ORGANISATIONAL OBSTACLES TO RECOVERY ('BLACK FLAGS') FROM MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

摘要

It is now recognised that psychosocial factors ('yellow' and 'blue' flags) play an important role in delayed recovery from musculoskeletal disorders, and that early identification of these obstacles to recovery is recommended. Thus, an occupational psychosocial intervention (with availability of modified work) was developed which was intended to be delivered within the first few days of absence or complaint. During a 12-month period, targets for early intervention were reached at one site (mean 3 days), but not at another (mean 15 days). Early contact with appropriate intervention was shown to significantly reduce presenting absence, compared with late contact and no intervention. These findings highlighted organisational policies ('black flags') as an obstacle to recovery, in that they can negate the benefits of early intervention.