Facet

Description

Program outline

Early Matched Care at Australia Post (EMCAP) Study [10] : A program designed to identify workers at high risk of negative health outcomes at the early stages of an injury and design interventions to prevent long-term ill health and poor workers' compensation outcomes.

Initial screening / triage

•Screening tool: Orebro Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-SF)

•Method: Conducted by in-house Workplace Rehabilitation Provider (WRP) during Initial Needs Assessment (INA) within 5 days of injury

•Protocol: Scores over 48 on ÖMPSQ-SF are referred for psychosocial support

Matched care intervention

1.Overall system: Referral to Converge (EAP provider) for those scoring >48 on ÖMPSQ-SF

2.Psychosocial counselling: up to 6 counselling sessions over 6 weeks with specially trained counsellors, average used 5

3.Extra healthcare support: Case conference with GP, WRP, injured worker

4.Extra workplace support: Collaborative plan developed to address primary return to work barriers

5.Case manager's role: WRP manages the process and participates in case conference

Training and Capacity Building

•Training provided to Converge counsellors by a clinical psychologist on occupational rehab, health benefits of work, and workers' compensation

•Training for WRP on how to present the program to injured workers
 

Outcome measures

•Pre-post questionnaire results: ÖMPSQ, DASS (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale), Brief Pain Inventory, Pain Self-Efficacy, Pain Catastrophising Scale

•RTW Capacity certification: Time to return to any duties, time to return to full hours

•Disability measures: Return to full hours

•Incapacity costs

•Healthcare costs

Continuous Quality Improvement

•At the end of the study, there was a 12-month follow-up demonstrating durability of results. Post-study implementation involved flipping intervention and control states and continuing to track results nationally​

•Implementation of the program nationally after the study, with continuous monitoring of results
 

Results

1.  Psychosocial Outcomes:                            

•34% decrease in ÖMPSQ-SF Pain Screening score          

•46% decrease in depressive symptoms (DASS)      

•42% decrease in anxiety symptoms (DASS)          

•31% decrease in stress symptoms (DASS)          

•35% decrease in pain severity (Brief Pain Inventory)                                      

•44% decrease in pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory)                                      

•36% increase in pain self-efficacy              

•26% decrease in pain catastrophising            

2.  Return to Work Outcomes:                          

•15% faster initial return to work (5 days difference)                                      

•40% quicker return to full hours from injury date (45 days difference)                        

•51% faster return to full hours from any RTW (54 days difference)                            

3.  Cost Outcomes:                                    

•Median claim cost 44% less in the intervention group ($7,814 intervention group vs $13,464 control group)

•17% reduction in medical costs                  

4.  Other Findings:                                    

•80% reduction in disputes for people in them intervention group                              

•Benefits were durable at 12-month follow-up      

•Control group showed higher rates of repeat injuries compared to intervention group (specific data pending)