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
When a “hurt” becomes a “harm” in return to work
Early return-to-work policy in many jurisdictions is underpinned by the "hurt" versus "harm" concept — that the pain a worker experiences after an injury does not cause harm or inhibit recovery. But there are situations in which this concept does not apply.
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Research Highlights
Laser therapy evidence unclear for low-back pain
There is not enough evidence to confirm or refute that low-level laser therapy is beneficial in treating patients with non-specific low-back pain, according to a systematic review.
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Sharing Best Evidence
Improving health and safety in small businesses
Small businesses have unique challenges with occupational health and safety (OHS). This systematic review was conducted to provide an understanding of, and guidance on, how to implement OHS in small businesses, and to identify effective OHS programs.
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Research Highlights
Low job control has negative effect on health
People with less say about how they do their work—that is, with low job control—are more likely to have poorer health. According to this study on the influence of job control versus other related factors, certain combinations of factors have cumulative effects on workers' health.
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Research Highlights
Preteens, young teens are working and getting injured
Despite a lack of official data on the labour force participation of pre-teens and young teens, 12- to 14-year-olds are working and getting exposed to the same OHS risks as other workers, according to a study conducted in Ontario and B.C.
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Research Highlights
For many, whiplash recovery is prolonged
Nearly half of those diagnosed with whiplash-associated disorders reported neck pain symptoms one year after their injury. Those with more severe initial symptoms faced even slower recovery, according to a study.
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Research Highlights
Which factors put workers at risk for neck pain?
Neck pain in workers results from a number of individual and workplace factors. This review examines the role of age, physical fitness, work demands, job insecurity, among others.
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Research Highlights
Young workers out of school, with no diploma, more likely to be injured
Young workers who are not in school have higher injury rates, suggesting that additional workplace training programs may be needed outside of the formal school system to reach more at-risk young workers.
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At Work article
New tool helps bridge clinical practice and research world
The Institute for Work & Health has launched a new clinical commentary tool, Practice Perspectives. It emerged from a clinician-scientist collaboration in which physiotherapists provided direct input into a research project.
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At Work article
Team evaluates participatory ergonomic programs
A unique partnership involving workplaces, researchers and health and safety experts is tackling a problem in electrical and utilities companies that concerns many workplaces: musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
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At Work article
Institute viewed as a top work-health research centre globally
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) “easily ranks” among the top five occupational health and safety research centres in the world and has made “remarkable progress” in advancing work-health knowledge over the past five years. These assessments were made by an international panel convened to evaluate the quality, relevance and impact of the Institute’s work from 2002 to 2006.
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