Project

Employees with musculoskeletal disorders in occupational health care - Effectiveness of an occupational physiotherapist’s guidance appointment on sickness absences and work disability costs

So far, there is little group-specific data on the use of occupational health care services by employees with musculoskeletal disorders and there is insufficient evidence of the effects of occupational physical therapist services on work ability and the related cost benefits. We investigate the user groups and sickness absence profiles of employees with musculoskeletal disorders as well as the impact of occupational physiotherapist’s guidance appointments on sickness absences and work disability costs.

Kuvituskuvassa sairaanhoitaja ja potilas keskustelevat.

Timetable

6/2026–12/2028

Objectives

Identify different groups of occupational health service users among individuals diagnosed with musculoskeletal disorders by diagnostic category, and examine their sickness absence patterns.
Investigate the impact of occupational physiotherapist’s guidance appointment on sickness absence among individuals with musculoskeletal disorders, compared with those who did not attend the appointment.
Assess the financial impact of the guidance appointment.
Investigate the differences in the effects of guidance appointments in connection with the most common diagnoses and according to the number of occupational health care visits.

Data and methods

We will conduct a longitudinal study using register data. The target group of the study are individuals who have visited occupational health care during a predetermined period of time and who have received a musculoskeletal diagnosis (ICD-10) or a related reason of visit (ICPC-2).

The research data is compiled from occupational health care service events and the related national register data.

The data includes the following register data:

occupational health care service events (Avohilmo, THL)
earnings-related pensions and earning periods (Finnish Centre for Pensions)
sickness allowances, rehabilitation benefits and medication reimbursed by health insurance (Kela)
degree of education and occupational class (Statistics Finland).

The research data covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2025. The data is analysed using statistical methods.

Results and impact

We produce new information about the different service user groups and sickness absence profiles of occupational health care clients with musculoskeletal disorders.

In addition, we will produce new information on how the occupational physiotherapist’s guidance appointments affect sickness absences and whether an appointment can reduce the costs of work disability for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. New knowledge can strengthen the prerequisites for evidence-based decision-making in occupational health care. Information on effectiveness can be used to identify inefficient practices and allocate resources in such a way that reduces unnecessary costs for employers and society.