Plain-language summaries
Institute for Work & Health (IWH) plain-language summaries condense research findings in various formats. At Work articles explain study results with comments from the study leads. Research Highlights summarize journal articles in easy-to-read, digest formats. Sharing Best Evidence summaries highlight findings from systematic reviews and other types of reviews conducted or led by IWH researchers. Issue Briefings discuss key research findings from IWH or elsewhere on topics that are of particular interest to policy-makers.
Research Highlights
Work factors affect off-the-job drinking habits
Work factors that affect job stress and job alienation can affect employee drinking behaviours off the job, study finds
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Research Highlights
An approach to developing a return-to-work program
Intervention mapping is a useful framework for developing customized return-to-work (RTW) programs that have been found to be more effective than non-tailored plans.
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Research Highlights
Examining OHS and workers’ compensation in non-profit organizations
While workers in non-profit organizations face a number of work-related hazards, a case study finds that provincial health and safety legislation across Canada is not always well-suited to this sector.
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Research Highlights
Orthopedic surgeons hold diverse views of chiropractors
In a survey of 500 orthopedic surgeons in Canada and the United States, just over half held a favourable or neutral view or chiropractors. The rest had a negative view.
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Research Highlights
Reducing work-related physical stresses to prevent MSDs
Workplace programs that aim to reduce stresses on the body – also known as mechanical exposure – are one way to prevent and reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), or soft-tissue injuries.
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Research Highlights
Workplace factors affect return-to-work accommodations
Workplace factors (such as firm size and union status) have greater influence than individual factors (such as health) on the likelihood that an injured worker will be offered and will accept modified work. The findings suggest more attention needs to be paid to workplace factors early in the return-to-work process.
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Research Highlights
Older, previously ill workers benefit most from RTW program
Steenstra I, Knol DL, Bongers PM, van Mechelen W, de Vet H
A workplace-based program that has workers and supervisors jointly identify and solve return-to-work barriers is found to be particularly effective in reducing absences among older workers and workers previously off work due to an illness.
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Research Highlights
Does ultrasound speed the healing of broken bones?
There is a lack of high quality evidence to support the use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy to speed the healing of broken bones, although overall results appear promising.
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Research Highlights
Unstable work increases risk of unwanted sexual advances
Interventions against sexual harassment at work should prioritize precarious work situations, particularly in the service sector, study suggests.
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Sharing Best Evidence
Are workplace prevention programs effective?
Injury/illness prevention and loss control programs (IPCs) help protect workers from injuries, meet regulatory requirements, reduce the negative effects of injuries and manage costs. IPCs include the three Ps: work practices among employees, policies developed by employers and programs required by legislation. This systematic review has shown that there is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of disability management/return-to-work programs.
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At Work article
IWH develops six messages to help prevent MSDs
Most of us know that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can be painful and disabling to workers. Plus these injuries to muscles, ligaments or other soft tissues negatively affect your company’s bottom line. Preventing MSDs can help enhance workers’ health, increase productivity and improve your company’s economic growth.
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Research Highlights
Five non-surgical neck pain treatments work equally well
A study of five non-surgical treatments for neck pain — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Cox-2 inhibiting NSAIDs, exercise, mobilization, and manipulation — found no one treatment option for neck pain was found to be clearly superior when both benefits and harms were considered.
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At Work article
Massage relieves, but does not cure, chronic low-back pain
Current trends suggest massage has become a popular treatment option for chronic low-back pain. Massage, among the earliest known tools for treating pain, can promote muscle relaxation, improved circulation and general feelings of well-being. And it doesn’t involve surgery or prescription pill bottles. Massage feels great. But is it a cure?
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At Work article
Disability income security programs are poorly coordinated
Canadian workers with disabilities face a patchwork of income security benefit programs – and many working-age disabled Canadians receive no income security benefits at all, according to a study by Institute for Work & Health researchers. Income security benefits provide financial support to those who cannot work.
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At Work article
IWH has a rich history in return-to-work research
Dr. John Frank, one of IWH's first senior scientists, talks about Institute's rich history in return-to-work research.
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