Article

This study examined the effects of work-related multidisciplinary rehabilitation
(MR) on occupational participation in patients with chronic musculoskeletal
disorders. A randomized-controlled trial was carried out. The sample included
patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders and severe restrictions of work
ability (n=222). Participants in the intervention group received a work-related
rehabilitation programme following a comprehensive functional capacity evaluation
(FCE MR). Controls completed a conventional MR. The analysis was based on 1-year
follow-up data. The primary outcome was stable occupational participation (SOP),
defined as employment with at most 6 months of sick leave after rehabilitation.
The secondary outcomes were the duration of sick leave, employment status and the
Pain Disability Index. We included 102 patients in our analysis (intervention:
n=55, control: n=47). Despite randomization there were group differences.
Adjusting these differences, patients of the FCE MR had 3.5 times higher odds of
SOP [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-9.8, P=0.018]. However, there was neither
a significant difference in the duration of sick leave between both groups
(b=-8.0 weeks, 95% CI: -17.4 to 1.4, P=0.095) nor higher odds of employment in
favour of the FCE MR after 1 year (odds ratio=2.3, 95% CI: 0.9-5.8, P=0.088).
Participants in the FCE MR reported less pain-related disabilities (b=-6.5, 95%
CI: -12.6 to -0.4, P=0.038). The study had a limitation in terms of group
balance. However, the findings indicate that the work-related FCE MR was more
effective for SOP, but did not significantly affect employment rate and sick
leave duration.

Langue : ANGLAIS