TRAINING WORK SUPERVISORS FOR REINTEGRATION OF EMPLOYEES TREATED FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN

Work supervisors (N = 58) were given a 1 day training course to aid th e reintegration of employees (N = 46) treated for musculoskeletal pain with a cognitive-behavioral program of rehabilitation. The effects of the training program were measured at three occasions covering the su pervisors' knowledge about spinal pain and how to reintegrate employee s to work. The effect of the training program was also assessed by ask ing the employees about their perception of supervisor behavior in the ir integration to work. The results show that the supervisors felt the y had acquired a great deal of new knowledge about pain and as well as the reintegration of employees. They reported changes in supervisory behavior; i.e., conducting follow-up meetings, as was emphasized durin g the course. These improvements were, however not entirely confirmed by their employees. More than half the employees in a comparison group where supervisors did nor participate in the training program, report ed follow-up meetings with their supervisors. Follow-up meetings, rega rdless of group, were associated with more ergonomic changes carried o ut at the working place, according to the reports from the employees. The reported quality of social support from supervisors was also highe r for those employees who had participated in follow-up meetings. Pati ents who had participated in follow-up meetings also had fewer days on sick leave during the follow-up period. In order to increase the retu rn-to-work rate of employees, training courses of supervisory behavior may need to further emphasize active participation in the rehabilitat ion process.