Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42101256›Full record

SynthesisBritish journal of health psychology2026

Interventions to enhance work participation in people with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis including analysis of complex psychological intervention components.

Joanna McParland, Lorna Booth, Grace Dibben, Ukachukwu Abaraogu, Elaine Wainwright, Evangelia Demou, Lynn Williams, Paul Flowers, Lisa Kidd, Jo Daniels and 7 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in British journal of health psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Joanna McParlandSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0580-2179
Lorna BoothSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Grace DibbenSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Ukachukwu AbaraoguSchool of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, UK.
Elaine WainwrightInstitute for Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Evangelia DemouSchool of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Lynn WilliamsDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
Paul FlowersDepartment of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6239-5616
Lisa KiddSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Jo DanielsDepartment of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3067-9416
Hussein PatwaPatient Partner with Lived Experience of Chronic Pain, Aberdeen, UK.
Paulina WegrzynekSchool of Sciences, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK.
Sarah AudsleyDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ronald O'KaneSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Amelia ParchmentSchool of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Hannah RanaldiSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Karen Walker-BoneMonash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Monash, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR203430
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeChronic pain impairs work participation. Psychological interventions can support people with chronic pain to work, yet little is known about which components are most effective. A systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of interventions targeting sick leave, return to work, work ability and work-related self-efficacy in chronic pain populations. Intervention content was analysed to identify effective components.

methodsA search strategy was developed and applied to six databases from inception until 2nd March 2023, being updated in December 2024: PsychInFO, Medline, Cinahl, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase. Intervention descriptions were coded for intervention functions, theoretical domains and behaviour change techniques. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB-2 tool.

results51 randomized controlled trials were identified. Study quality was poor overall. Meta-analysis showed that psychological interventions were complex, that is, contained multiple components delivered alongside other interventions, which together were associated with reduced sick leave (SMD -.41, 95% CI: -.64 to -.18) and a small increase in those working at long-term follow-up (>12 months) (RR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; I

conclusionComplex psychological interventions can positively influence work outcomes for people with chronic pain. Future research should prioritize high-quality studies and incorporate the five components to enhance work-focussed support.

Indexed as

Chronic PainPsychosocial InterventionReturn to WorkHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSelf EfficacySick Leavebehaviour change techniqueschronic painintervention functionsmeta‐analysissystematic reviewtheoretical domainswork outcomes

Identifiers

PMID42101256
PMCPMC13155186

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.