Table 2.
Characteristics and findings of the included studies
| Author (year) | Place of study | Study design | Length of follow-up | Study population | Sample size and dropout | Significant main factors* | Non-significant main factors | Measurements of RTW |
| Berglind and Gerner (2002)46 | Sweden | Prospective cohort | 24 months | Age: 18–55 years Gender: NA Pain: low back and neck Work absence: ≥8 weeks Pain duration: ≥8 weeks |
n=289 Response rate: NA Dropout: NA |
Work motivation | Work status (Yes/No) | |
| Du Bois et al (2009)49 | Belgium | Prospective cohort | 6 months | Age: 18–64 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: ≥4 weeks Pain duration: ≥4 weeks |
n=390 Response rate: 89% Dropout: 0% |
Disability Pain behaviour Fear avoidance beliefs Type of work Prior pain duration |
Work status (Yes/No) |
|
| Gallagher et al (1995)47 | USA | Prospective cohort | 6 months | Age: ≥18 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: ≥24 weeks Pain duration: ≥24 weeks |
n=169 Response rate: NA Dropout: 6% |
Compensation status Use of lawyer |
Work status (Yes/No) |
|
| Gross et al (2004) part I50 | Canada | Retrospective cohort (two cohorts) | 12 months | Age: x̅=41 (c1), 40 (c2), SD=10 (c1), 9 (c2) years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence :≥6 weeks Pain duration: ≥6 weeks |
n=150 (c1), NA (c2) Response rate: 76% (c1), NA (c2) Dropout: 32% (c1), 34% (c2) |
Functional capacity | Time until suspension of time-loss benefits, time until claim closure | |
| Gross and Battié (2005)51 | Canada | Prospective cohort | 12 months | Age: x̅=42, SD=11 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: ≥6 weeks Pain duration: ≥6 weeks |
n=138 Response rate: 70% Dropout: 54% |
Recovery beliefs | Time until suspension of time-loss benefits, time until claim closure | |
| Hansson et al (2006)52 | Sweden | Prospective cohort | 24 months | Age: 18–59 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back or neck Work absence: ≥4 weeks Pain duration: ≥4 weeks |
n=1575 Response rate: 64%–79% Dropout: 28%–55% |
Quality of life Disability |
Prevalence of work resumption | |
| Kuijer et al (2012)53 | Netherlands | Prospective cohort | 12 months | Age: 18–55 years Gender: male Pain: low back Work absence: ≥6 weeks Pain duration: ≥6 weeks |
n=72 Response rate: NA Dropout: 4% |
Work ability | Age Functional capacity |
Time until working ≥4 weeks |
| Schultz et al (2004)54 | Canada | Prospective cohort | 3 months | Age: 18–60 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: ≥4 weeks Pain duration: ≥4 weeks |
n=781 Response rate: 32% Dropout: 15% |
Health transition Recovery expectations |
Coworker support | Work status (Yes/No) |
| Schultz et al (2005)48 | Canada | Prospective cohort | 3 months | Age: 18–60 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: 4–6 weeks Pain duration: ≥4 weeks |
n=111 Response rate: NA Dropout: 9% |
Recovery expectations Symptoms/complaints |
Vitality Mental health |
Work status (Yes/No) |
| van der Giezen et al (2000)55 | Netherlands | Prospective cohort | 12 months | Age:18–60 years Gender: male and female Pain: low back Work absence: ≥12 weeks Pain duration: ≥12 weeks |
n=328 Response rate: 91% Dropout=9% |
Age General health Job satisfaction Breadwinner Pain intensity |
Work status (Yes/No) |