Abstract

In Québec, 7% of workers with back injuries evolve towards chronicity. This low percentage accounts for approximately 75% of the costs of repair, which, in 1993, represented $427 million, not including the human and social costs. Although several studies have attempted to shed light on the medical factors associated with chronicity, the capacity of these variables to predict the evolution towards chronicity remains limited. Other factors must therefore be considered, mainly psychosocial ones such as psychological distress, satisfaction at work, the worker’s age, etc. The aim of the present project is to carry out an exhaustive review of the literature on the biopsychosocial determinants of chronicity.
This literature review will result in a report that can be used by the CSST’s professionals as well as by the IRSST to evaluate the research needs in this sector, where applicable.
This review should produce promising avenues of research still not extensively used in Québec, while evaluating the relevance of using integrative theoretical models (such as those originating from the psychology of health) to improve the understanding of chronicity as well as to develop new preventive tools that are compatible with a multidisciplinary approach.