title: Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of face-to-face information for the treatment of mild low-back pain (LBP) in an occupational health (OH) setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 48-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two 1:1 allocated parallel groups of forestry company employees. Eligibility criteria included permanent employment, age <57 years, and mild LBP [visual analogue scale (VAS) 10-34 mm] in a survey. The intervention group received the Back Book, an information booklet on how to manage LBP, with an additional face-to-face review of the booklet by an OH nurse. The control group received the booklet only. Primary outcomes were physical impairment (Roland-Morris 18-item (RM-18) Disability Questionnaire), LBP (VAS 100 mm), health-related quality of life [15-dimensional quality of life (15-D)] during two years and sickness absence (SA) up to four years. Participants were assigned using block randomization with a computer-generated scheme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RCT comprised 181 participants (72% male, mean age 44 years). There were no differences between the treatment arms in any of the primary outcomes at any time point. At 24 months, the mean group differences (intervention versus control) were: RM-18: 0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1-1], VAS: 3 mm (95% CI -3-8), and 15-D 0.00 (95% CI -0.02-0.02). The difference in cumulative sickness absence days at 48 months were -3 (95% CI -28-21) for total and 1 (95% CI -3-5) for LBP specific sick leaves. Exploratory analysis revealed no differences at subgroup-levels either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Face-to-face patient information by an OH nurse in addition to a booklet was not more effective than the booklet alone in treating employees with mild LBP in an OH setting.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) Lappeenranta, Kasarmikatu 9, 53900 Lappeenranta, Finland. jarmo.rantonen@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rantonen
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vehtari
authors.forename: Jaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karppinen
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: Eira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viikari-Juntura
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hupli
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmivaara
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taimela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000193:education*; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*