Research Updates

This page lists all research updates available on Return to Work Matters.

Research is chosen for review based on quality of the evidence and its practical value in return to work.

Requests to undertake reviews of research on particular subjects are welcome.

Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.

Predicting the transition from acute to persistent low back pain

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A small but significant proportion of people with back pain go on to develop long-term problems.

Regional trends in sickness benefit payments

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Rsearchers investigated why claims for mental and behavioural disorders have overtaken those for...

Depression and work performance

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

An ecological study using web based screening

Self reported work-related symptoms in hairdressers

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Musculoskeletal problems for hairdressers may be reduced if the risks are understood.

Work-related symptoms in nail salon technicians

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Managers may be unfamiliar with evidence-based prevention and ergonomic practices

Easy, accurate way to measure stress

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

French researchers find a simple way to measure stress - using a visual scale.

The burden of sickness absence from musculoskeletal causes

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

The costs of a major health problem in developed nations

The occupational hazard of self treatment and self medication for doctors

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A review of self medication in physicians and medical students

Work ability, psychosocial hazards and work experience in prisons

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Spanish researchers sought to understand work ability amongst prison workers.

Physical activity at work and low back pain

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Back problems are commonly attributed to work and many in the community believe that heavy...

Does hurting here - and here - and here - make it harder to work?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Multi-site pain is a common phenomenon among working-age people and it strongly increases work...

RSI in musicians

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Professional musicians have high rates of musculoskeletal pain, but few studies have analysed...

Predictors of poor outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal pain

contributorJoy Hewitt

Generic prognostic factors may assist primary care practitioners to identify those patients with...

Confidence vital for supervisors managing RTW...

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

...And other influences on supervisor readiness to engage in workplace-based vocational...

Job demands, musculoskeletal symptoms and computer work

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

When musculoskeletal problems flare for a desk-bound office worker, they may need a stress check...

An elegant way to assess recovery

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A single question - "How do you feel you are recovering from your injury?” - may be as useful in...

Can botox injections replace surgery for refractory knee pain?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Exercise and surgery have long been the staple treatments for refractory knee pain - but is...

Entrenched work disability shifted by self-knowledge

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Might a therapeutic approach that focuses on increasing self-knowledge help shift long-term work...

What's missing from undergraduate occupational medicine tuition?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

We need better approaches to teaching medical students about work, health and occupational medicine.

Slow access to vocational rehab with cancer?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Workers with cancer may have delayed referral to occupational health services

Leadership effectiveness and recorded sickness absence

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Nurse managers who match their leadership style to the issue at hand see fewer short time...

Severity of bipolar disorder does not determine disability level

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

This study sought to understand whether patients with bipolar disorder admitted to hospital had...

Workplace support counts for employees with cancer

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Employer attitudes influence RTW after a cancer diagnosis.

Research short: Flexible hours improves wellbeing

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A University of Wollongong survey shows employees with access to flexible working hours are in...

Research short: Bad for the body, bad for the workplace

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A major study from the Netherlands shows productivity can be improved by helping workers improve...

Research short: How long will chronic low back pain last?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A Dutch study has produced a simple, efficient means for assessing the probable duration of low...

Research short: Can yoga ease workplace stress?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A UK study has concluded that regular yoga can improve workplace wellbeing and reduce employee...

Research short: Getting disability off your back

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

New research shows patient anxiety and distress about a lower back complaint significantly...

Research short: Sick of work

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A Swedish study has highlighted the link between lacklustre organisational environments...

Research short: Spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Researchers have found spinal manipulative therapy yields small improvements in chronic low back...

Research short: Returning to work after road accidents

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A new study highlights the mains causes for return to work delays after an injury on the road.

Research short: Do physician guidelines improve return to work rates?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A Dutch study has shown that adherence to guidelines by physicians can help lead to earlier...

Research short: What is the best way to evaluate permanent impairment?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A study has raised doubts about whether the new edition of the American Medical Association...

Research short: Professional supervision for rehab providers

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A survey of rehabilitation and return to work managers in Queensland has led to calls for...

Research short: Exercise and the treatment of chronic pain

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Researchers have developed an effective treatment for the vexing condition of Fibromyalgia...

Research short: Improving RTW outcomes with pain coping skills

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Injured workers may have a better RTW outcome if they undergo pain coping skills training before...

Research short: Occupational therapy for psychosis

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A study has shown promising signs of success for helping people with mental health issues join...

Research short: Abnormal tactile sensations in chronic pain

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Canadian researchers have highlighted the lack of knowledge about the causes of abnormal and...

Research short: What med certs tell us about sickness absence

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A Swedish study has shown that what doctors and employers will permit on medical certificates...

The impact of values

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Can employees' values improve their happiness, absence rates and health?