Contact to a Physician Specialized in Social Medicine and Return to Work

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a rehabilitation program including a physician specialized in social medicine parallel to treatment for suspected spinal disc herniation.

Detailed Description
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In a two-year time period (2011 to 2012) 443 patients of suspected of disc herniation and risk of low work ability - based on questionnaires participated in a randomized control trial. The patients were randomized to either the intervention group (n=220) or control group (n=223). The intervention group were invited to the Department of Social Medicine two to four weeks after their first contact to Department of Rheumatology for a consultation with a physician specialized in social medicine. Together with the patient a return-to-work (RTW) schedule was made to ascertain the need for contact to the workplace (to adjust work functions), municipality, general practitioner or short-term supportive consultations with a psychologist. Throughout the intervention, the patients received their usual treatment from the Department of Rheumatology like patients from the control group. Outcome was return to the work force at one year follow up using information from a national registry.

Official Title
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Contact to a Physician Specialized in Social Medicine and the Impact on Return to Workforce in Patients Suspected of Disc Herniation? - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Return to Work, Musculoskeletal Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Rehabilitation program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age ≥ 18 and < 60 years old, not receiving disability pension and not on maternity leave. sick leave over the past year for more than ten days low self-rated work ability for the next two years health anxiety Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 59 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Intervention<br>Consultation with a physician specialized in social medicine. The consultation lasted about one hour. Together with the patient a return-to-work (RTW) schedule was made to ascertain the need for contact to the workplace (to adjust work functions), municipality, general practitioner or short-term supportive consultations with a psychologist. If relevant, patients were offered up till 5 sessions with a psychologist. | Other: Rehabilitation program<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: Control<br>Standard treatment from the Department of Rheumatology | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Return to Work (register based information) |  | one year |