Project Title
Interdisciplinary Intervention Strategy for chronic MSD
Internal ID
32305
Principal Investigator
Status
Completed
Start Date
September 1, 2004
End Date
March 31, 2008
Investigators
Danuser, Brigitta
Organisations
Identifiants
Keywords
Chronic Musculoskelettal disorders (MSD) workability workplace rehabilitation case-management cost-benefit
Description
Multidisciplinary workplace intervention strategy for chronic MSD, pilot study
Background
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a persistent and expensive health challenge in all industrial countries including Switzerland. A recent European survey indicates that, among the working population, the three most common work health problems reported are: back pain (30%, increasing), stress (28%), muscular pain in arms or in legs (25%). The cost of work-related MSD in Switzerland has been estimated to about 2-4 Mia CHF per year. A relatively small group of patients causes relatively high health services costs and long absenteeism from work and furthermore show a high risk to loose workability.
Significant progresses have been made these last years in the understanding of the disorder occurrence and chronitisation. Despite of this, the management and successful rehabilitation of MSD suffering workers is still difficult. Recent research suggests that successful MSD work rehabilitation needs a cross-disciplinary intervention involving both clinical and occupational health competencies (rheumatology, occupational medicine, work psychology, ergonomics).
Aim
This pilot project aims to prepare the needed tools, data, and protocols for a randomised observer blinded controlled study comparing the classical treatment to a multidisciplinary intervention strategy for chronic MSD. The intervention protocol will be tested on a small group of about 16 patients enduring back pain or neck/shoulder problems. Protocols development and testing will be undertaken jointly by two teams including researchers from two well-known rheumatology centres (USZ,URR) and the two occupational-health oriented institutes in Switzerland (IHA ETHZ, IST Uni Lausanne). In setting up the assessment and intervention protocols as well as the administrative procedures, the pilot study will provide a quicker start of the randomised controlled study comparing. Additionally an analysis of company sick leaves records will provide a reliable base for power calculation and the definition of the randomisation strategy.
Significance
The whole study is expected to produce new strategies for the management of MSD and workplace rehabilitation as well as guidelines for both authorities and companies. Its potential impact in terms of risk and cost reduction for companies and the society is important.
Background
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a persistent and expensive health challenge in all industrial countries including Switzerland. A recent European survey indicates that, among the working population, the three most common work health problems reported are: back pain (30%, increasing), stress (28%), muscular pain in arms or in legs (25%). The cost of work-related MSD in Switzerland has been estimated to about 2-4 Mia CHF per year. A relatively small group of patients causes relatively high health services costs and long absenteeism from work and furthermore show a high risk to loose workability.
Significant progresses have been made these last years in the understanding of the disorder occurrence and chronitisation. Despite of this, the management and successful rehabilitation of MSD suffering workers is still difficult. Recent research suggests that successful MSD work rehabilitation needs a cross-disciplinary intervention involving both clinical and occupational health competencies (rheumatology, occupational medicine, work psychology, ergonomics).
Aim
This pilot project aims to prepare the needed tools, data, and protocols for a randomised observer blinded controlled study comparing the classical treatment to a multidisciplinary intervention strategy for chronic MSD. The intervention protocol will be tested on a small group of about 16 patients enduring back pain or neck/shoulder problems. Protocols development and testing will be undertaken jointly by two teams including researchers from two well-known rheumatology centres (USZ,URR) and the two occupational-health oriented institutes in Switzerland (IHA ETHZ, IST Uni Lausanne). In setting up the assessment and intervention protocols as well as the administrative procedures, the pilot study will provide a quicker start of the randomised controlled study comparing. Additionally an analysis of company sick leaves records will provide a reliable base for power calculation and the definition of the randomisation strategy.
Significance
The whole study is expected to produce new strategies for the management of MSD and workplace rehabilitation as well as guidelines for both authorities and companies. Its potential impact in terms of risk and cost reduction for companies and the society is important.