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

NCT07072702 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: SULL2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 75
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

MSK Conditions

Keywords

Pain; Disability; Psychosocial; Perceived Injustice

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Injustice

  The Injustice Experiences Questionnaire (IEQ) will be used to assess post-injury perceptions of injutice.

  The IEQ will be administered pre-treatment, treatment termination and 3-month follow-up.

Study Arms (1)

MPIC

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Managing Post-Injury Challenges (MPIC)

Interventions

Managing Post-Injury Challenges (MPIC) BEHAVIORAL

A brief evidence-informed intervention was developed to reduce post-injury perceptions of injustice. The intervention is referred to as 'Mastering 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 .

MPIC

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• currently receiving psychological services for a mental health problem,
• clinical evidence of vertebral fracture, disk herniation, infectious disease, or rheumatoid arthritis (determined from referral information),
• illiteracy or severe cognitive impairment (determined informally through the intake interview).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University: lead

Study Sites (1)

McGill University

Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1G1, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Michael Sullivan Sullivan, PhD

CONTACT

1-514-512-7246; michael.sullivan@mcgill.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Model Details: This feasibility study will use a 4-centre (clinic), single arm, prospective design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2025
• First Posted: July 18, 2025
• Study Start: September 30, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: July 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

CA (1)