Thus , WIs were seldom design ed to improve return-to-work .
Overall , there was low quality evidence that showed no significant differences between WIs and no intervention for pain prevalence or severity .
If present , significant results in favour of WIs were not sustained across follow-up times .
Overall , this review found low quality evidence that neither supported nor refuted the benefits of any specific WI for pain relief and moderate quality evidence that a multiple-component intervention reduced sickness absence in the intermediate-term , which was not sustained over time .
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in many industrial countries .
Recurrent and chronic pain accounts for a substantial portion of workers ' absenteeism .
Neck pain seems to be more prominent in the general population than previously known .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of workplace interventions ( WIs ) in adult workers with neck pain .
Is there a right treatment for a particular patient group? Comparison of ordinary treatment, light multidisciplinary treatment, and extensive multidisciplinary treatment for long-term sick-listed employees with musculoskeletal pain
& NA ; In general , r and omized controlled studies concerning return to work have failed to demonstrate significant treatment effects for long‐lasting musculoskeletal pain , and most treatments examined have not been economically beneficial . Individuals ( n=654 ) sick‐listed for at least 8 weeks with musculoskeletal pain , selected from the Norwegian m and atory sickness insurance system and volunteering to participate , were categorized into three groups differing in a prognosis score ( good , medium , poor ) for return to work , based on a brief , st and ardized screening of psychological and physiotherapy findings . They were then r and omly assigned to three outpatient treatments with three different levels of intensity ( ordinary treatment , light multidisciplinary , and extensive multidisciplinary treatment ) . The evaluation was based on 14 months follow‐up data on return to work collected from social security records . The patients with good prognosis for return to work do equally well with ordinary treatment as with the two more intensive treatments . The patients with medium prognosis benefit equally from the two multidisciplinary treatments . The patients with poor prognosis receiving extensive multidisciplinary treatment returned to work at a higher rate than patients with poor prognosis receiving ordinary treatment , 55 vs. 37 % ( P<0.05 ) at 14 months . Multidisciplinary treatment  is effective concerning return to work , when given to patients who are most likely to benefit from that treatment . Measures of pain or quality of life are not included in this study . The cost – benefit analysis of the economic returns of the light multidisciplinary and the extensive multidisciplinary treatment programs yields a positive net present social value of the treatment . A simple , st and ardized , screening instrument including only psychological and physiotherapeutic observations may be a useful clinical tool for allocating patients with musculoskeletal pain to the right level of treatment
Thus , WIs were seldom design ed to improve return-to-work .
Overall , there was low quality evidence that showed no significant differences between WIs and no intervention for pain prevalence or severity .
If present , significant results in favour of WIs were not sustained across follow-up times .
Overall , this review found low quality evidence that neither supported nor refuted the benefits of any specific WI for pain relief and moderate quality evidence that a multiple-component intervention reduced sickness absence in the intermediate-term , which was not sustained over time .
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in many industrial countries .
Recurrent and chronic pain accounts for a substantial portion of workers ' absenteeism .
Neck pain seems to be more prominent in the general population than previously known .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of workplace interventions ( WIs ) in adult workers with neck pain .