Background

Sickness absence due to long-term musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a common phenom-enon in Sweden as well as in other European countries. Sick leave due to MSP (i.e. pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back) is higher among women than among men; therefore, women can be considered as a vulnerable group.

Aim

The overall aim is to identify factors of importance for work ability, well-being and return to work among women of working age who are on sick leave due to long-term pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back. The project includes three empirical studies.

Methods

The project was a result of a joint collaboration between the University of Gävle and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency in Gävleborg. Initially, a postal survey was sent to 600 women in Gävleborg who were receiving time-loss benefits during spring 2016. The inclusion criteria were: women aged 18-65 years, ≥ 50% sick leave from service, sick leave ≥ 1 month due to pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back (≥ 3 months) and understanding the Swedish language. The exclusion criteria were: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer, Parkinson, bipolar disease, schizophrenia and preg-nancy. After 12 months, a follow-up survey was sent to the 208 women who answered the survey at baseline, and 141 responded.

Results

Study-I aimed to identify factors associated with work ability and well-being among women on sick leave. The results showed that beliefs to be back at the same work, pain intensity and job strain correlated with work ability. Self-efficacy and depression correlated with well-being. Study-II aimed to compare work ability and well-being over time, among women who returned to work (RTW) versus women who remained on sick leave in one year. The findings indicated that out of 141 women, 94 did RTW and 47 remained on sick leave. The group that RTW improved in work ability as well as well-being over time, whereas the group that remained on sick leave tended to decline over time in well-being. Study-III aims to identify predictors of RTW among women on sick leave. The analysis is under way. This project highlights factors that should be considered by health care professionals and policy-makers to guide attempts to reduce sick leave in this vulnerable group.