The March issue of Occup Med (London) includes the article, Predicting Return to Work Following Treatment of Chronic Pain Disorder.
The results of the study found early intervention and referred the keys to success.
Results of the injured workers who participated in the interdisciplinary CPD treatment programme, 1002 clients met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Fifty-five per cent were male with a mean age of 46 years. Median time from injury to treatment was 720 days. At 3 months post-treatment, 136 (14%) of the participants were working. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that earlier time since injury (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.92) and presence of an RTW coordinator (RTWC) (OR = 3.42, 95% CI 2.08-5.63) were significant predictors of successful RTW. There was also a significant interaction between RTWC involvement and time since injury. The latter did not appear to influence the likelihood of RTW when an RTWC was present. Conclusions Workers compensation boards should refer injured workers with CPD to treatment programmes as early as possible to achieve a successful RTW. Additionally, RTWCs play an important role in improving work outcomes.