Implementing a self-management intervention for people with a chronic compensable musculoskeletal injury in a workers compensation context: a process evaluation.

PURPOSE: Determining factors critical for an intervention's success, specifically for whom and under what circumstances, is necessary if interventions are to be effectively targeted and efficiently implemented. This paper describes a process evaluation undertaken to assess the implementation of a novel self-management (SM) intervention developed for those with a chronic compensable work-related musculoskeletal disorder seeking to return to work. METHODS: The process evaluation, assessing the 'Self-Management for Return to Work' intervention, examined data from program leader evaluations, telephone interviews with stakeholders (injured worker participants, vocational rehabilitation consultant program leaders and compensation insurance regulators), post-intervention focus group session feedback, attendance lists and researcher notes. RESULTS: The evaluation identified several challenges and barriers associated with conducting research within the VR environment and with the characteristics of those targeted i.e., injured workers with a chronic compensable condition. These issues were primary contributing factors to the modifications to the randomised controlled trial methodology and the trial's premature cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the difficulties encountered, high stakeholder acceptability suggests that the concept and theory underlying the targeted SM intervention were not flawed, though there is room for further tailoring to both the program method and its timing. The results of this process evaluation provide a useful platform for others considering the implementation of interventions within the vocational rehabilitation context or with individuals with chronic, compensated injuries.

'Beyond Cancer' Rehabilitation Program to Support Breast Cancer Survivors to Return to Health, Wellness and Work: Feasibility Study Outcomes.

More women are returning to work following breast cancer treatment. Our team designed 'Beyond Cancer', a multimodal rehabilitation program to support breast cancer survivors to return to work. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of the intervention from the breast cancer survivor, employer and occupational rehabilitation provider perspectives. The feasibility design focused on implementation, acceptability and preliminary indications of efficacy. Primary outcome measures included work status, work capacity and perceived support at work. Responses were compared with an historical usual care group of mixed cancer survivors. The tailored intervention was delivered over 33 weeks (on average) by trained occupational rehabilitation consultants. Eighty-four women with breast cancer (mean age = 50.8 years, SD = 8.24) who were unable to work in their pre-diagnosis capacity for >3 months participated. Results provided preliminary indications of efficacy for primary work outcomes, including work capacity relative to the historical usual care group, and some secondary biopsychosocial variables (physical fatigue, return to work expectations). The intervention was acceptable, demonstrated strong participant engagement and high satisfaction. Feasibility has been demonstrated for this multimodal intervention focused on returning to sustainable work for women with breast cancer. Future research is required with people diagnosed with other cancer types to demonstrate broader implementation.

Does self-management for return to work increase the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation for chronic compensated musculoskeletal disorders? Protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are common and costly disorders to workers compensation and motor accident insurance systems and are a leading contributor to the burden of ill-health. In Australia, vocational rehabilitation is provided to workers to assist them to stay in, or return to work. Self-management training may be an innovative addition to improve health and employment outcomes from vocational rehabilitation. METHODS/DESIGN: The research plan contains mixed methodology consisting of a single blind randomised controlled trial, an economic evaluation and qualitative research. Participants (n = 366) are volunteers with compensated musculoskeletal disorders of 3 months to 3 years in duration who were working at the time of the injury/onset of the chronic disorder. The trial tests the effectiveness of usual vocational rehabilitation plus the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) to which two additional and newly-developed modules have been added, against vocational rehabilitation alone (control) The modules added to the CDSMP focus on how to navigate through compensation systems and manage the return to work process, and aim to be relevant to those in a vocational rehabilitation setting.The primary outcome of this study is readiness for return to work which will be evaluated using the Readiness for Return-to-Work scale. Secondary outcomes include return to work status, health efficacy (heiQ questionnaire) and general health status (SF-12v2(R) Health Survey). Measures will be taken at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 6- and 12- months post-intervention by an independent assessor. An economic evaluation will compare the costs and outcomes between the intervention and control groups in terms of cost-effectiveness and a partial cost-benefit or cost analysis. The impact of the intervention will also be evaluated qualitatively, in terms of its acceptability to stakeholders. DISCUSSION: This article describes the protocol for a single blind randomised controlled trial with a one year follow-up. The results will provide evidence for the addition or not of self-management training within vocational rehabilitation for chronic compensated musculoskeletal disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12609000843257.

Australian military primary care practitioners do not believe clinical practice guidelines are needed for postdeployment medically unexplained symptoms.

In Australia, little research has been undertaken on the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to assist with the impact of postdeployment ill-health including medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and it has been unclear whether such a development is desired by Australian primary care practitioners. In response an empirical investigation into the perceptions and experiences of 24 medical officers from the Australian military with regard to postdeployment ill-health, medically unexplained symptoms, and the potential development of CPGs in this area was undertaken. The analysis suggests that although MUS are accepted as common in general practice they are not perceived by practitioners to be as prevalent in the Australian Defense Forces. Although the medical officers do not perceive clinical practice guidelines as the best tool for managing MUS, there was interest in the development of practical tools to assist in the diagnosis of medically unexplained symptoms. The response by practitioners is of critical importance for the potential implementation of clinical practice guidelines in this area.

The conundrum of medically unexplained symptoms: questions to consider.

BACKGROUND: The classification and etiology of medically unexplained symptoms remain a clinical challenge. Recent proposals to improve systems of classification include ending the tradition of separating symptoms into medical or psychiatric groups. METHOD: Several research questions are proposed to resolve some of the divergent opinions about the nature of these difficulties. CONCLUSION: Unitary models of somatic symptom causation should not be presumed. Examination of the causes and nature of somatic distress in those with and without psychiatric disorders requires separate investigation for each, and these should not be presumed to be similar. Psychophysiological models of somatic symptoms are required that can be studied in research protocols.

Compensation and wellness: a conflict for veterans' health.

In Australia greater attention is being given to health determinants, and the dominance of treatment in health policy and budgets is giving away some ground to prevention, health promotion, rehabilitation and disability management. This creates a dilemma for compensation systems: should the inclusion criteria be broadened to match the new thinking or should a narrower definition of "disease, injury or death" be retained? This issue is explored in the context of war syndromes among veterans. While veterans experience symptoms more frequently and more severely than military and community controls, their patterns of symptoms are not unique. Current compensation and benefit programs can create iatrogenic effects. It is concluded that compensation systems should be kept as safety nets while resources are provided to improve the capacity of primary health care caregivers, community organisations and veterans with war syndromes and their families to better deal with these problems. Adapting compensation systems to promote wellness through self-management health partnerships is one way of directing resources to individuals and their families. Action research at the community level with veterans, their families, their organisations, primary health care organisations, policy makers and researchers would allow this sector to work out the best way to apply existing efficacious tools to these modern health problems.

Options for expanding the health workforce.

Health workforce reform remains a major challenge for Australia. The recent Productivity Commission report provided some guidance, but, sadly, few of the recommendations have been implemented. Health economies (and with them the health workforce) will continue to expand as the burden of disease increases. The important issue is to expand the current workforce but provide for a generalist stream that allows flexibility and retraining. The future health workforce needs to be able to provide patient-centred care, to have a focus on public health and disease prevention, use information and the new communication technologies, to be able to work as part of a team and partner with a range of organisations and to be dedicated to quality improvement within the health system.

Applying principles of self-management to facilitate workers to return to or remain at work with a chronic musculoskeletal condition.

It is incumbent on health care professionals to support patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions to manage the impact of the condition on their life. Work is a positive health behaviour for which self-management skills are essential. In this paper, self-management is defined and the role of clinicians in promoting self-management for return to work is outlined with examples and tips on how the clinician can incorporate self-management into practice. The clinician is ideally placed to assist individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions manage to remain at work or return to work. This can be achieved through such activities as the promotion of the core self-management skills of problem-solving, decision making, resource utilisation, developing a cooperative partnership between clinician and patient and making an action plan.

Task substitution: where to from here?

Meeting future health workforce needs is a challenge for all health professionals.