Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T16:08:17.644Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predicting Return To Work After Workplace Injury: A Review of Current Literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2012

Richard Hilton
Richard Hilton*
Affiliation:
Employers Mutual, South Australia, Australia
*
Employers Mutual, Provider Relationship Manager, GPO Box 2575, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. E-mail: r.hilton@employersmutualsa.com.au
Get access

Abstract

Eighty-four predictor variables were identified from thirty-four studies that researched return to work after workplace injury. The six most studied variables were then critically reviewed. The variables were age, sex, living arrangements, employment maintenance, delay to rehabilitation, and employment type. Based on the number of statistical findings, and on review of the articles, age, employment maintenance, and delay to rehabilitation demonstrated strong relationships with return to work. The variables of sex, living arrangements and employment type did not demonstrate such relationships. While this research brought together the current knowledge base the inability to quantitatively analyse previous results was a major limitation. It was recommended that ongoing research in this area ensures that analysis and publication of results provides information that would allow such secondary analysis in the future. It was also recommended that the current research focus on demographic variables be shifted to more prospective intervention based research.

Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , January 2005 , pp. 84 - 102
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abercrombie, N., Hill, S., & Turner, B. (2000). Dictionary of sociology (4th ed.). London: Penguin Group.Google Scholar
Auer, J., Cunningham, J., & Jennings, K. (2005). Report summary. Gender, workplace injury and return to work: A South Australian perspective. Adelaide, Australia: WorkCover Corporation and the Working Women's Centre.Google Scholar
Blackwell, T.L., Leierer, S.J., Haupt, S.S., & Kampitsis, A. (2003). Predictors of vocational rehabilitation return-to-work outcomes in workers' compensation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 46(2), 108–114.Google Scholar
Blackwell, T.L., Leierer, S.J., Haupt, S.S., Kampitsis, A., & Wolfson, J.R. (2004). Prediction of vocational outcomes for workers' compensation claimants with back injury. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 35, 32–38.Google Scholar
Block, F.S. & Prins, R. (Eds.). (2002). Who returns to work and why? A six country study on work incapacity and reintegration. Geneva: International Social Security Association Research Programme.Google Scholar
Cheadle, A., Franklin, G., Wolfhagen, C., Savarino, J., Liu, P.Y., Salley, C., et al. (1994). Factors influencing the duration of work-related disability: A population based study of Washington State workers' compensation. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 190–196.Google Scholar
Dworkin, R.H., Handlin, D.S., Richlin, D.M., Brand, L., & Vannucci, C. (1985). Unravelling the effects of compensation, litigation, and unemployment on treatment response in chronic pain. Pain, 23, 49–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fredrickson, B.E., Trief, P.M., VanBeveren, P., Yuan, H.A., & Baum, G. (1988) Rehabilitation of the patient with chronic back pain: A search for outcome predictors. Spine, 13, 351–353.Google Scholar
Gardner, J.A. (1991). Early referral and other factors affecting vocational rehabilitation outcome for the workers' compensation client. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 34(3), 197–209.Google Scholar
Greenough, C.G., & Fraser, R.S. (1989). The effect of compensation on recovery from low back injury'. Spine, 14(9), 947–955.Google Scholar
Hester, E.J., Decelles, P.G., & Gaddis, E.L. (1986). Predicting which disabled emphyees will return to work: The Menninger RTW scale. Topeka, KS: The Menninger Foundation.Google Scholar
Hunter, S.J., Shaha, S., Flint, D., & Tracy, D.M. (1998). Predicting return to work: A long-term follow-up study of railroad workers after low back injuries. Spine, 23(2), 2319–2328.Google Scholar
Lancourt, J., & Kettelhut, M. (1992). Predicting return to work for lower back pain patients receiving workers' compensation. Spine, 17, 629–640.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lusted, M. (1993). Predicting return to work after rehabilitation for low back injury. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 39(3), 203–210.Google Scholar
MacKenzie, E.J., Morris, J.A., Jurkovich, G.J., Yasui, Y., Cushing, B.M., & Burgess, A.R., et al. (1998). Return to work following injury: The role of economic, social, and job-related factors. American Journal of Public Health, 88(11), 1630–1637.Google Scholar
Munday, A., & Henstridge, J. (2004). Analysis of factors affecting return to work outcome. Western Australia, Australia: Data Analysis Australia.Google Scholar
Polatin, P.B., Gatchel, R.J., Barnes, D., Mayer, H., Arens, C., & Mayer, T.G. (1989). A psychosociomedical prediction model of response to treatment by chronically disabled workers with low-back pain. Spine, 14(9), 956–961.Google Scholar
Rossignol, M., Suissa, S., & Abenhaim, L. (1988). Working disability due to occupational back pain: Three year follow up of 2300 compensated workers in Quebec. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 30, 502–505.Google Scholar
Russell, J., Young, A., & Hart, W. (1995). Predictors of return to work following a work-related stress injury. In Cotton, P. (Ed.), Psychological health in the workplace: Understanding and managing occupational stress (pp. 233–246). Victoria, Australia: The Australian Psychological Society.Google Scholar
Sheikh, K. (1987). Occupational injury, chronic low back pain and return to work. Public Health, 101, 417–425.Google Scholar
Smith, J.K., & Crisler, J.R. (1985). Variables associated with vocational rehabilitation outcome of chronic low back pain individuals. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 16(1), 22–24.Google Scholar
Strautins, P., & Hall, W. (1989). Does early referral to an on-site rehabilitation program predict return to work? Journal of Occupational Health and Safety, 5(2), 137–143.Google Scholar
Victorian Accident Rehabilitation Council. (1990). A study of the benefits and costs of rehabilitation in Victoria. Victoria, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Volinn, E., VanKoevering, D., & Loeser, J.D. (1991). Back sprain in industry: The role of socioeconomic factors in chronicity. Spine, 16(5), 542–548.Google Scholar
Wood, G., Morrison, D., & MacDonald, S. (1995). Rehabilitation programs and return to work outcomes. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zeland, 11(2), 125–137.Google Scholar