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 .
A 3-year follow-up of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for back and neck pain
& NA ; The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long‐term outcome of a behavioural medicine rehabilitation programme and the outcome of its two main components , compared to a ‘ treatment‐as‐usual ’ control group . The study employed a 4 × 5 repeated‐ measures design with four groups and five assessment periods during a 3‐year follow‐up . The group studied consisted of blue‐collar and service/care workers on sick leave , identified in a nationwide health insurance scheme in Sweden . After inclusion , the subjects were r and omised to one of the four conditions : behaviour‐oriented physiotherapy ( PT ) , cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) , behavioural medicine rehabilitation consisting of PT+CBT ( BM ) and a ‘ treatment‐as‐usual ’ control group ( CG ) . Outcome variables were sick leave , early retirement and health‐related quality of life . A cost‐effectiveness analysis , comparing the programmes , was made . The results showed , consistently , the full‐time behavioural medicine programme being superior to the three other conditions . The strongest effect was found on females .  Regarding sick leave , the mean difference in the per‐ protocol analysis between the BM programme and the control group was 201 days , thus reducing sick leave by about two‐thirds of a working year . Rehabilitating women has a substantial impact on costs for production losses , whereas rehabilitating men seem to be effortless with no significant effect on either health or costs . In conclusion , a full‐time behavioural medicine programme  is a cost‐effective method for improving health and increasing return to work in women working in blue‐collar or service/care occupations and suffering from back/neck pain
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 .