Evaluation of a multiprofessional rehabilitation programme for persistent musculoskeletal-related pain: economic benefits of return to work.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic consequences of an 8-week multiprofessional rehabilitation programme for patients with persistent pain.

SUBJECTS

A group of 67 patients following the programme and a comparison group of 322 patients.

METHODS

The effect on return to work was estimated using 3 different methods: (i) a matched sample approach; (ii) regression analysis; and (iii) propensity score matching. The economic benefit of the programme was estimated as a reduction in production losses due to sick-leave. This benefit was compared with the actual cost of the programme.

RESULTS

The benefit of the programme was estimated to be euro3,799-7,515 per treated patient and year. The total cost of the programme was estimated to be euro5,406 per patient. Based on these figures the total cost of the programme, including costs for patients remaining on sick-leave, had been recovered when the successfully rehabilitated patients had worked for 9-17 months. Any additional work after that yielded net economic benefits.

CONCLUSION

Since other studies indicate that a large proportion of the patients working after one year also work after 3 and 6 years, we conclude that this multiprofessional rehabilitation programme for patients with persistent pain most likely generates substantial net economic gains.