Contact to a Physician Specialized in Social Medicine and Return to Work

In a two-year time period (2011 to 2012) 443 patients of suspected of disc herniation and risk of low work ability - based on questionnaires participated in a randomized control trial. The patients were randomized to either the intervention group (n=220) or control group (n=223). The intervention group were invited to the Department of Social Medicine two to four weeks after their first contact to Department of Rheumatology for a consultation with a physician specialized in social medicine. Together with the patient a return-to-work (RTW) schedule was made to ascertain the need for contact to the workplace (to adjust work functions), municipality, general practitioner or short-term supportive consultations with a psychologist. Throughout the intervention, the patients received their usual treatment from the Department of Rheumatology like patients from the control group. Outcome was return to the work force at one year follow up using information from a national registry.

Inclusion criteria

• age ≥ 18 and < 60 years old,
• not receiving disability pension and not on maternity leave.
• sick leave over the past year for more than ten days
• low self-rated work ability for the next two years
• health anxiety

Exclusion criteria

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