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Primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Value of health-status and sense-of-coherence measures in predicting long-term work disability

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Author

Summary, in English

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term sick leave among primary care patients with musculoskeletal disorders and the predictive value of health-status and sense-of-coherence measures. METHODS: Patients aged 17 to 64 years who, during seven weeks, attended one of six primary care centers because of non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain and who completed the SF-36 health questionnaire and the sense of coherence (SOC) scale at baseline and after one year. RESULTS: Of 189 patients, 36 (19%) were sicklisted for at least three months before and/or after their visit; the most common diagnoses were non-specific soft-tissue or multiple joint, low back, and shoulder pain. The long-term sicklisted patients had significantly worse baseline SF-36 and SOC scores than the non-sicklisted patients; moderate improvement in the SF-36 bodily pain but no improvement in the physical functioning scores occurred. The duration of sick leave at baseline and the SF-36 bodily pain score were significant predictors of continuos one-year work disability. CONCLUSION: Long-term sick leave was common among primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. The physical functioning and return-to-work outcomes after one year were poor. The SF-36 bodily pain scale might be helpful in identifying at risk patients.

Publishing year

2002

Language

English

Pages

239-244

Publication/Series

Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology

Volume

31

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Rheumatology and Autoimmunity

Status

Published

Research group

  • Human Movement: health and rehabilitation

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1502-7732