WorkUp. Structured Care With Workplace Interventions to Improve Work Ability in Patients With Neck and/or Low Back Pain

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common reasons for sick leave in western countries. Identifying risk factors and predictors for a stable return to work (RTW ) is essential. An evidence-based safe care includes systems for detecting medical conditions with urgent need for care (red flags) and psycho-social risk factors (yellow flags). To maintain work ability, also requires different capacities related to work demands, (physical, mental and social) as well as work environment aspects covered by a "blue flag system".

Since motivation is assumed to drive and sustain human behaviour, patients with back pain seek health care when motivation reaches a threshold level. Patients want to be examined, get treatment and self-care advice to resume normal daily activities. This might lead to improved long-standing results in terms of health, function and work ability.

The investigators hypothesize that WorkUp, a timely tailor-made and evidence-based intervention leads to a faster recovery of health, function and RTW as compared to standard care. This includes the identification of both the patient's risk factors (red, yellow and blue flags) and motivational factors. Based on this screening, a structured tailored intervention will be offered. The WorkUp model comprise of evidence-based treatment and interaction between patient, health care and work place interventions.

The main purpose is to test WorkUp in a comparison study with treatment as usual (TAU) in primary health care (PHC).

Design: A prospective paire wise cluster randomized trial in PHC including a one year clinical follow-up and a three year register follow-up.

Intervention: Through a flow chart the investigators in detail specify the medical and work place interventions (all according to evidence-based guidelines). Red, yellow and blue flags, and motivational factors are identified in a screening investigation. The aim of the screening is to individually tailor the rehabilitation interventions. Physiotherapy interventions are based on a bio-psychosocial and cognitive behavioural therapy perspective. Behavioural medicine treatment principles will include careful examination and treatments such as advice to stay active, instructions, OMI, OMT, MDT. The investigators apply interventions based on ergonomics, motivational factors and work place changes according to Convergence Dialogue Meetings(CDM). CDM is a three step structured dialogue and meeting model supporting the patient, health care professionals and employer to summarize concrete suggestions to support a RTW .

TAU patients follow the PHC's standard schedule and procedures including the so called rehabilitation guarantee.

For each patient all treatment measures are recorded in a protocol.

A power analysis indicated that the investigators needed to recruit a minimum of 20 PHCs and 500 patients.

This type of structured routine primary care can facilitate an adequate treatment for patients with musculoskeletal pain and how to allocate sparse resources. If beneficial results emerge a structured implementation program will follow.

Inclusion criteria

• acute and subacute neck and/or back pain (less than three months of duration)
• a working history of at least four weeks during the last year
• being at risk for sick leave according to the short form of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) (cut off >40)
• if sickness absent < 60 days.

Exclusion criteria

• identified abuse
• retirement pension
• ongoing acute medical treatment
• pregnancy