title: Return to Work in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Multidisciplinary Intervention Versus Brief Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: This randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the effect of a new multidisciplinary intervention (MI) programme to a brief intervention (BI) programme on return to work (RTW), fully and partly, at a 12-month and 24-month follow-up in patients on long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal pain.
  
  
  
  Patients (n = 284, mean age 41.3 years, 53.9 % women) who were sick-listed with musculoskeletal pain and referred to a specialist clinic in physical rehabilitation were randomized to MI (n = 141) or BI (n = 143). The MI included the use of a visual educational tool, which facilitated patient-therapist communication and self-management. The MI also applied one more profession, more therapist time and a comprehensive focus on the psychosocial factors, particularly the working conditions, compared to a BI. The main features of the latter are a thorough medical, educational examination, a brief cognitive assessment based on the non-injury model, and a recommendation to return to normal activity as soon as possible.
  
  
  
  The number of patients with full-time RTW developed similarly in the two groups. The patients receiving MI had a higher probability to partly RTW during the first 7  months of the follow-up compared to the BI-group.
  
  
  
  There were no differences between the groups on full-time RTW during the 24 months. However, the results indicate that MI hastens the return to work process in long-term sick leave through the increased use of partial sick leave.
  
  
  
  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov with the registration number NCT01346423.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway. randi.brendbekken@sykehuset-innlandet.no.
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brendbekken
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Bergen University College, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Hege R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grasdal
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway.
authors.forename: Eli M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Tone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tangen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*; D062707:Return to Work; D018582:Sick Leave
keywords: Chronic pain; Coping; Return to work; Sick leave; Work disability