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Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 3/2023

13-12-2022

Reducing Shoulder Complaints in Employees with High Occupational Shoulder Exposures: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Study (The Shoulder-Café Study)

Authors: J. Trøstrup, P. Frost, A. Dalbøge, L. R. Mikkelsen, M. T. Høybye, L. B. Jørgensen, S. D. Casper, T. M. Klebe, S. W. Svendsen

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 3/2023

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate if a group-based Shoulder-Café intervention could reduce shoulder complaints more effectively than an individual-based control intervention in employees with shoulder complaints and high occupational shoulder exposures.

Methods

A cluster-randomised controlled study of 109 participants from 60 companies in Central Denmark Region. Companies were randomised and allocated to either Shoulder-Café or control intervention. Participants in both interventions received a pamphlet on home-based shoulder exercises and a pamphlet with general information on reducing occupational shoulder exposures. They also had their occupational shoulder exposures assessed. Shoulder-Café participants additionally received three café-meetings with casual discussion, clinical shoulder evaluation, education about shoulder anatomy and occupational shoulder exposures, supervised exercises, workplace-oriented counselling, and an optional workplace visit. The primary outcome measure was the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were the OSS at 12 months, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire – Physical Activity at 6 and 12 months, and Patients’ Global Impression of Change at 6 months. The study also included seven supplementary outcome measures.

Results

Both groups improved from baseline to 6 months with respect to the primary outcome (P < 0.01). No group differences were found for the primary outcome (mean difference (MD) [95% confidence interval]: 0.3 [− 1.6; 2.2]) or secondary outcomes. The supplementary outcomes “felt informed about handling shoulder complaints” and “felt informed about reducing occupational exposures” at 6 months, and “Patients’ Global Impression of Change” and “overall satisfaction” at 12 months favoured the Shoulder-Café intervention.

Conclusion

The Shoulder-Café intervention did not reduce shoulder complaints more effectively than the control intervention.

Trial Registration

The trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov on 19 May 2017 (ID: NCT03159910).
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Metadata
Title
Reducing Shoulder Complaints in Employees with High Occupational Shoulder Exposures: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Study (The Shoulder-Café Study)
Authors
J. Trøstrup
P. Frost
A. Dalbøge
L. R. Mikkelsen
M. T. Høybye
L. B. Jørgensen
S. D. Casper
T. M. Klebe
S. W. Svendsen
Publication date
13-12-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-022-10086-z

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