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.

The enduring impact of what clinicians say to people with low back pain

contributorLauren Finestone

Healthcare professionals have more influence than they may realise on the attitudes and beliefs...

‘It’s not fair. And it hurts’. The relationship between perceived injustice, chronic pain, recovery and RTW

contributorLauren Finestone

A study into the relationship between perceptions of injustice and chronic pain gives us reason...

RTW expectations built on trust, workplace support and actions of treatment provider

contributorRTWMatters team

RTW expectations predict recovery from musculoskeletal injury. Workplace supports, trust and the...

Expectations impact sickness absence after carpal tunnel surgery

contributorGabrielle Lis

Worker's pre-surgery expectations about the timing of RTW influence the duration of sickness...

How do workers decide when to return?

contributorRTWMatters team

Top ten considerations that underlie decisions about the timing of RTW.

The impact of values

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

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

Research short: Work is good for you, but...

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

The UK's treating practitioners say that work is beneficial, but how do they actually behave...

Research short: Cancer and work

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Who is more pessimistic about the impact of cancer on working life: cancer survivors or...

Expecting the worst and fearing pain are tell-tale signs of slow RTW

contributorJulian Fernando

Identify high-risk patients to pip long term back problems at the proverbial post

Back pain with no explanation is scary

contributorHannah Bourne

What do people with different kinds of back pain believe about pain and how do these beliefs...

Fear, expectation and back pain - the evidence

contributorFriyana Bhabha

Knowing what psychosocial factors affect recovery from low back pain can help target employee...

Back problems: beliefs and recovery - the evidence

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A person's beliefs about back problems influence how they engage with treatment, so providing...

Back pain and pessimism: A vicious cycle-The evidence

contributorTom Wells-Quinn

Pessimistic beliefs about back pain can prolong suffering and prevent proper treatment

The simple way to predict RTW outcomes? Ask!

contributorHannah Bourne

A short survey can predict a worker's RTW outcomes

Shifting attitudes to back pain - the Scots follow the Aussies

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A public health campaign in Scotland has improved people's understanding and beliefs about back...

Lifting expectations brings results

contributorJulian Fernando

Advice for health professionals about the best attitudes for patients to adopt on the road to...