Effect of a multidisciplinary program for the prevention of low back pain in hospital employees: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Hospital workers with physically demanding jobs are at risk for developing recurrent LBP. There is a lack of studies evaluating multidisciplinary prevention of low back pain (LBP) in hospital workers.


OBJECTIVE
This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of a multidisciplinary prevention program, focusing on a client-centred approach, on hospital workers at risk for developing LBP.


METHODS
Caregiving hospital workers were allocated to an experimental (12-week lasting multidisciplinary prevention program) or control group (no intervention). They were evaluated prior to the intervention and after a 6 months follow-up period. Primary outcome measures included incidence of LBP, work absenteeism and general health. Secondary outcomes included daily physical activity, job satisfaction and coping strategies.


RESULTS
A significant improvement was seen for passive coping after 6 months follow-up, but no significant differences were observed between groups in primary or other secondary outcome measures (p> 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A multidisciplinary prevention program fitting into a bio-psychosocial context may not have been intensive enough to promote a change in daily habitudes, and had no effect on work absenteeism, incidence of LBP or general health. Further research should determine whether prevention of LBP is possible in caregiving personnel.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.|International Research Group Pain In Motion, www.paininmotion.be.|Department of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Nathalie A
NA
Roussel
International Research Group Pain In Motion, www.paininmotion.be.|Occupational Therapy, Department of Health, AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium.
Daphne
D
Kos
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Isaline
I
Demeure
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.|International Research Group Pain In Motion, www.paininmotion.be.
Annette
A
Heyrman
Occupational Therapy, Department of Health, AP University College, Antwerp, Belgium.
Marleen
M
De Clerck
Department of Movement Education and Sports Training, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Evert
E
Zinzen
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.|International Research Group Pain In Motion, www.paininmotion.be.|Department of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Filip
F
Struyf
International Research Group Pain In Motion, www.paininmotion.be.|Department of Human Physiology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.|Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Belgium.
Jo
J
Nijs
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Pain; behaviour; health care sector; health promotion; occupational disability; primary prevention; therapy