title: What factors predict full or partial return to work among sickness absentees with spinal pain participating in rehabilitation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the factors that predict full or partial return to work among long-term (> or =90 days) sickness absentees due to spinal pain who begin a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, 312 patients with neck, thoracic and/or lumbar pain, aged 20-64, participated in a 4-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in Sweden. Questionnaire data at inclusion were used. Factors included in logistic regressions were as follows: age, gender, type of work, pain location, pain intensity (visual analogue scale), activity limitations [Disability Rating Index (DRI)], health-related quality of life (SF-36), pain-related fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), motivation (Self Motivation Inventory), sickness absence at baseline and number of sick-leave days during the previous 2 years. Outcome factor was increased versus not increased working time at follow-up 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients (68%) reported two or three pain locations. At baseline, 56% were full-time sickness absent and 23% at follow-up; 61% had increased their working time. Predictors for increased working time were age below 40 years, low activity limitation (DRI < 50), low SF-36 bodily pain (> 30) and high SF-36 social functioning (> 60). Number of sick-leave days during the previous 2 years (md 360; range 90-730) had no influence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even patients with long previous sick leave can increase working time after a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme, especially if they are younger, have lower levels of activity limitations and pain and better social functioning. To include information on part-time work is useful when evaluating work ability following rehabilitation programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Britt.Elfving@ki.se
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elfving
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asell
authors.forename: Annina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ropponen
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexanderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001416:Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018582:Sick Leave; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult