“Implementation of early intervention protocol in Australia for 'high risk' injured workers is associated with fewer lost work days over 2 years than usual (stepped) care”
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Purpose To evaluate whether a protocol for early intervention addressing the psychosocial risk factors for delayed return to work in workers with soft tissue injuries would achieve better long-term outcomes than usual (stepped) care. Methods The study used a controlled, non-randomised prospective design to compare two case management approaches. For the intervention condition, workers screened within 1-3 weeks of injury as being at high risk of delayed returned to work by the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire-short version (ÖMPSQ-SF) were offered psychological assessment and a comprehensive protocol to address the identified obstacles for return to work. Similarly identified injured workers in the control condition were managed under usual (stepped) care arrangements. Results At 2-year follow-up, the mean lost work days for the Intervention group was less than half that of the usual care group, their claim costs were 30% lower, as was the growth trajectory of their costs after 11 months. Conclusions The findings supported the hypothesis that brief psychological risk factor screening, combined with a protocol for active collaboration between key stakeholders to address identified psychological and workplace factors for delayed return to work, can achieve better return on investment than usual (stepped) care.
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A preliminary search of the literature revealed multiple systematic reviews of interventions to improve recovery from MSK and orthopaedic injuries, many of which report changes in distress-related outcomes following the intervention.
“A preliminary search of the literature revealed multiple systematic reviews of interventions to improve recovery from MSK and orthopaedic injuries, many of which report changes in distress-related outcomes following the intervention.12 13 22 23”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [12]
The Psychology Treatment Outcomes section (page unavailable) reports reduced distress after the intervention. But this paper is an original intervention study, not a systematic review, so it does not support the claim about multiple systematic reviews reporting such changes. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIdentifying and managing signs of distress in the aftermath of a musculoskeletal injury can help to reduce the incidence of chronic pain and long-term disability.
“There is some evidence to suggest that identifying and managing signs of distress in the aftermath of a musculoskeletal (MSK) injury can help to reduce the incidence of chronic pain and long-term disability.1216”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [12]
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Pearce G, McGarity A, Nicholas MK, Linton SJ, Peat J. Better outcomes in worker's compensation through very early selective intervention. Paper presented at: 2008 Combined Conference of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Aus- tralasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Adelaide, Australia; May, 2008.
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- Authors
- Nicholas, M. K., Costa, D. S. J., Linton, S. J., Main, C. J., Shaw, W. S., Pearce, G., Gleeson, M., Pinto, R. Z., Blyth, F. M., McAuley, J. H., Smeets, R. J. E. M., & McGarity, A.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Örebro University (SE)
- Keele University (GB)
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Government of New South Wales (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Nicholas, M. K.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2019-07-26
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 93-104
- ISSN
- 1053-0487 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3688
- OpenAlex
- W2962740924
- Cited by
- 72
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 22.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2019-08-14)
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- NSW Ministry of Health
- icare
- Employers Mutual Insurance
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Keywords
- early intervention, return to work, soft tissue injury, injured workers, psychosocial risk factors, case management, lost workdays, workers' compensation, claim costs, stepped care, stakeholder collaboration
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Occupational, Adult, Australia, Disability Evaluation, Employment, Female, Persons with Disabilities, Disabled Persons, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, Workers' Compensation, Case Management, Return to Work
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