Feasibility and Acceptability of an Evidence-Informed Virtual Intervention to Reduce Perceptions of Injustice Following Work Injury

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Many individuals who have sustained disabling injuries in the workplace react to their situation with a sense of 'injustice'. Research over the past 20 years has revealed that, interpreting one's post-injury life situation as 'unjust', actually interferes with recovery from the disabling injury. Post-injury perceptions of injustice contribute to more severe pain, more severe symptoms of depression and PTSD, and more prolonged absence from work. Several clinical researchers have highlighted the need to develop approaches to treatment that can reduce post-injury perceptions of injustice. A brief intervention was developed to reduce post-injury perceptions of injustice. The intervention consists of 4 30-minute sessions with a psychologist. The intervention is called 'Managing Post-Injury Challenges' (MPIC). The MPIC sessions are delivered virtually (online). As a first step toward determining whether MPIC has added value for promoting more successful recovery following work injury, the proposed research will assess the feasibility of MPIC. Some of the feasibility questions that will be addressed include: Are injured workers interested in participating in MPIC? Do injured individuals remain sufficiently engaged to complete all 4 sessions of MPIC? Does participation in MPIC contribute to meaningful reductions in perceived injustice? And are injured individuals satisfied with the benefits of MPIC? MPIC differs from many other rehabilitation interventions in that it focuses on a 'risk-factor' for problematic recovery as opposed to treating a specific health or mental health problem. At this time, there is little information about whether injured workers are interested in interventions focusing on 'risk factors' for problematic recovery. As a first step in evaluating the effectiveness of MPIC, it is necessary to demonstrate that MPIC is acceptable to injured workers. We would consider the study to be successful if 1) at least 75% of eligible injured workers agree to enrol in MPIC, 2) if at least 75% of participants attend all 4 sessions of MPIC, and if at least 75% of participants are satisfied with the benefits they derived from their involvement in MPIC. If MPIC is ultimately shown to be effective in reducing post-injury perceptions of injustice, offering MPIC to injured workers with elevated scores on a measure of perceived injustice could contribute to more successful recovery.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 25
Maximum Age: 65
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• working knowledge of English,

• work absence of less than 8 weeks duration following a musculoskeletal injury to the back or neck,

• a score above clinical threshold on a self-report measure of perceived injustice,

• between 25 and 65 years of age,

• referred for primary care physiotherapy, and

• currently receiving wage indemnity benefits from the WSIB.

Locations
Other Locations
Canada
McGill University
RECRUITING
Montreal
Contact Information
Primary
Michael Sullivan Sullivan, PhD
michael.sullivan@mcgill.ca
1-514-512-7246
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-09-30
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-06-30
Participants
Target number of participants: 75
Treatments
Experimental: MPIC
A brief evidence-informed intervention was developed to reduce post-injury perceptions of injustice. The intervention is referred to as 'Managing Post-Injury Challenges' (MPIC). MPIC consists of 4 weekly 30-minute virtual meetings with a psychologist trained in the delivery of the intervention. MPIC is delivered concurrently with the physiotherapy treatment to which the injured worker has been referred. MPIC combines elements of validation, motivational interviewing, acceptance and problem-solving.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: McGill University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov