Employment maintenance and the factors that impact it after vocational rehabilitation and return to work.
OBJECTIVE
To determine post-return-to-work disability and functioning amongst occupationally injured workers and to test the extent to which demographic and other variables relate to employment maintenance. In addition, the project sought to document what workers believe determined their work continuation.


METHODS
Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to inquire about participant's (N = 150) post-vocational rehabilitation return-to-work experiences. Results were interpreted using the health and health-related domains from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.


RESULTS
Although most participants were working at the time of interview, almost all were experiencing functional- or activity-based restrictions. Factors differentiating those employed from those not, were largely contextual and included relationships with supervisors, economic climate, and working conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings stress the importance of considering environmental strains when planning return to work and indicate ways to assist workers to achieve return-to-work success.
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Center for Disability Research, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA. amandae.young@libertymutual.com
Amanda E
AE
Young
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace