title: Cost-effectiveness of a back school intervention for municipal employees.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of a back school rehabilitation program on lost work time, lost time cost, medical cost, and number of injuries in municipal employees. Seventy back-injured workers who participated in a 6-week back school were compared on the dependent variables with 70 randomly selected back-injured city employees who had not participated in a back school. Back school participants demonstrated a significant decrease on all dependent variables. Back school participants had significantly fewer injuries in the 6-month postintervention period. No statistically significant differences were found between groups on the time and cost variables. Actual dollars saved in lost time and medical costs between groups was of practical value to the city. Study findings offer support for the back school as a cost-effective measure.
authors.affiliation: NIOSH Deep South Center for Occupational Safety and Health, University of Alabama School of Nursing, Birmingham.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sirles
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hilyer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D019567:Back Injuries; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic