Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669)

Annette Bishop; Gwenllian Wynne-Jones; Sarah A Lawton; Danielle van der Windt; Chris Main; Gail Sowden; A Kim Burton; Martyn Lewis; Sue Jowett; Tom Sanders; Elaine M Hay; Nadine E Foster; SWAP study team

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-232

Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669)

Annette Bishop, Gwenllian Wynne-Jones, Sarah A Lawton, Danielle van der Windt, Chris Main, Gail Sowden, A Kim Burton, Martyn Lewis, Sue Jowett, Tom Sanders, Elaine M Hay, Nadine E Foster, SWAP study team

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to short and long term work absence. Patients seek care from their general practitioner (GP) and yet GPs often feel ill-equipped to deal with work issues. Providing a vocational case management service in primary care, to support patients with musculoskeletal problems to remain at or return to work, is one potential solution but requires robust evaluation to test clinical and cost-effectiveness.

METHODS/DESIGN: This protocol describes a cluster randomised controlled trial, with linked qualitative interviews, to investigate the effect of introducing a vocational advice service into general practice, to provide a structured approach to managing work related issues in primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain who are absent from work or struggling to remain in work. General practices (n = 6) will be randomised to offer best current care or best current care plus a vocational advice service. Adults of working age who are absent from or struggling to remain in work due to a musculoskeletal pain problem will be invited to participate and 330 participants will be recruited. Data collection will be through patient completed questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months. The primary outcome is self-reported work absence at 4 months. Incremental cost-utility analysis will be undertaken to calculate the cost per additional QALY gained and incremental net benefits. A linked interview study will explore the experiences of the vocational advice service from the perspectives of GPs, nurse practitioners (NPs), patients and vocational advisors.

DISCUSSION: This paper presents the rationale, design, and methods of the Study of Work And Pain (SWAP) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for musculoskeletal pain patients with work-related issues.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52269669.

Original language	English
Article number	232
Number of pages	11
Journal	BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-232
Publication status	Published - 10 Jul 2014

Keywords

Absenteeism
Case Management
Clinical Protocols
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Counseling
England
General Practice
Health Care Costs
Humans
Musculoskeletal Pain
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Health Services
Primary Health Care
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Research Design
Sick Leave
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Cluster randomised trial
Primary care
Vocational advice
Work

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Bishop, A., Wynne-Jones, G., Lawton, S. A., van der Windt, D., Main, C., Sowden, G., Burton, A. K., Lewis, M., Jowett, S., Sanders, T., Hay, E. M., Foster, N. E., & SWAP study team (2014). Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 15, Article 232. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-232

@article{c7564d7dc78745b99d1e0a8e7ec73117,

title = "Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669)",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to short and long term work absence. Patients seek care from their general practitioner (GP) and yet GPs often feel ill-equipped to deal with work issues. Providing a vocational case management service in primary care, to support patients with musculoskeletal problems to remain at or return to work, is one potential solution but requires robust evaluation to test clinical and cost-effectiveness.METHODS/DESIGN: This protocol describes a cluster randomised controlled trial, with linked qualitative interviews, to investigate the effect of introducing a vocational advice service into general practice, to provide a structured approach to managing work related issues in primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain who are absent from work or struggling to remain in work. General practices (n = 6) will be randomised to offer best current care or best current care plus a vocational advice service. Adults of working age who are absent from or struggling to remain in work due to a musculoskeletal pain problem will be invited to participate and 330 participants will be recruited. Data collection will be through patient completed questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months. The primary outcome is self-reported work absence at 4 months. Incremental cost-utility analysis will be undertaken to calculate the cost per additional QALY gained and incremental net benefits. A linked interview study will explore the experiences of the vocational advice service from the perspectives of GPs, nurse practitioners (NPs), patients and vocational advisors.DISCUSSION: This paper presents the rationale, design, and methods of the Study of Work And Pain (SWAP) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for musculoskeletal pain patients with work-related issues.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52269669.",

keywords = "Absenteeism, Case Management, Clinical Protocols, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Counseling, England, General Practice, Health Care Costs, Humans, Musculoskeletal Pain, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Health Services, Primary Health Care, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Research Design, Sick Leave, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, Cluster randomised trial, Primary care, Vocational advice, Work",

author = "Annette Bishop and Gwenllian Wynne-Jones and Lawton, {Sarah A} and {van der Windt}, Danielle and Chris Main and Gail Sowden and Burton, {A Kim} and Martyn Lewis and Sue Jowett and Tom Sanders and Hay, {Elaine M} and Foster, {Nadine E} and {SWAP study team}",

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Bishop, A, Wynne-Jones, G, Lawton, SA, van der Windt, D, Main, C, Sowden, G, Burton, AK, Lewis, M, Jowett, S, Sanders, T, Hay, EM, Foster, NE & SWAP study team 2014, 'Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669)', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 15, 232. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-232

Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669). / Bishop, Annette; Wynne-Jones, Gwenllian; Lawton, Sarah A et al.
In: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Vol. 15, 232, 10.07.2014.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP)

T2 - a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669)

AU - Bishop, Annette

AU - Wynne-Jones, Gwenllian

AU - Lawton, Sarah A

AU - van der Windt, Danielle

AU - Main, Chris

AU - Sowden, Gail

AU - Burton, A Kim

AU - Lewis, Martyn

AU - Jowett, Sue

AU - Sanders, Tom

AU - Hay, Elaine M

AU - Foster, Nadine E

AU - SWAP study team

PY - 2014/7/10

Y1 - 2014/7/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to short and long term work absence. Patients seek care from their general practitioner (GP) and yet GPs often feel ill-equipped to deal with work issues. Providing a vocational case management service in primary care, to support patients with musculoskeletal problems to remain at or return to work, is one potential solution but requires robust evaluation to test clinical and cost-effectiveness.METHODS/DESIGN: This protocol describes a cluster randomised controlled trial, with linked qualitative interviews, to investigate the effect of introducing a vocational advice service into general practice, to provide a structured approach to managing work related issues in primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain who are absent from work or struggling to remain in work. General practices (n = 6) will be randomised to offer best current care or best current care plus a vocational advice service. Adults of working age who are absent from or struggling to remain in work due to a musculoskeletal pain problem will be invited to participate and 330 participants will be recruited. Data collection will be through patient completed questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months. The primary outcome is self-reported work absence at 4 months. Incremental cost-utility analysis will be undertaken to calculate the cost per additional QALY gained and incremental net benefits. A linked interview study will explore the experiences of the vocational advice service from the perspectives of GPs, nurse practitioners (NPs), patients and vocational advisors.DISCUSSION: This paper presents the rationale, design, and methods of the Study of Work And Pain (SWAP) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for musculoskeletal pain patients with work-related issues.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52269669.

AB - BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a major contributor to short and long term work absence. Patients seek care from their general practitioner (GP) and yet GPs often feel ill-equipped to deal with work issues. Providing a vocational case management service in primary care, to support patients with musculoskeletal problems to remain at or return to work, is one potential solution but requires robust evaluation to test clinical and cost-effectiveness.METHODS/DESIGN: This protocol describes a cluster randomised controlled trial, with linked qualitative interviews, to investigate the effect of introducing a vocational advice service into general practice, to provide a structured approach to managing work related issues in primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain who are absent from work or struggling to remain in work. General practices (n = 6) will be randomised to offer best current care or best current care plus a vocational advice service. Adults of working age who are absent from or struggling to remain in work due to a musculoskeletal pain problem will be invited to participate and 330 participants will be recruited. Data collection will be through patient completed questionnaires at baseline, 4 and 12 months. The primary outcome is self-reported work absence at 4 months. Incremental cost-utility analysis will be undertaken to calculate the cost per additional QALY gained and incremental net benefits. A linked interview study will explore the experiences of the vocational advice service from the perspectives of GPs, nurse practitioners (NPs), patients and vocational advisors.DISCUSSION: This paper presents the rationale, design, and methods of the Study of Work And Pain (SWAP) trial. The results of this trial will provide evidence to inform primary care practice and guide the development of services to provide support for musculoskeletal pain patients with work-related issues.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52269669.

KW - Absenteeism

KW - Case Management

KW - Clinical Protocols

KW - Cost-Benefit Analysis

KW - Counseling

KW - England

KW - General Practice

KW - Health Care Costs

KW - Humans

KW - Musculoskeletal Pain

KW - Occupational Diseases

KW - Occupational Health Services

KW - Primary Health Care

KW - Quality-Adjusted Life Years

KW - Research Design

KW - Sick Leave

KW - Time Factors

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Cluster randomised trial

KW - Primary care

KW - Vocational advice

KW - Work

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DO - 10.1186/1471-2474-15-232

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JO - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

JF - BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Bishop A, Wynne-Jones G, Lawton SA, van der Windt D, Main C, Sowden G et al. Rationale, design and methods of the Study of Work and Pain (SWAP): a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the addition of a vocational advice service to best current primary care for patients with musculoskeletal pain (ISRCTN 52269669). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2014 Jul 10;15:232. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-232