None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Workplace injuries have a major impact upon workers, employers and society in general. While most work-related injuries heal within a few weeks, a considerable proportion of workers have ongoing pain and disability for months and years following the injury (e.g., Henschke et al., 2007, Social Research Centre, 2018). A common corollary following a workplace injury is chronic pain. In 2007 the estimated total cost of chronic pain in Australia due to absenteeism and lost productivity while at work was $11.7 billion (Access Economics Report, 2007, and their latest report, 2019, indicates these figures have multiplied in the intervening period). Chronic pain is often associated with markedly reduced quality of life, high levels of distress and often co-occurs with mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety (e.g., Arnow et al., 2006). Furthermore, there is only a brief window of opportunity to prevent these sorts of outcomes for injured workers. The longer injured workers are away from work, the greater their risk of never returning (e.g., Landstad et al., 2009). In Australia chronic back pain has been identified as one of the major reasons middle-aged workers drop out of the workforce (Schofield et al., 2011).
Interventions
Early psychological intervention will be provided to injured Australia Post workers. The workers will be receiving up to 6 sessions of CBT-based care for the identified psychosocial risk factors, in addition to their standard care. Standard care will involve the injured worker being managed by a medical practitioner who can refer as necessary.The early intervention protocol will also involve coordination between the workplace, Workplace Rehabilitation Provider, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Early psychological intervention will be provided to injured Australia Post workers. The workers will be receiving up to 6 sessions of CBT-based care for the identified psychosocial risk factors, in addition to their standard care. Standard care will involve the injured worker being managed by a medical practitioner who can refer as necessary.The early intervention protocol will also involve coordination between the workplace, Workplace Rehabilitation Provider, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) clinician, and medical staff. 1. Brief description of the psychological intervention (a-e) The early psychological intervention will be provided by the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) workers (Converge) associated with Australia Post. The EAP workers will provide a brief, problem-focussed face-to-face intervention for the injured worker. EAP workers have expertise in providing brief and targeted treatment. Adherence to the intervention will be monitored in the follow up appointment with he injured worker. This intervention will focus on reducing symptoms and facilitating return to work. More specifically, the early intervention will 1) focus on activity and independence, 2) working towards agreed goals, 3) regular review of progress and 4) targeting identified psychosocial obstacles for return to work. The EAP workers will be asked to assess and address any identified obstacles for return to work that they considered within their competence in up to 1 X 1 hour session per week for 6 sessions. No specific therapy or target problem will be specified, but the participating EAP workers will be informed that their intervention should be brief, problem-focussed, consistent with a cognitive-behavioural approach, and have a clear return to work focus. The EAP workers will be expected to maintain contact with both the workplace via the Work Rehabilitation Provider (WRP) and GP at least every 2 weeks to report on progress. They will be required to alert the workplace (WRP) and treating doctor to any issues they thought could affect successful return to work. EAP workers will attend a short, structured training program to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to work in a manner consistent with the protocol. Regular supervision of the EAP workers will be provided by the Research leader and Clinical Psychologist on the Steering Committee. 2. Brief description of the standard care Standard Care: Focusses on standard management of the injury by a General Practitioner. Injured workers who were screened as high risk receive treatment as usual under the Comcare Guidelines. After the incident, a three point contact would typically be established between the Workplace Rehabilitation Provider (WRP), the GP, the workplace and the insurer. The frequency and duration of GP appointment will be at the discretion of the injured worker and the GP. The GP will case manage the injured worker and refer to other providers, support groups, websites as necessary.
Sponsors
Australia Post Group
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
The inclusion criteria are the worker: • Must be part of the Australia Post Group (Australia Post and Star Track) • Have a current workers compensation claim • Have a work-related injury • Must have sustained the injury within four weeks • Have a score greater than 48/100 on the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire - Short Form (*ÖMPSQ-SF). • Has adequate English to not require an interpreter to complete the survey.
Exclusion criteria
The exclusion criteria are: • Having a primary psychological injury • Having a catastrophic injury (e.g. spinal cord injury) • Being a casual, contracted or labour-hire worker who could be job detached (where their contract has expired and/or there is no job to return to) • Having concurrent claims where the worker already has an open claim when the new injury occurs. • If the worker’s rehabilitation case is being managed external to Australia Post
Outcome results
None listed