Effect of financial compensation on vocational rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine how financial compensation affects the outcome of vocational rehabilitation.


METHODS
A registry-based follow-up study.


METHODS
A total of 1397 rehabilitees discharged from the 5 local rehabilitation agencies in Aarhus County, Denmark from 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2001.


METHODS
At submission demographic data was obtained as well as data on financial compensation, i.e. compensation for industrial injury, indemnity for off-duty injury and application for disability pension. Rehabilitation outcomes were recorded at discharge. Renouncing further attempts at rehabilitation was defined as a negative outcome; education, further rehabilitation or return-to-work on normal or less demanding terms were defined as a positive outcome. Rehabilitees with and without financial compensation were compared.


RESULTS
Rehabilitees with involvement of financial compensation had an increased risk of a negative outcome compared with those without involvement of financial compensation. Adjustment for potential confounders did not change the association between financial compensation and negative outcome. The risk of a negative outcome rose with increasing age, with less than 1 year of labour market experience and with rented housing. Previous occupation as a skilled worker reduced the risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Financial compensation was associated with an increased risk of a negative vocational rehabilitation outcome.
Lysgaard
Anne Pernille
AP
Unit of Social Medicine, Dept. of Public Health, Aarhus County, Valdemarsgade 19 V, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ply@mbc.aaa.dk
Fonager
Kirsten
K
Nielsen
Claus V
CV
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D035881:Compensation and Redress; D003718:Denmark; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000191:economics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation