Predictors identified for non-return to work in patients with low back pain .
This report has been verified
by one or more authors of the
original publication.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2013;1(1):26 BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009 Nov 13;10:139.246 patients suffering from low back pain, who have been sick listed for 8-12 weeks, were randomized to receive a brief intervention program alone or a brief intervention in combination with physical exercise. The objective of this trial was to identify predictors for not returning to work (i.e. secondary analysis). At 3, 12 and 24 months, there were no differences in return to work between participants in each group. As such, both arms were pooled for analysis of predictors of not returning to work. Significant predictors included pain intensity while resting and during activity, negative expectations for return to work, perceived reduced ability to walk long distances, and having prior treatment from a physiotherapist before the trial.
Was the allocation sequence adequately generated?
Was allocation adequately concealed?
Blinding Treatment Providers: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Outcome Assessors: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Patients: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Was loss to follow-up (missing outcome data) infrequent?
Are reports of the study free of suggestion of selective outcome reporting?
Were outcomes objective, patient-important and assessed in a manner to limit bias (ie. duplicate assessors, Independent assessors)?
Was the sample size sufficiently large to assure a balance of prognosis and sufficiently large number of outcome events?
Was investigator expertise/experience with both treatment and control techniques likely the same (ie.were criteria for surgeon participation/expertise provided)?
Sì = 1
Incerto = 0,5
Non rilevante = 0
No = 0
La valutazione dei criteri di segnalazione valuta la trasparenza con cui gli autori riportano le caratteristiche metodologiche e sperimentali dello studio all'interno della pubblicazione. La valutazione è suddivisa in cinque categorie che vengono presentate di seguito.
1/4
Aleatorización
1/4
Medición de resultados
2/4
Inclusión / exclusión
4/4
Descripción de la terapia
3/4
Estadísticas
Detsky AS, Naylor CD, O'Rourke K, McGeer AJ, L'Abbé KA. J Clin Epidemiol. 1992;45:255-65
L'Indice di Fragilità è uno strumento che aiuta l'interpretazione dei risultati significativi, fornendo una misura della forza di un risultato. L'Indice di Fragilità rappresenta il numero di eventi consecutivi che devono essere aggiunti a un risultato dicotomico per rendere il risultato non più significativo. Un numero piccolo rappresenta un risultato più debole, mentre un numero grande rappresenta un risultato più forte.
Perché questo studio era necessario ora?
Low back pain is one of the most common causes for loss of work and is a large economic burden. Brief intervention (BI) programs, consisting of consultations and a short follow up, have been demonstrated to significantly reduce sick leave; however, a large proportion of patients still do not return to work. This study identified predictors of non-return to work in patients who participated in a BI program alone or in combination with exercise.
Qual era la domanda di ricerca principale?
What predictors for not returning to work are present in patients suffering from sub-acute low back pain undergoing a brief intervention program or a brief intervention program in combination with physical exercise?
- No significant differences in return to work were observed between group 1 and group 2 at 3, 12, or 24 months
- Both groups were combined for regression analysis of predictors for non-return to work
- At 3 months, pain intensity while resting (OR= 5.6 95%CI= 1.7-19.0), perception of constant back strain while working (OR= 4.1; 95% CI= 1.5-11.5), negative expectations of return to work (OR=4.2; 95% CI= 1.7-10.2), and physical therapy prior to study participation (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.3-8.3) predicted non-return to work
- At 12 months, perceived reduced ability to walk far due to complaints (OR= 2.6; 95% CI= 1.3-5.4), pain during activities (OR=2.4;95% CI= 1.1-5.1), and physical therapy prior to participation in the trial (OR 2.1; 95% CI=1.1-4.3) predicted non-return to work at 12 months
- At 24 months, age below 41 years was the only predictor of non-return to work (OR= 2.9; 95% CI= 1.4-6.0)
Che cosa devo ricordare di più?
The addition of an exercise program to a brief intervention provided no significant improvements in patient return to work. Pooled regression analysis identified a number of predictors for non-return to work at different follow-up points. These included the pain intensity at rest, perception of constant back strain negative expectations of return to work, pain during activities, perceived reduced ability to walk, and age less than 41, and previous treatment by a physiotherapist.
Come influenzerà l'assistenza ai miei pazienti?
Return to work for patients suffering from sub-acute low back pain is dependent on a number of individual and cognitive factors, including negative expectations and perceptions of pain and disability. Previous physiotherapy treatment was also identified as a novel predictor for non return to work, an unexpected finding that deserves further investigation.
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