Physio Charlie

I attended an Occupational health course on 30 sept - 2nd Oct 2009 run by Nicoloa Hunter and Amanda Jones.

It was very informative.  Things I learnt were:

1.  Occupational epidemiology - statistics relating to occupational health and musculoskeletal disorders, i.e. Nurses have statistically more back pain than many other professions.  In Lithuania whiplash does not exist as they have no compensation culture. NIOSH epidemiology of MSD's

2. Evidence based practice and LBP - there has been a republication of the NICE guidelines; non-specific low back pain that has lasted for more than 6 weeks, but for less than 12 months.  Back in work for NHS employes is also a good guide and has soem great assessment tools.  Functional restoration programmes are useful after 12/52 of LBP.  The OREBRO questionnaire is a good outcome measure, scoring. The OREBRO (ÖMPQ) is a ‘yellow flag’ screening tool that predicts long-term disability and failure to return to work when completed four to 12 weeks following a soft tissue injury2.  A cut-off score of 105 has been found to predict those who will recover (with 95 per cent accuracy), those who will have no further sick leave in the next six months (with 81 per cent accuracy), and those who will have long-term sick leave (with 67 per cent accuracy).

3. Evidence based practice and neck apin - there is no evidence for any clinical tests.  Level 1 evidence for advising incresed movement and reassurance.

4.  Confidentiality and consent - we must have the patient sign consent to discuss their problem with the occupational health dept.  We can document this in our notes.  The Disability Discrimination Act is important here.