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.

Work injury and deaths of despair

contributorGabrielle Lis

Research from the US confirms the link between work absences of more than a week and deaths from...

Research: Making Alternative Resolution Systems' Fair

contributorAnne Richey

The study 'Just Tell Me! Making Dispute Resolution Systems' Fair' by Blancero et al aimed to...

Employee Decision-Making about Disclosure of a Mental Health Disorder at Work - part 2

contributorAnne Richey

Part two looks at the processes employees go through in weighing up the risks and benefits of...

Employee Decision-Making about Disclosure of a Mental Health Disorder at Work - part 1

contributorAnne Richey

Discussing mental health at work is a complex issue. The authors of this research, Kate Toth...

Occupational Stress in the Ambulance Service: a diagnostic study

contributorAnne Richey

Due to political and economic change, demands on public servants are escalating in a back...

RTW: Police personnel and PTSD

contributorAnne Richey

The researchers explore the RTW of police suffering from PTSD in the Netherlands, undergoing BEP...

How do social functioning, social relationships and compensation influence RTW?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Understanding the factors that influence return to work assists in effective rehabilitation.

How do the efforts of employer and employee influence the RTW process and outcomes

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Researchers sought to study what influences return-to-work and return-to-work effort sufficiency.

Intervention practices for depression in the workplace

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Researchers from Canada sought to summarise the research on interventions for depression in the...

The association between social functioning, relationships, receiving compensation and RTW

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Understanding the factors that influence return to work assists in effective rehabilitation.

Measuring employer and employee efforts toward RTW

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Researchers suggest shifting from a straightforward evaluation of capacity and duties to more...

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.

Assessing stress using a visual scale

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

French researchers find a simple way to measure stress

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

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...

Studies of RSI in musicians fail to consider work activities and the psychosocial environment

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...

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...

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 Netherlands study has produced a simple, efficient means for assessing the probable duration...

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's...

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?

Guided internet-based cognitive behavioural treatment for chronic back pain reduces pain catastrophising

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A randomized controlled trial from Sweden offers hope for chronic back pain sufferers.

Research short: Managing arm pain in computer users

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Ergonomic keyboards can help reduce the effects of recurrent arm pain in office workers.

Research short: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Disability is more likely if a patient worries about their illness.

Industry events & Training