Prospective analysis of factors associated with work reentry in patients with accident-related injuries.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of accidents, the physical and psychological consequences, the patient's predisposition as well as work-related cognitions on return to work (RTW) post accident. Despite the costs of time-off from work after accidental injuries, very few investigations have been carried out so far.


METHODS
In a consecutive sample, 163 patients were investigated directly and 12 months after an accident.


RESULTS
32% of the patients had a poor occupational integration 12 months after an accident. As predictors for return to work were found type of prior work: laborer (OR = 4.34; 1.79-10.50 CI 95%), type of accident: recreational (OR = 0.27; 0.11-0.69 CI 95%) and subjective perception of the accident severity (OR = 0.98; 0.96-0.99 CI 95%).


CONCLUSIONS
Laborers after a traffic or work accident, who estimate the accident as severe, are at greater risk of developing long-term disability. Future efforts should be conducted especially for this target group.
Lange
Corinna
C
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Muenster, Domagkstr. 22, 48149 Muenster, Germany. langeco@uni-muenster.de
Burgmer
Markus
M
Braunheim
Michael
M
Heuft
Gereon
G
D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires