Health practice and management
Health-care providers and health-care services play an important part in the return to work (RTW) of injured workers and in disability management processes at workers’ compensation boards in Canada. IWH research supports front-line health-care practitioners—including primary care physicians and allied health-care professionals, who support or treat workers with injuries and illnesses that affect their ability to work.
Featured
At Work article
How employers are improving RTW outcomes for public safety workers with PSTI
Public safety employers face a range of challenges when supporting workers to return to work after experiencing a post-traumatic stress injury. Employers have developed strategies to face these challenges, as outlined in a recent IWH Speaker Series presentation.
Published: March 12, 2025
At Work article
Employers face challenges in supporting public safety personnel with post-traumatic stress injuries
In Ontario, a pilot program has been developed to help treat public safety workers with post-traumatic stress injuries. To identify any needed changes to the program, IWH researchers asked employers about their experiences helping these workers return to work after a mental health injury.
Published: January 15, 2025
Impact case study
WSIB narcotics strategy reducing harm and spending
IWH opioid and chronic pain expert, Dr. Andrea Furlan, helps shape new rules in her role on drug advisory committee.
Published: December 2014
Impact case study
IWH expertise key to opioid guideline, tool development
Work on Canadian opioid guideline in turn leads to development of opioid management tool and helps launch IWH scientist's profile as opioid expert.
Published: July 2012
Project
Project
Understanding the use and impact of early opioid prescriptions for work-related low-back pain
Do opioids prescribed in the early weeks of a new workers’ compensation lost-time claim for low-back pain result in prolonged work disability? This was one of the questions asked by an IWH research team looking at the opioid prescription patterns with respect to low-back pain.
Status: Completed 2017
Impact case study
WSIB turns to IWH for its expertise in logic models
Institute scientists work with WSIB to provide ongoing evaluation of three important programs.
Published: September 2010
Research Highlights
Research Highlights
Involving stakeholders helps research influence policy
In 2004, Washington State enacted a three-year pilot program enabling nurse practitioners to work in an expanded role as “attending providers” for injured workers. Following an evaluation, the program was made permanent. This case-study-based research showed how involving stakeholders enhanced the impact of research on health policy.
Published: January 2009
Research Highlights
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.
Published: November 2008
At Work article
At Work article
Systematic review finds little evidence in support of back belts
Is wearing a back belt really effective in preventing and/or reducing occupational low-back pain? According to a new systematic review by researchers at the Institute for Work & Health, there is limited evidence to support their use.
Published: February 2006
Research Highlights
Research Highlights
Is traction effective in treating low-back pain?
Based on current evidence, traction as a single treatment is not effective for patients with low-back pain, with or without sciatica. However, there are very few high-quality studies in this field.
Published: January 2006