Citation

Carroll LJ, Connelly LB, Spearing NM, Côté P, Buitenhuis J, Kenardy J. Spine 2011; 36(25 Suppl): S316-21.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health Sciences and Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. lcarroll@ualberta.ca Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH); Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Economics, The University of Queensland, Australia. l.connelly@uq.edu.au Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health, The University of Queensland, Australia, Email: n.spearing@uq.edu.au Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada. pcote@uhnresearch.ca Medical Department Univé Insurance, and Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlandsj.buitenhuis@med.umcg.nl Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia. j.kenardy@uq.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182388739

PMID

22020606

Abstract

Study Design. Focused Discussion. Objective. To present some of the complexities in conducting research on the role of compensation and compensation-related factors in recovery from whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), and to suggest directions for future research. Summary of Background Data. There is divergence of opinion, primary research findings and systematic reviews on the role of compensation and/or compensation-related factors in WAD recovery.Methods. The topic of research of compensation/compensation-related factors was discussed at an international summit meeting of 21 researchers from diverse fields of scientific enquiry. This paper summarizes the main points raised in that discussion. Results. Traffic injury compensation is a complex socio-political construct which varies widely across jurisdictions. This leads to conceptual and methodological challenges in conducting and interpreting research in this area. It is important that researchers and their audiences be clear about what aspect of the compensation system is being addressed, what compensation-related variables are being studied, and what social/economic environment the compensation system exists in. In addition, summit participants also recommended that non-traditional, sophisticated study designs and analysis strategies be employed to clarify the complex causal pathways and mechanisms of effects. Conclusion. Care must be taken by both researchers and their audiences to not over-generalize or confuse different aspects of WAD compensation. In considering the role of compensation/compensation-related factors on WAD and WAD recovery, it is important to retain a broad-based conceptualization of the range of biological, psychological, social and economic factors that combine and interact to define and determine how people recovery from WAD.

Language: en