title: Case management services for work related upper extremity disorders. Integrating workplace accommodation and problem solving.
abstract: A case manager's ability to obtain worksite accommodations and engage workers in active problem solving may improve health and return to work outcomes for clients with work related upper extremity disorders (WRUEDs). This study examines the feasibility of a 2 day training seminar to help nurse case managers identify ergonomic risk factors, provide accommodation, and conduct problem solving skills training with workers' compensation claimants recovering from WRUEDs. Eight procedural steps to this case management approach were identified, translated into a training workshop format, and conveyed to 65 randomly selected case managers. Results indicate moderate to high self ratings of confidence to perform ergonomic assessments (mean = 7.5 of 10) and to provide problem solving skills training (mean = 7.2 of 10) after the seminar. This training format was suitable to experienced case managers and generated a moderate to high level of confidence to use this case management approach.
authors.affiliation: Liberty Mutual Center for Disability Research, Hopkinton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feuerstein
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace