• Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar and Jan-Rickard Norrefalk.
• Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Pain Pract. 2014 Mar 1;14(3):228-36.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in outcomes of long-term multiprofessional intervention in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain.MethodsEighty-eight patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain who either experienced multiprofessional rehabilitation (44) or underwent a mutiprofessional assessment of their ability to work (44) were followed up after either 5 or 10 years. Data on pain intensity, health perception and physical function collected in either 1998 or 2003, were compared with data taken from patients in 2008. Patients were also interviewed regarding pain diagnoses and additional multiprofessional interventions that occurred after 1998 or 2003.ResultsResults indicate that patients who participated in multiprofessional rehabilitation were younger in both 5- and 10-year follow-up groups and remained at work longer when compared to assessment group. When comparing the rehabilitation vs. assessment groups, no differences in pain intensity, health perception, and physical function were found at the 5- and 10-year follow-up. Reduced pain intensity was reported by both rehabilitation and assessment groups at the 5-year follow-up. Functional status was improved in the assessment group after 10 years.ConclusionThese results indicate that multiprofessional assessment may also have beneficial effects in patients with musculoskeletal pain when measuring long-term outcomes.© 2013 The Authors Pain Practice © 2013 World Institute of Pain.

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