What leads to the expectation to return to work? Insights from a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model of future work outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study used a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to identify the factors influencing the future work expectations and outcomes of employees with a musculoskeletal injury. PARTICIPANTS: Australians with a compensable work injury (N=174), mean age=43.7 years, 53.2% male, 48.3% back injury , and 34.2% unskilled. METHODS: A TPB model of the target behavior 'working, or continuing to work … three months from now' was constructed. A questionnaire measuring the model's components was completed at baseline and three-months follow-up. RESULTS: The model met standard psychometric requirements. Attitude, Subjective Norm and Perceived Behavioral Control explained 76% of the variance in Behavioral Intention (R^{2}= 0.76, p< 0.001). Behavioral Intention (the expectation to return to work) explained 51% of the variance in work participation at follow-up (Nagelkerke R^{2}=0.51, p< 0.001; sensitivity=86.4%, specificity=71.2%). The strength of key influences on expectations varied according to employment status, but included the availability of modified duties, social aspects of work, the opinion of the treating doctor, co-worker support, pain, and functional limitations. CONCLUSION: The TPG is a useful model and conceptual framework for integrating the biopsychosocial determinantsof return to work (RTW) and identifying the influences on future work expectations and outcomes.

Views on the diagnostic labels of autism and Asperger's disorder and the proposed changes in the DSM.

With the approaching release of the DSM V in 2013, there has been much debate about the proposal to remove the diagnostic label of Asperger's disorder from the new DSM. This study explored how health and education professionals perceive the conditions of autism and Asperger's disorder and their views on the proposed diagnostic changes. Analysis of the 547 participant responses confirmed an increase stigma is associated with the label of autism, with autism considered to be a more severe than the condition of Asperger's disorder. Approximately half of the participants reported being opposed to proposed diagnostic changes and of the remaining participants, 22% supported the proposed changes and 28% expressed uncertainty.

Parental and professional beliefs on the treatment and management of ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined parental and professional beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment strategies for ADHD. METHOD: Parents of children with and without ADHD and seven medical and nonmedical professional groups (N = 673) completed a questionnaire examining their beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment regimes. RESULTS: Principle component analysis identified four factors-school-based interventions, medical and allied health interventions, parent interventions, and nontraditional interventions. Although there were some group differences in the level of endorsement for these factors, there was a high degree of concordance between the groups. The school-based interventions factor was the most highly endorsed, whereas the nontraditional interventions factor was the least endorsed by the sample as a whole. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the low level of interdisciplinary interaction that has been reported in the literature is not due to differences in beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment strategies for ADHD.

Outcomes of participation objective, participation subjective (POPS) measure following traumatic brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the participation of adults living with traumatic brain injury in regional and rural NSW as measured by the Participation Objective Participation Subjective (POPS) measure. RESEARCH DESIGN: A quantitative survey of a single cohort as the first of a two phase mixed methods study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: One hundred and thirty-one adults with a TBI were recruited through eight rural brain injury rehabilitation programmes in NSW. These adults completed a range of survey instruments, including the POPS. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The POPS measure supported findings from other research that identified varying impacts of TBI. However, in contrast to other studies, there was no correlation between participation scores and age, gender, time since injury and severity of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that the issue of participation of adults with TBI living in non-metropolitan areas needs to be further researched.

Does the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire predict outcomes following a work-related compensable injury?

The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the usefulness of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (OMPQ) to predict return to work outcomes following a compensable musculoskeletal injury. Participants (n=196 injured workers, 66% male, 36% with back pain) were screened at 4-12 weeks, and followed up at 6 months, post-injury. Total scores on the OMPQ were able to differentiate between work status on both occasions, indicating the potential predictive validity of this instrument. This is the first study to evaluate the OMPQ in a compensable injury population, and although replication with a larger sample is required, the findings have significant relevance to the recommendation of routine screening for the early identification of injured workers at risk of long-term disability.

The impact of ward design on the behaviour, occupational satisfaction and well-being of psychiatric nurses.

Studies have shown that modifications to the physical environment of psychiatric institutions are associated with positive changes in patients' behaviour, attitudes and perceptions. However, little attention has been paid to the impact such modifications to the physical environment have on the nursing staff. The building of two completely new wards at a rural psychiatric hospital provided an opportunity to examine this issue. Measures of the nursing staffs' observed behaviour and self-ratings of burnout and job satisfaction were obtained in both the old and the new wards. The results showed that the new wards were associated with largely positive changes in behaviour and increased burnout, but there was no change in job satisfaction. However, it was clear that a vital component in the success of any environmental manipulation is an appropriate, corresponding change in the organizational climate.