Journal of occupational rehabilitation
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The present study examined the effects of pain chronicity on the responsiveness of psychosocial variables to intervention for whiplash injuries. ⋯ The findings suggest that self-reported disability is particularly resistant to change as the period of work disability extends over time. The findings emphasize the importance of early intervention and the need to develop strategies that specifically target disability beliefs in patients with whiplash injuries.
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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) affect workers in many occupations including drivers of large vehicles. Urban bus drivers have been found to have high prevalence rates of back problems in overseas studies. Hong Kong is a densely populated city and has a large number of double-deck buses that constitute a major means of public transportation. The present study aimed at investigating the prevalence and characteristics of WMSD in male and female bus drivers who operate double-deck buses in Hong Kong. ⋯ The present results showed high prevalence rates of WMSD among bus drivers in Hong Kong which warrants further investigation.
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Workplace injury management: using new technology to deliver and evaluate physician continuing medical education.
Physicians typically receive little continuing medical education (CME) about their role in workplace injury management as well as on workplace injuries and disease. Although new technologies may help educate physicians in these areas, careful evaluation is required, given the understudied nature of these interventions. The objective of this study is to evaluate two promising new technologies to deliver CME (online learning and videoconferencing) and to compare the effectiveness of these delivery methods to traditional CME interventions (large urban traditional conference lectures and small group local face-to-face outreach) in their impact on physician knowledge related to workplace injury management. ⋯ Use of effective videoconferencing and online learning activities will increase physician access to quality CME related to workplace injury management and will overcome access barriers intrinsic to types of CME interventions based on instructor-student face-to-face interactions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Economic evaluation of a multi-stage return to work program for workers on sick-leave due to low back pain.
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a return to work (RTW) program for workers on sick-leave due to low back pain (LBP), comparing a workplace intervention implemented between 2 to 8 weeks of sick-leave with usual care, and a clinical intervention after 8 weeks of sick-leave with usual care. ⋯ The workplace intervention results in a safe and faster RTW than usual care at reasonable costs for workers on sick-leave for two to six weeks due to LBP.
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We review economic analyses in studies of workplace-based occupational health and safety interventions in order to report on evidence of their financial merits and assess the quality of application of economic evaluation methodologies. The focus of the review is interventions applicable to an office setting. ⋯ In reviewing the studies, we identified a number of methodological shortcomings which we discuss in detail. A key message from our review is that there is a need for economic expertise in the multidisciplinary research teams evaluating workplace-based occupational health and safety interventions.