Expectations for Return to Work Predict Return to Work in Workers with Low Back Pain: An Individual Participant Data
Victoria Sullivan1,2, Maria N Wilson3, Douglas P Gross4
1Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. victoria.sullivan@dal.ca.
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
|February 13, 2022
Summary
Workers’ positive expectations for returning to work after low back pain significantly improve their chances of returning to work. Low expectations increase the risk of long-term work disability, highlighting the importance of recovery beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychology of Work
Background:
- Low back pain is a leading cause of work disability and lost productivity.
- Personal recovery expectations may influence return to work (RTW) outcomes, particularly for those at high risk of chronic disability.
Conclusions:
- Workers' expectations for returning to work are a significant prognostic factor for RTW outcomes after low back pain.
- Interventions aimed at improving recovery expectations may be beneficial for reducing long-term work disability.
