The Cost-Effectiveness of a Back School Program in Industry

Versloot, Judith; Rozeman, A.; Son, Ah-hyun; Akkerveeken, P. F. Van

doi:10.1097/00007632-199201000-00004

Cited by 70 publications

(31 citation statements)

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“…The largest proportion of the studies (50%) focused on musculoskeletal disorders (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29). Mental health problems, although a significant cause of work disability, were only addressed in two studies (30,31).…”

Section: Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mental health problems, although a significant cause of work disability, were only addressed in two studies (30,31). Table 2 provides a description of study populations, the intervention comparisons and (19,20,22,23,26,28,(31)(32)(33)(34), manufacturing (24,(35)(36)(37)(38), energy (21,(39)(40)(41), education (42,43), finance (44,45), government (27,46), transport (16,29), construction (18), defense (25), retail (17), telecommunications (47), and multiple sectors (30,48,49). With the exception of influenza, no single intervention was consistently evaluated in the other subgroups of studies addressing the same health problem.…”

Section: Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Economic evaluations of occupational health interventions from a corporate perspective – a systematic review of methodological quality

Uegaki¹,

Bruijne²,

Lambeek³

et al. 2010

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Section: Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic evaluations of occupational health interventions from a corporate perspective – a systematic review of methodological quality

Uegaki¹,

Bruijne²,

Lambeek³

et al. 2010

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…Other studies also showed a trend towards a decrease in the costs of back pain (linked with medical consumption and sick leave) after a primary prevention programme [29,39,40]. However, these studies concerned on-site interventions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In primary prevention, studies with control groups and data on lost workdays are rare, and results of educational programmes are conflicting [26]. However, in prospective studies in industry, the expected rate of back pain [27], compensation claims [28] and absenteeism [29] has been reduced.The Swiss League against Rheumatism (SLR) started a nationwide back school programme for the general population in 1990. The first 772 participants were prospectively evaluated and compared to a sample of 593 control subjects.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Prospective Controlled Study of Low Back School in the General Population

et al. 1996

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SUMMARYThere are no data on the efficacy of a back school in primary prevention of back pain in the general population or on the characteristics of the population who volunteers. After announcement in the local press, 494 healthy adults volunteered and paid for a back school course in Switzerland. A total of 371 controls were matched for sex, age, profession, nationality and back pain. A statistically significant decrease in numbers of doctor's visits was found by the participants during the following 6 months compared with the controls. However, there were no significant between-group differences in the four remaining parameters (presence and intensity of back pain, drug intake and sick leave). Three-quarters of participants changed their attitudes after the back school. Volunteering for a back pain prevention programme was associated with the presence of back pain problems. Reasons for volunteering are further discussed. Overall, the results of this study showed that a back school for the general population may not solve the problem of low back pain, but improves self-help in a subgroup of the population. Primary prevention programmes have also been developed to reduce the occurrence of low back pain. In primary prevention, studies with control groups and data on lost workdays are rare, and results of educational programmes are conflicting [26]. However, in prospective studies in industry, the expected rate of back pain [27], compensation claims [28] and absenteeism [29] has been reduced.The Swiss League against Rheumatism (SLR) started a nationwide back school programme for the general population in 1990. The first 772 participants were prospectively evaluated and compared to a sample of 593 control subjects.Primary prevention addresses healthy individuals. In patients, educational programmes aim at encouraging the patient to take part in the management of his back problem and to be an active agent in the recovery process, with the underlying assumption that motivation is linked to symptoms [30,31]. As participation in a programme such as the one evaluated in this study is voluntary, it raises the question of reasons for volunteering, especially when the course is intended for the general population and is organized outside of the workplace.The evaluation of this back school programme focused on two aspects: what impact does the back school have on the participants in terms of back pain (prevalence and intensity) and its consequences (number of doctor's visits, drug intake and sick leave); and who volunteers for such a programme. METHODS SettingThe SLR back school was widely advertised in the local press of major urban areas. It consisted of eight weekly lessons of 90 min in the evening. Participants were taught in small groups (7-12 participants) and were charged the equivalent of US$80.The lessons were given by a physiotherapist trained in back school education. A multidisciplinary team of health professionals of Swiss rehabilitation units had prepared a 200 page handbook as a didactic base for the teachers...

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