How To Use This Site Medical Factors  • Treatment Approaches and RTW  • Back  • Upper Limb (arm) Consequences of being off work Workplace Factors  • Workplace Interventions  • Manager's Influence  • The Impact of Workplace Culture People Factors  • Beliefs and Attitudes and RTW  • Factors Influencing RTW  • Predicting Delayed RTW RTW Approaches and Interventions  • Elements of effective schemes  • System factors  • International Compensation Scheme Systems How to use this site The issue for employers Work affects health and there are many ways that health can affect work. Improving return to work outcomes, the Knowledge Base, and the world wide movement to reduce work disability After sick leave, most people return to work quickly and do well. How to use the site The site has been organized so article viewing can be done in a number of ways. Research in work disability Evidence-based medicine is a worldwide movement to help understand effective prevention, treatment and management approaches in health.  Back to top Medical Factors Treatment Approaches and RTW Healthcare Provider participation is important in achieving early return to work When health care professionals communicate with both the patient and their workplace an injured worker's likelihood of returning to work improves. Family physicians' experiences with workplace injuries Worker's compensation authorities could benefit from a better understanding of general practice and the barriers to cooperation between doctors, employers and insurers. The role and obstacles faced by family GP's assisting patients to return to work Quality information, rather than assumptions, is fundamental to return to work The effects of a specialist healthcare provider network for workplace injuries on costs and lost time Directing injured employees to a health care network can reduce their medical costs and time off work. Predicting stress and strategies for reducing it This article identifies some causes of stress leave, and some common characteristics of those who take stress leave and make stress-related compensation claims. Supervisor behaviour and employee psychological well-being A Supervisor's behaviour affects their employees' health Stress Management and Workplace Disability. Stress-management is a cost-effective way to improve recovery after injury or illness. Preventing occupational stress Occupational stress can be prevented. Interventions aimed at the individual or at the workplace can effectively reduce stress, burnout and physical illness and reduce the costs of work absence and turnover. Occupational wellbeing and its effect on performance Improving wellbeing improves productivity. Current trends in stress claims. Stress-related compensation claims are a costly problem. This review investigates the role of compensation in recovery and factors that influence return to work. Back Low back pain - how long does it last? The normal course of pain experienced by people who visit their general practitioner Patients with back problems are often told by general practitioners that they should get better within a matter of weeks. Low back pain - how common is it and how often does it cause disability? How common are back problems? Back pain is experienced by the majority of people at some point in their lives. The impact of Back Schools on return to work After an episode of back pain, education, training and exercise programs can help people to return to work. Preventing low back pain European guidelines for preventing the negative consequences of low back pain Risk factors for work related low back pain and strategies to prevent long term disability Risk factors for work-related low back pain that leads to long term disability. Upper Limb (arm) What helps people with long-term arm pain return to work? Whether a person with long-term arm pain will return to work depends on their specific beliefs and experiences of working with pain. Integrated case management for work-related arm pain A co-ordinated approach to managing work-related arm pain improves return to work, and results in higher levels of patient satisfaction. Return to work after carpal tunnel surgery Patients are likely to have better function after carpal tunnel surgery if they work in a supportive environment and are confident they can manage their symptoms. Stress and work-related hand and arm injuries - implications for prevention and management Reducing stress might reduce work-related hand and arm injuries. An ergonomics program can reduce the incidence of arm pain An ergonomics program to reduce the incidence of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Repetitive strain injury Repetitive work can cause non-specific arm pain, but there are other factors involved. Ergonomic and psychosocial factors affect function in workers with upper extremity disorders. Management of non specific arm pain is helped by improving problem solving skills and workplace ergonomics. Factors behind work related neck and upper limb problems: Psychosocial and personal risk factors, and effective interventions from a bio behavioural perspective. Work-related psychological and social factors can put people at risk of neck and upper limb conditions.  Back to top Consequences of being off work Use it or lose it - No really! The Disuse Syndrome. Being physically inactive can kill you. Loss of self: A fundamental form of suffering resulting from chronic illness Long term health problems often restrict people's lives. This can mean they are no longer able to function in roles that are central to their sense of identity. This can have serious consequences.  Back to top Workplace Factors Workplace Interventions A review of workplace rehabilitation approaches for back pain Treatment with light activity and early return to work resulted in less pain and disability, and fewer sick leave absences for people with back pain. Work is therapeutic - rehabilitation at work Rehabilitation programs are more effective when they acknowledge the therapeutic nature of work, and provide modified duties to employees who are returning to work. A workplace education program that prevents neck and back problems, and limits reinjury Teaching workers to minimise strain at work, change posture and exercise regularly had a long-lasting positive effect on workers with back and neck injuries. An integrated workers' compensation management system A good management system can help injured workers recover, return to work quickly and reduce costs. Flexibility in the workplace assists people on long-term sickness absence to return to work Flexibility at the workplace helps improve return to work outcomes Co-operation between a union and management resulting in a successful early intervention model A partnership approach to early return to work pays off. Integrating work disability management into strategic plans improves morale and the corporate bottom line Integrating work disability management into the business environment. Identifying the causes of back and arm pain in an office environment Ergonomic and time factors in an office environment can contribute to arm and back pain. Modified work programs: common barriers to implementation Modified work programs can be difficult to implement. It pays to be aware of what can go wrong. Components of return-to-work programs that are effective Reduce the duration and costs of work disability. Implementing a case management program: a case study In this case study, one company's implementation of a case management program reduced sickness absence and improved the cost effectiveness of health care. A look at disability management in self insured Australian companies Cooperation, communication, the involvement of senior management, employee education and training all contribute to an effective return to work management program. Programs are most effective when injured employees are encouraged to participate in managing their own return to work. Manager's Influence A controlled case study of supervisor training to optimise response to injury in the food processing industry Training supervisors how to respond to employees' work-related health and safety concerns reduces new injury claims and disability costs. Employee perspectives on the role of supervisors in preventing work disability Good communication between an injured worker and their supervisor can affect return to work outcomes as powerfully as health treatments and workplace adjustments. Views of employees on the role that employers should play in return to work Workers believe that their supervisor plays a key role in return to work. Communication by supervisors plays a critical role in the return to work process Regular communication from a supervisor helps people with mental health problems return to work. The impact of workplace culture Blame makes it harder to recover People who blame their employer for their pain have poorer expectations for their future recovery, and report less success with treatments for their condition. A people oriented culture creates a safer workplace A positive workplace culture, one which prioritises people and has strategies for assisting injured workers helps prevent and manage work disability. It pays to be nice - employer worker relationships influence back pain return to work Workers' satisfaction with their employers' responses to their claims is the most important single influence on stability in employment after the onset of back pain. Are work-related health conditions well reported? Work-related health conditions often go unreported. The social side of returning to work is important Good communication and a positive relationship with a supportive, well trained supervisor are important for the social accommodation of an injured employee at work. Psychological and social issues that affect sickness absence from work The psychological and social environments at work can have a significant effect on the amount of sickness absence that workers take. Does control over working hours influence sickness absence? Having some control over your working hours might reduce medically-certified sick leave I get by with a little help from my friends: chronic pain and the effect of workplace support on performance Chronic pain reduces productivity, but this effect is smaller when employees believe the organization values their contribution and wellbeing. What is the effect of an employer being supportive, valuing and caring for their employees? Organisational support benefits the employee and employer.  Back to top People Factors Factors influencing RTW Understanding the person's state of mind helps you help them Understanding how people view their pain and their work environment is needed so that these important factors can be addressed. Does problem-solving therapy reduce work-related disability from nonspecific low back pain? Teaching workers general problem-solving skills, in combination with other treatments, helps prevent disability from back pain. Different influences combine to affect whether a person will return to work after sick leave Many factors influence whether a person on sick leave will return to work. Problem solving reduces pain and speeds up re-entry into the workforce A short course of cognitive behavioural therapy, or how to “think about things" helps reduce stress and anxiety, and speeds up return to work. Risk factors associated with the development of long-term back pain and the appropriate interventions Back pain can develop into a long-term disability. Treatment that focuses on an individual’s particular risk factors can reduce the chance of his happening. Tools for creating goals with patients as a part of therapy Focusing on what the patient wants to get out of therapy improves results. Policies and procedures that help workers return after an injury The attitude of the workplace towards health, safety and return-to-work influence whether a worker will return. Does multidisciplinary rehabilitation work? How does patient motivation affect outcomes? Rehabilitation programs are often provided for musculoskeletal conditions. When these programs treat the 'whole person' rather than focusing purely on medical problems, they are more cost effective. The best results are produced when patients are highly motivated. Beliefs and attitudes and RTW Factors that can affect a person's ability to return to work An in-depth look at some of the issues that can influence return to function and work Motivation is valuable in rehabilitation and return to work Motivation in the process of rehabilitation and return to work after injury can be improved. Increased motivation helps both employers and employees in work rehabilitation. Does screening work? Psychosocial risk factors for work absence due to sprains and strains Questionnaires can identify employees who are more likely to take time off work, but not those at risk of disability, or long term absence from work. What motivates people to return to work? This study identified factors that motivated and de-motivated people to return to work after work-related injury. The impact of expectations on return to work Beliefs and expectations about returning to work can affect the outcome for people with low back pain. Beliefs and expectations affect return to work Beliefs, expectations, and physical symptoms affect how long a person will take to return to work. On being stuck in the system and how to get out of it A bureaucratic claims process causes a number of problems for employees. Pride, empowerment, and return to work Being off work can cause negative social emotions that hinder rehabilitation 'Self-efficacy' is your ability to confidently manage your health condition and return to normal activities, including work Those who feel capable of achieving a positive return to work outcome are more likely to make it. People on compensation experience more pain, but not because of economic gain Traumatic injuries and compensation: two issues that effect a patien's experience of chronic pain. Building confidence: the first step in successful rehabilitation Rehabilitation is most successful when it first improves patients' confidence. Predicting delayed RTW Knowing the return to work expectation of an injured worker is an important first step The predictions of injured workers regarding returning to work are 98% accurate. The Worker Role Interview - understanding the person A person's ability to work is affected by many things. Understanding what is influencing the person can help return to work management.  Back to top RTW Approaches and Interventions Elements of effective schemes The effect of early intervention on return to work Early workplace rehabilitation, including job modifications, is cost effective. Case management interviews have a strong impact on return to work The involvement of a case manager in the return to work process can provide improved outcomes for the employee. Specialised training in return to work for case managers is valuable Training programs for case managers can be effective and highly valued by participants. Common ingredients of successful rehabilitation programs Rehabilitation programs are more likely to be effective when they provide participants with education, physical and psychological treatment, worksite modification and training in good work practices. Workplace based early intervention programs get people back to work sooner A well designed, correctly implemented workplace program can reduce sickness absence. A simple proven return to work model Early simple management of medical conditions improves return to work outcomes The importance of goal-setting in rehabilitation Goal setting is a powerful way to aid the rehabilitation process. Halve the length of sickness absence and double the rate of return to work Modified work programs help people return to work after illness or injury. System factors Procedural fairness, disputes and return to work When a dispute occurs, an injured worker's perception of the fairness of proceedings depends primarily on the quality of communication and co-operation during the dispute. All hands on deck! Designing and implementing a return to work program Return to work programs are more likely to be successful when everyone affected by the program (employers, employees, unions etc) is involved in its design and operation. How does the rehabilitation process make participants feel? Encounters with the rehabilitation system make participants feel bad if they are treated indifferently, not taken seriously, not taken at their word, or seen as incompetent International compensation scheme systems A comparison of disability management practices in Australian and Canadian workplaces Similarities and differences in return to work management in Australian and Canadian workplaces. How work disability is managed in different countries Countries approach work disability in different ways.  Back to top Home | About | Champions | Contact | Privacy | Disclaimer © 2007 The Foundation for Research into Injury and Illness in the Workplace Inc (ResWorks). The Return to Work Knowledge Base was developed with the support of the Worksafe Victoria RTW Fund.