Health status, work limitations, and return-to-work trajectories in injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and work limitations in injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders at 1 month post-injury, stratified by return-to-work status, and to document their return-to-work trajectories 6 months post-injury.


METHODS
A sample of 632 workers with a back or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder, who filed a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board lost-time claim injury, participated in this prospective study. Participants were assessed at baseline (1 month post-injury) and at 6 months follow-up.


RESULTS
One month post-injury, poor physical health, high levels of depressive symptoms and high work limitations are prevalent in workers, including in those with a sustained first return to work. Workers with a sustained first return to work report a better health status and fewer work limitations than those who experienced a recurrence of work absence or who never returned to work. Six months post-injury, the rate of recurrence of work absence in the trajectories of injured workers who have made at least one return to work attempt is high (38%), including the rate for workers with an initial sustained first return to work (27%).


CONCLUSIONS
There are return-to-work status specific health outcomes in injured workers. A sustained first return to work is not equivalent to a complete recovery from musculoskeletal disorders.
Bültmann
Ute
U
National Research Centre for Working Environment, Lerso Parkalle 105, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. u.bultmann@med.umcg.nl
Franche
Renée-Louise
RL
Hogg-Johnson
Sheilah
S
Côté
Pierre
P
Lee
Hyunmi
H
Severin
Colette
C
Vidmar
Marjan
M
Carnide
Nancy
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D016272:Occupational Health; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D009864:Ontario; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work; D014942:Workers' Compensation