emotional support between the groups.

Conclusions.?Using the knowledge about the characteristics of the healthy group, adequate rehabilitation for every sick-listed person with a musculoskeletal disorder can be given and therefore facilitate the returning to work process. A multidimensional approach taking into account a person's physical condition and workplace related problems, as well as psychosocial factors, is of great importance for the person and for society.     

A 3-year follow-up of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for back and neck pain

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of a behavioural medicine rehabilitation programme and the outcome of its two main components, compared to a 'treatment-as-usual' control group. The study employed a 4 x 5 repeated-measures design with four groups and five assessment periods during a 3-year follow-up. The group studied consisted of blue-collar and service/care workers on sick leave, identified in a nationwide health insurance scheme in Sweden. After inclusion, the subjects were randomised to one of the four conditions: behaviour-oriented physiotherapy (PT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), behavioural medicine rehabilitation consisting of PT+CBT (BM) and a 'treatment-as-usual' control group (CG). Outcome variables were sick leave, early retirement and health-related quality of life. A cost-effectiveness analysis, comparing the programmes, was made. The results showed, consistently, the full-time behavioural medicine programme being superior to the three other conditions. The strongest effect was found on females. Regarding sick leave, the mean difference in the per-protocol analysis between the BM programme and the control group was 201 days, thus reducing sick leave by about two-thirds of a working year. Rehabilitating women has a substantial impact on costs for production losses, whereas rehabilitating men seem to be effortless with no significant effect on either health or costs. In conclusion, a full-time behavioural medicine programme is a cost-effective method for improving health and increasing return to work in women working in blue-collar or service/care occupations and suffering from back/neck pain.     

Back to work – evaluation of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme with emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. A two-year follow-up

Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 2-year outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for working-age people, regarding sick leave and mental health.

Method. The test persons consisted of 40 women and 20 men (mean age 46.8 ± SD 7.9) with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain. The rehabilitation programme was individually adapted and consisted of physical activity in several forms, relaxation, theoretical and practical education and individual guidance. Before, during and after the programme all participants were evaluated with the Global Self-Efficacy Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and stress test.

Results. At the 2-year follow-up full-time sick leave had decreased by 37% (p < 0.0001) in the women, and by 25% (p < 0.05) in the men. Both women and men showed an increased quality of life (QoL) and decreased anxiety, depression and self-experienced stress at the 2-year follow-up compared with the start of the rehabilitation programme.

Conclusions. The most important conclusion was that the effects of the rehabilitation programme persisted for up to 2 years. At 2 years the majority of the participants were still physically active, their QoL was increased, and most participants had returned to work.     

Improved work ability and return to work following vocational multidisciplinary rehabilitation of subjects on long-term sick leave.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a vocational multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients on long-term sick leave with respect to their work ability and return to work. METHODS: A multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme was administered to an intervention group of 183 patients on long-term sick leave (mean 12.2 months). Effects of the treatment were compared with a control group (n = 96) recruited from the national sickness insurance record of patients on sick leave of 6-12 months duration (mean 11.5 months). Perceived work ability, return to work, background factors and psychosocial aspects of work were assessed on the basis of questionnaires at baseline and after 4 months. RESULTS: Perceived work ability of the intervention group improved significantly after 4 months compared with the control group (p < 0.01). In the intervention group, 80% had returned to work compared with 66% in the control group (p = 0.06). Return to work after 4 months was predicted by good work ability at baseline, improved work motivation, improved work ability at follow-up and increased rumours of change in the workplace (R2 26.1-38.6%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme significantly improved perceived work ability compared with treatment as usual.     

Role of physical activity in the occurrence of falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling adults over 50 years old

Purpose.?There is no knowledge if short-term outcome in patients after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) can be used to identify which patients have remaining deficit in long term. This study investigates if 6-month outcome with a broad assessment after ACDF with a cervical intervertebral fusion cage can be a guide for the 3-years outcome.

Method.?A prospective study. Questions about background data, pain, numbness, neck specific disability, distress, sick leave, health, symptom satisfaction and effect of and satisfaction with surgery were asked 28 patients 3 years after ACDF. Measurements have earlier been obtained before and 6 and 12 months after ACDF.

Results.?Compared with the results before surgery patients had improved in pain intensity (p = 0.001), neck pain (0.001), numbness (p = 0.02) and were more ‘satisfied’ with having their neck problems (p = 0.01). Except for a worsening in expectations of surgery fulfilled (p = 0.04) there were no significant differences between 6-month and 3-year outcome. Three years after ACDF about two-thirds of the patients had remaining deficit with regard to pain intensity, Neck Disability Index, Distress and Risk Assessment Method and general health. According to the parameters studied 50 – 78% of those who at the 6-month follow-up were without deficit were still healthy at the 3-year follow-up. For patients with deficit at 6-month follow-up, still 83 – 100% had deficit 3 years after surgery.

Conclusions.?Despite a rather small study obtained the stability of 6-month and 3-year results indicates that short-term results might be sufficient for evaluating effects of the treatment. Since the patients in this study clearly demonstrate broad problems array of development of more structured multi-professional rehabilitation models including exercises which improve neck muscle strength, endurance and proprioception need to be introduced.     

Sick leave reductions from a comprehensive manual therapy programme for low back pain: the Gotland Low Back Pain Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if a comprehensive manual therapy programme reduces sick leave due low back pain and facilitates return to work more than the conventional optimized activating care. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial over a 10-week period with a two-year follow-up. SETTING: Primary health care and Visby Hospital, Municipality of Gotland, Sweden. SUBJECTS: One hundred and sixty patients (70 women, 90 men, ages 20-55 years) with acute or subacute low back pain with or without pain radiation into the legs. INTERVENTIONS: Standardized optimized activating care (n = 71) versus a comprehensive pragmatic manual therapy programme including specific corticosteroid injections (n = 89). MAIN MEASURES: Sick leave measured as net sick leave volume, point prevalence and return to work. RESULTS: After 10 weeks, significantly more manual therapy patients than reference patients had returned to work (hazards ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.006-2.60, P<0.05), and among those on sick leave at baseline, significantly fewer were still on sick leave (8/58 versus 13/40, ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.13-0.97, P<0.05). For all other measures there were inconclusive differences in favour of the manual therapy group. No significant differences remained after two years. CONCLUSIONS: The manual therapy programme used in this study decreased sick leave and increased return to work more than the standardized optimized activating care only up to 10 weeks but not up to two years.     

Partner relationships and long‐term sick leave among female workers: consequences and impact on dimensions of health and return to work

Few efforts have been made to prospectively identify resources and obstacles outside work that may predict regained work ability and return to work when workers are on sick leave. This study investigates the association between partner relationships and sick leave. Our research questions were as follows: (i) What is the influence of sick leave, pain, stress and domestic strain on the quality of the dyadic partner relationship?, and (ii) What is the influence of the partner and social relationship on pain, stress, work ability, self‐rated health and return to work? A cohort of female workers (n = 225) on long‐term sick leave (>60 days), all in a partner relationship, at 6‐month intervals completed a questionnaire based on the Quality of Dyadic Relationship (QDR) instrument, the Interview Schedule of Social Interaction (ISSI), the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Univariate and multivariate analyses of baseline and prospective data were performed. The results showed that decreased partner relationship quality was related to having major responsibility for household work despite being on sick leave, having pain and having decreased social integration. Among younger individuals on sick leave, a reduction in the quality of the partner relationship was shown already at the first (6‐month) follow‐up, while among middle‐aged women, such a reduction was seen only at the 12‐month follow‐up. No dimensions of partner relationship quality at baseline were related to dimensions of return to work, either as a resource or as an obstacle. Consequently, our results show that a good relationship does not keep the woman from returning to work. Having main responsibility for household work, which implies domestic strain while on sick leave, predicts lower partner relationship quality. The practical implications are that healthcare professionals treating women on sick leave should emphasize the importance of keeping a social network as well as making sufficient adjustments at home for the relationship quality to be safeguarded. Special attention should be given to the young woman on sick leave as being on sick leave seems to influence her partner relationship considerably.     

Effects on work resumption of a co-operation project in vocational rehabilitation. Systematic,multi-professional,client-centred and solution-oriented co-operation

Purpose.?The present aim was to evaluate the effect of systematic multi-professional co-ordinated rehabilitation (the Stockholm Co-operation Project) on the number of days’ sick leave during the first and second half-years after the rehabilitation co-ordination period, compared to the year before. Another aim was to evaluate the economic effects at national level.

Method.?A matched-pairs design was used. The study group was based on 64 rehabilitees employed by a public employer in Stockholm, who took part in a systematic multi-professional co-operation project. To obtain pairs, the 64 individuals were individually matched with 64 people who received conventionally organised rehabilitation. Thus, there were 128 subjects altogether.

Results.?The study group had substantially less sick leave days per month than the comparison group during the second half-year after the rehabilitation co-ordination period. The effect was even greater in a subgroup with more previous sick leave. During the first half-year after the intervention the comparison group had relatively more sick leave. No effect was found for a subgroup with less previous sick leave. The economic benefit of the intervention was estimated to €1,278 per month and person based on the whole group, and to €2,405 per month and person based on those with more sick leave.

Conclusions.?People who undergo co-ordinated rehabilitation have more working days after the intervention period than those with conventional rehabilitation. This way for rehabilitation actors to co-operate gives better outcomes for rehabilitation cases with long previous sick leave, but not for cases with less previous sick leave. It also generates economic gains at several levels.     

Back to work – a two-year outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme focused on physical function and pain

Purpose. To analyze why some responded positively to rehabilitation and why some did not.

Method. Sixty participants with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain participated in a 7-week rehabilitation programme which was based on a combination of theoretical and practical education and physical activities. Before and after the programme and 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of the programme all participants were evaluated with the Disability Rating Index (DRI) and Pain Intensity Rating on a Visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results. In the participants who had full-time sick leave from the start of the programme to the 2-year follow-up (Group I) self-experienced physical disability and pain ratings were high and showed no decrease and were maintained up until the 2-year follow-up. For the participants who had part-time sick leave or no sick leave (Group II) physical disability and pain ratings were initially lower than in Group I and decreased gradually, (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.05), respectively throughout the 2-year follow-up period.

Conclusion. Participants in Group I did not benefit from the rehabilitation programme and did not show improvement in their physical disability and pain rating. Group II showed decreased physical disability and pain rating. The decrease was gradual and was maintained up until the 2-year follow-up period. These results may indicate that persons with musculoskeletal pain with severe disability and pain require other rehabilitation programmes than those with moderate symptoms. This research has highlighted the need for development of such programmes.     

The impact of low back pain on work: A study in primary care consulters

Background: The cost of low back pain (LBP) to employers is high, with an estimated £9090 million lost in the United Kingdom in 1998. Economic analysis of LBP has focused on work absence among the employed. There is little research characterising individuals who report reduced duties or who are not in employment because of LBP. Aims: To compare the health related characteristics of primary care LBP consulters reporting usual employment, reduced duties, sick leave and non‐employment as a result of LBP. Methods: Prospective cohort study recruiting LBP consulters aged 30–59 years of age from five general practices in North Staffordshire. Results: Nine hundred and thirty‐five participants completed the baseline phase, 65% were in employment and 35% were not in employment. Of the employed participants over 1 in 10 (11%) were undertaking reduced duties and almost one‐fifth were reporting sick leave (22%). Furthermore, 37% of non‐employed consulters reported that LBP was the reason for non‐employment. Significant differences at baseline in socioeconomic status, self‐rated health, anxiety, depression and disability were found between those undertaking their usual job, those on reduced duties and those on sickness absence due to LBP, with those participants further removed from the work force reporting worse health across all measures. Significant differences were also found in self‐rated health between those not working due to LBP and those not working for other reasons, with participants not working due to LBP reporting worse self‐rated health. At follow‐up, work status was found to be relatively stable. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the economic impact of LBP may be higher than previously estimated when data on reduced duties is combined with work absence. The additional impact of unemployment due to LBP should also be included in future assessments of the impact of LBP on the workforce.     

Prevalence of pain in the head,back and feet in refugees previously exposed to torture: A ten-year follow-up study

Aim.?To estimate change over 10 years concerning the prevalence of pain in the head, back and feet, among previously tortured refugees settled in Denmark, and to compare associations between methods of torture and prevalent pain at baseline and at 10-year follow-up.

Methods.?139 refugees previously exposed to torture in their home country were interviewed at a Danish rehabilitation clinic on average 8 years after their final release from confinement and re-interviewed 10 years later. Interviews focused on history of exposure to physical and mental torture and on pain in the head, back and feet prevalent at study.

Results.?The mean number of times imprisoned was 2.5 and the mean cumulative duration of imprisonment 19.4 months. The most frequent physical torture method reported was beating (95.0%) and the main mental torture method deprivation (88.5%). Pain reported at follow-up was strongly associated with pain reported at baseline, and the prevalence of pain increased considerably (pain in the head, 47.5% at baseline and 58.3% at follow-up; back, 48.2% and 75.5%; feet, 23.7% and 63.3%). Predictor patterns at baseline and at follow-up had common traits, so that pain in the head and pain in the feet both were associated with the number of torture methods as well as specific methods, both at baseline and at follow-up. Pain in the back at baseline was associated with torture.

Conclusion.?Two decades after the torture took place, increasing proportions of survivors seem to suffer from pain associated with the type and bodily focus of the torture. This presents a considerable challenge to future evidence-based development of effective treatment programs.