There was strong evidence that duration away from work from both MSK or pain-related conditions and MH conditions were significantly reduced by multi-domain interventions encompassing at least two of the three domains .
There was moderate evidence that these multi-domain interventions had a positive impact on cost outcomes .
There was strong evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy interventions that do not also include workplace modifications or service coordination components are not effective in helping workers with MH conditions in RTW .
Evidence for the effectiveness of other single-domain interventions was mixed , with some studies reporting positive effects and others reporting no effects on lost time and work functioning .
Purpose The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of workplace-based return-to-work ( RTW ) interventions and work disability management ( DM ) interventions that assist workers with musculoskeletal ( MSK ) and pain-related conditions and mental health ( MH ) conditions with RTW .
Early Occupational Health Management of Patients with Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Study Design . A r and omized controlled trial in occupational health practice was conducted . Objective . To study the efficacy of early management of workers with low back pain by occupational physicians  , as compared with management by the supervisor only . Summary of Background data . Health care and university workers with back pain and on sick leave for less than 1 month were included in the study . Methods . Patients with low back pain for at least 10 days on sick leave were r and omly assigned to early management by the occupational physician ( n = 61 ) or to a reference group with management by the worker ’s supervisor during the first 3 months of sick leave  ( n = 59 ) . The patients were observed for 1 year and compared in terms of time until return to work , pain intensity , functional disability , and general health perception . The occupational physicians were provided with management guidelines . Results . No significant differences were found after 3 and 12 months of follow-up evaluation in terms of time until return to work ( hazard ratio , 1.3 ; 95 % CI , 0.90–1.90 ) or in terms of other health outcomes . Recurrences , however , occurred more frequently in the intervention group , but the total duration of sick leave in 1 year did not differ between the groups . Conclusions . The findings do not show a significant positive effect of an early intervention by occupational physicians on workers with low back pain . This might reflect the early phase of disability or the low intensity of the intervention result ing from overestimation of the physicians ’ compliance with the guidelines
There was strong evidence that duration away from work from both MSK or pain-related conditions and MH conditions were significantly reduced by multi-domain interventions encompassing at least two of the three domains .
There was moderate evidence that these multi-domain interventions had a positive impact on cost outcomes .
There was strong evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy interventions that do not also include workplace modifications or service coordination components are not effective in helping workers with MH conditions in RTW .
Evidence for the effectiveness of other single-domain interventions was mixed , with some studies reporting positive effects and others reporting no effects on lost time and work functioning .
Purpose The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of workplace-based return-to-work ( RTW ) interventions and work disability management ( DM ) interventions that assist workers with musculoskeletal ( MSK ) and pain-related conditions and mental health ( MH ) conditions with RTW .