The key features of the program include ; having trained personnel coordinate the RTW process , identifying and ranking barriers and solutions to RTW from the perspective of all important stakeholders , mediating practical solutions at the workplace and , empowering the injured worker in RTW decision-making .
Background Despite over 2 decades of research , the ability to prevent  work-related low back pain ( LBP ) and disability  remains elusive .
Recent research suggests that interventions that are focused at the workplace and incorporate the principals of participatory ergonomics and return-to-work ( RTW ) coordination can improve RTW and reduce disability following a work-related back injury .
Workplace interventions or programs to improve RTW  are difficult to design and implement given the various individuals and environments involved , each with their own unique circumstances .
Intervention mapping provides a framework for design ing and implementing complex interventions or programs .
The objective of this study is to design a best evidence RTW program for occupational LBP tailored to the Ontario setting using an intervention mapping approach .
A randomized controlled trial of two strategies to implement active sick leave for patients with low back pain.
STUDY DESIGN Cluster r and omized controlled trial . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of two strategies to improve the use of active sick leave ( ASL )  for patients with low back pain . SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA ASL is a public sickness benefit scheme offered to promote early return to modified work for temporarily disabled workers . It was poorly used , and the authors design ed two community interventions to strengthen the implementation of ASL based on the results of a study of barriers to use among back pain patients , employers , general practitioners ( GPs ) , and local National Insurance Administration staff . METHODS Sixty-five municipalities in three counties in Norway , r and omly assigned to a passive intervention , a proactive intervention , or a control group . The interventions were targeted at patients on sick leave for low back pain for more than 16 days ( n = 6176 ) , their GPs , employers , and local insurance officers . The passive intervention included reminders about ASL on the sick leave form that GPs must complete , a st and ard agreement to facilitate ASL , targeted information , and a desktop summary for GPs of clinical practice guidelines for low back pain , emphasizing the importance of advice to stay active . The proactive intervention included these elements plus a re source person to facilitate the use of ASL and a continuing education workshop for GPs . The main outcome measure reported here is the proportion of eligible patients that used ASL . RESULTS ASL was used significantly more in the proactive intervention municipalities ( 17.7 % ) compared with the passive intervention and control municipalities ( 11.5 % , P = 0.018 ) . CONCLUSIONS A passive intervention that addressed identified barriers to the use of ASL did not increase its use . Although modest , a proactive intervention did increase its use . The main impact of the intervention was through direct contact and motivating telephone calls to patients . To the extent that GPs ' practice was changed , it was either patient mediated or by patients bypassing their GP
The key features of the program include ; having trained personnel coordinate the RTW process , identifying and ranking barriers and solutions to RTW from the perspective of all important stakeholders , mediating practical solutions at the workplace and , empowering the injured worker in RTW decision-making .
Background Despite over 2 decades of research , the ability to prevent  work-related low back pain ( LBP ) and disability  remains elusive .
Recent research suggests that interventions that are focused at the workplace and incorporate the principals of participatory ergonomics and return-to-work ( RTW ) coordination can improve RTW and reduce disability following a work-related back injury .
Workplace interventions or programs to improve RTW  are difficult to design and implement given the various individuals and environments involved , each with their own unique circumstances .
Intervention mapping provides a framework for design ing and implementing complex interventions or programs .
The objective of this study is to design a best evidence RTW program for occupational LBP tailored to the Ontario setting using an intervention mapping approach .