About Us
Who We Are
An integrated network of collaborating researchers, clinicians, workers, employers, unions and other stakeholders committed to preventing work-related disability, attaining safe and sustainable RTW and improving the health-related quality of life for injured workers is our vision. CREIDO Mission To reduce the burden of chronic musculoskeletal pain and disability through collaborative research and the development and implementation of effective prevention, rehabilitation and sustainable RTW programs. CREIDO Goals The course of work-related MSK injuries offers time-dependant opportunities for interventions. While we must intervene early, it is essential to determine on who and when specific interventions are most likely to be beneficial. Consequently, our CRE has two goals aimed at returning injured workers to safe and sustainable employment. To reduce the incidence of chronic MSK pain and disability in injured workers through the design and testing of secondary prevention interventions. These interventions will target injured workers shortly after their injury, before they develop chronic pain, disability and work absenteeism. To develop and test tertiary prevention interventions to promote safe and sustainable RTW while reducing the negative health consequences of chronic pain and disability. These interventions will target injured workers who have developed chronic pain, disability and work absenteeism.
CREIDO Objectives
Our CRE will meet its goals by fulfilling six specific objectives that require researchers, clinicians, workplaces, workers, unions and the WSIB to work in partnership with injured workers to reduce the burden of chronic MSK pain and disability.
Objective One
To create a world-leading network of collaborating scientists and clinicians who will work in partnership with workplaces, workers and other stakeholders to develop and implement a transdisciplinary and participatory research program centred in the biopsychosocial model of health and aimed at preventing and reducing chronic MSK pain, disability and work absenteeism in injured workers. Rationale: Our CRE will integrate the skills and knowledge of epidemiologists, occupational physicians, rheumatologists, psychologists, surgeons, chiropractors, physiatrists, occupational and physical therapists, ergonomists, kinesiologists, RTW coordinators, labour leaders, workers and employers. Our team comes from a natural alliance between the clinician-researchers, scientists and others that share our vision and mission. This group will form alliances with workplaces and other stakeholders to ensure our work is conducted outside the boundaries of disciplinary and other silos.
Objective Two
To identify clinical and workplace factors that increase the risk to develop chronic MSK pain. In addition, we will identify clinical and workplace factors that prolong MSK disability and work absenteeism once they have become established. Rehabilitation Solutions (RS) has in place a clinical data collection system that we will use for these purposes. Collection will be expanded to add workplace variables and include data collection on more acute workplace injuries. Rationale: The disappointing efforts to reduce the burden of chronic pain are partially attributable to our inability to identify those at risk and apply timely interventions to prevent disability, and a lack of evidence on modifiable prognostic factors that could inform the development and testing of effective interventions for RTW. Identifying these factors is essential to meet our 3rd and 4th objectives.
Objective Three
To develop prediction tools (rules) to identify injured workers more likely to need one of many available interventions (clinical or workplace) to prevent chronic pain, disability and work absenteeism. Prediction tools are necessary to triage injured workers to appropriate and timely care, to successfully manage disability, and to make timely decisions about return to sustainable work. We will pilot test and refine these tools in our clinical and collaborating workplace settings. Rationale: Decision-making tools are derived from risk and prognostic factor research (objective 2). They reduce uncertainty around management decision making. Front-line clinicians, claims adjudicators and workplaces need practical tools to assist them in triaging injured workers into effective clinical and workplace intervention programs in a timely manner. These tools will ensure that the best management practices interface with the best clinical and RTW interventions (objective 4).
Objective Four
To develop, test and implement multimodal intervention strategies to return workers to safe and sustainable work and improve their health-related quality of life. Based on the best available evidence, and informed by our prediction tools, we will pilot clinical/workplace interventions. Successful pilot studies will form the basis for full applications to fund intervention studies. Rationale: There is evidence that work disability duration is reduced by workplace accommodation, contact between health-care providers and the workplace, early contact with the injured worker by the workplace, ergonomic worksite visits and the involvement of return-towork coordinators. We will gather transdisciplinary expertise and cultivate workplace relationships that can inform, implement and study the results of RTW interventions.
Objective Five
To develop and implement effective Knowledge Implementation and Evaluation (KIE) strategies to facilitate the development and uptake of our research by all appropriate stakeholders. Rationale: We view KIE as an integral component of the research process. While transferring research knowledge to audiences is important, it is equally important to listen to and learn from them, and invite their participation in our research activities. We will identify and invest in our stakeholder groups by listening, learning and responding to their needs. At the same time, we will develop innovative and useful KIE technologies to accomplish our mission.
Objective Six
To develop the next generation of investigators, clinicians and disability managers through mentoring of graduate students, clinical training and our KIE initiatives. Rationale: Continuity and innovation in research is a key goal of this application. Thus, developing a nucleus of scientists in our area of research is a priority. UHN, IWH and TRI offer, individually and collectively, a rich multidisciplinary environment where trainees are exposed to a wide range of conceptual, clinical and methodological expertise. Our partnership with the new Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and Falconbridge Ltd. offers unique opportunities to develop a research program that is relevant to northern Ontario. Furthermore, our participation in the Canadian Work Disability Prevention CIHR Strategic Training Program at the Université de Sherbrooke will provide state of the art training for our students and provide a forum to test and access best teaching practices.