SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF AN OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

The objective of the study was to investigate whether intensified reha bilitation efforts in primary health care may produce any short-term o r long-term reduction of sick leave. The resources at the health care center were fortified with a coordinator from the local insurance offi ce and a specialist group from the hospital. In one primary health car e district, a prospective study was performed among 100 patients with a musculoskeletal disorder, having caused at least 21 consecutive days of full-time sick leave (patients). Serving as a control group were i ndividually matched patients from any other health care center in the surrounding municipality of Kristianstad (controls). The number of sic k leave days was assessed during year one (short-term) and year three (long-term) after rehabilitation was initiated. The median number of d ays with sickness benefits for men in the short-term was lower for pat ients than for controls (34.5 vs 48.5). No difference was found among women. No differences were found in the long-term between patients and controls, either for men or women. We conclude that rehabilitation in primary health care was made more efficient through collaboration wit h the local insurance office and the specialists, but the effects were not maintained after the collaboration ended.