Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of face-to-face information for the treatment of mild low-back pain (LBP) in an occupational health (OH) setting. METHODS: We conducted a 48-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two 1:1 allocated parallel groups of forestry...

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Main Authors: Jarmo Rantonen, Aki Vehtari, Jaro Karppinen, Satu Luoto, Eira Viikari-Juntura, Markku Hupli, Antti Malmivaara, Simo Taimela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) 2014-03-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Subjects:
Online Access: https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3398
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author Jarmo Rantonen
Aki Vehtari
Jaro Karppinen
Satu Luoto
Eira Viikari-Juntura
Markku Hupli
Antti Malmivaara
Simo Taimela
author_facet Jarmo Rantonen
Aki Vehtari
Jaro Karppinen
Satu Luoto
Eira Viikari-Juntura
Markku Hupli
Antti Malmivaara
Simo Taimela
author_sort Jarmo Rantonen
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of face-to-face information for the treatment of mild low-back pain (LBP) in an occupational health (OH) setting. METHODS: We conducted a 48-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two 1:1 allocated parallel groups of forestry company employees. Eligibility criteria included permanent employment, age <57 years, and mild LBP [visual analogue scale (VAS) 10–34 mm] in a survey. The intervention group received the Back Book, an information booklet on how to manage LBP, with an additional face-to-face review of the booklet by an OH nurse. The control group received the booklet only. Primary outcomes were physical impairment (Roland-Morris 18-item (RM-18) Disability Questionnaire), LBP (VAS 100 mm), health-related quality of life [15-dimensional quality of life (15-D)] during two years and sickness absence (SA) up to four years. Participants were assigned using block randomization with a computer-generated scheme. RESULTS: The RCT comprised 181 participants (72% male, mean age 44 years). There were no differences between the treatment arms in any of the primary outcomes at any time point. At 24 months, the mean group differences (intervention versus control) were: RM-18: 0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1–1], VAS: 3 mm (95% CI -3–8), and 15-D 0.00 (95% CI -0.02–0.02). The difference in cumulative sickness absence days at 48 months were -3 (95% CI -28–21) for total and 1 (95% CI -3–5) for LBP specific sick leaves. Exploratory analysis revealed no differences at subgroup-levels either. CONCLUSIONS: Face-to-face patient information by an OH nurse in addition to a booklet was not more effective than the booklet alone in treating employees with mild LBP in an OH setting.
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spelling doaj.art-db1f456eeea04c0fb9a295eb867bc5c62022-12-21T23:45:52ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2014-03-0140215616610.5271/sjweh.33983398Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trialJarmo Rantonen0Aki VehtariJaro KarppinenSatu LuotoEira Viikari-JunturaMarkku HupliAntti MalmivaaraSimo TaimelaFinnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) Lappeenranta, Kasarmikatu 9, 53900 Lappeenranta, Finland.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of face-to-face information for the treatment of mild low-back pain (LBP) in an occupational health (OH) setting. METHODS: We conducted a 48-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two 1:1 allocated parallel groups of forestry company employees. Eligibility criteria included permanent employment, age <57 years, and mild LBP [visual analogue scale (VAS) 10–34 mm] in a survey. The intervention group received the Back Book, an information booklet on how to manage LBP, with an additional face-to-face review of the booklet by an OH nurse. The control group received the booklet only. Primary outcomes were physical impairment (Roland-Morris 18-item (RM-18) Disability Questionnaire), LBP (VAS 100 mm), health-related quality of life [15-dimensional quality of life (15-D)] during two years and sickness absence (SA) up to four years. Participants were assigned using block randomization with a computer-generated scheme. RESULTS: The RCT comprised 181 participants (72% male, mean age 44 years). There were no differences between the treatment arms in any of the primary outcomes at any time point. At 24 months, the mean group differences (intervention versus control) were: RM-18: 0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1–1], VAS: 3 mm (95% CI -3–8), and 15-D 0.00 (95% CI -0.02–0.02). The difference in cumulative sickness absence days at 48 months were -3 (95% CI -28–21) for total and 1 (95% CI -3–5) for LBP specific sick leaves. Exploratory analysis revealed no differences at subgroup-levels either. CONCLUSIONS: Face-to-face patient information by an OH nurse in addition to a booklet was not more effective than the booklet alone in treating employees with mild LBP in an OH setting. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3398 sickness absenceinterventionrandomized controlled trialsecondary preventionemployee healthpatient informationback bookmild low-back painlow-back painback painoccupational healthintervention study
spellingShingle Jarmo Rantonen
Aki Vehtari
Jaro Karppinen
Satu Luoto
Eira Viikari-Juntura
Markku Hupli
Antti Malmivaara
Simo Taimela
Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
sickness absence
intervention
randomized controlled trial
secondary prevention
employee health
patient information
back book
mild low-back pain
low-back pain
back pain
occupational health
intervention study
title Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Face-to-face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort face to face information combined with a booklet versus a booklet alone for treatment of mild low back pain a randomized controlled trial
topic sickness absence
intervention
randomized controlled trial
secondary prevention
employee health
patient information
back book
mild low-back pain
low-back pain
back pain
occupational health
intervention study
url https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3398
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