Evaluation of a randomized preventive behavioural medicine work site intervention for public health workers at risk for developing chronic pain

Because of the substantial increase of sick listing, reports of work disabilities and early retirement due to the musculoskeletal chronic pain, prevention studies at the work site are greatly needed. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a cognitive behavioural work site intervention on a group of public health workers judged to be at risk for developing chronic pain. Following baseline measurements, a group of 29 practical nurses with daily pain symptoms working at services for the elderly were randomized into two conditions: an active treatment based on cognitive behaviour therapy and a passive treatment based on traditional symptom alleviation. The two treatment conditions, provided by a registered nurse and a physical therapist, took place 30 min a week each once a week, on an individual basis for 4 weeks at the work site during work time. Results at 4 and 8 weeks and at 6, 12 and 24 month follow-ups showed improvements for those individuals receiving the active treatment with regard to the reduction of use of pain-killers, perception of one's self as being sick and the fear-avoidance response to work-related activities. A preliminary conclusion was that this short-term work site programme for the prevention of chronic pain for individuals at risk may be a promising development in the treatment of pain. (C) 2001 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain.