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 clinical return-to-work rule for patients with back pain
Background : Tools for early identification of workers with back pain who are at high risk of adverse occupational outcome would help concentrate clinical attention on the patients who need it most , while helping reduce unnecessary interventions ( and costs ) among the others . This study was conducted to develop and vali date clinical rules to predict the 2-year work disability status of people consulting for nonspecific back pain in primary care setting s. Methods : This was a 2-year prospect i ve cohort study conducted in 7 primary care setting s in the Quebec City area . The study enrolled 1007 workers ( participation , 68.4 % of potential participants expected to be eligible ) aged 18–64 years who consulted for nonspecific back pain associated with at least 1 day 's absence from work . The majority ( 86 % ) completed 5 telephone interviews documenting a large array of variables . Clinical information was abstract ed from the medical files . The outcome measure was “ return to work in good health ” at 2 years , a variable that combined patients ' occupational status , functional limitations and recurrences of work absence . Predictive models of 2-year outcome were developed with a recursive partitioning approach on a 40 % r and om sample of our study subjects , then vali date d on the rest . Results : The best predictive model included 7 baseline variables ( patient 's recovery expectations , radiating pain , previous back surgery , pain intensity , frequent change of position because of back pain , irritability and bad temper , and difficulty sleeping ) and was particularly efficient at identifying patients with no adverse occupational outcome ( negative predictive value 78%– 94 % ) . Interpretation : A clinical prediction rule accurately identified a large proportion of workers with back pain consulting in a primary care setting who were at a low risk of an adverse occupational outcome
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 .