Article

The high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain generates significant costs
for primary health care and the whole of society. The development of appropriate
interventions is therefore necessary. The aim of this effectiveness study was to
assess the long-term effects of a primary health care multidisciplinary
rehabilitation program in Sweden. An experimental group comprising 89
patients from two primary health care units received individualised treatment
interventions after a multidisciplinary investigation.
A control group of 69
patients with the same inclusion criteria from four other primary health care
units were treated according to routine. All participants completed
questionnaires measuring pain, sick leave, quality of life, health care
utilisation, drug consumption and psychosocial factors at baseline and at 3-year
follow-up. RESULTS: After 3 years, utilisation of primary health care was
significantly lower in the experimental group and work capacity was slightly but
not significantly higher. The control group showed a trend of having a higher
risk of high consumption after 3 years compared to the intervention group. There
was no significant difference between the two groups concerning remaining
variables such as function, catastrophising and pain. CONCLUSION: Both groups
demonstrated considerable improvement over the course of 3 years. The
experimental group had lower health care utilisation and a reduced risk of using
large amounts of medication at the 3-year follow-up, indicating that compared
with participants in the control group they were coping in a better way with
pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS