title: Determining return to work in a compensation setting: a review of New South Wales workplace rehabilitation service provider referrals over 5 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Australian workers' compensation data reports a reduction in injury rates and claim incidence but no improvement in Return to Work (RTW) rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with a positive RTW outcome and describe those referred to Workplace Rehabilitation Providers (WRPs) in the New South Wales (NSW) Australian workers' compensation scheme.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 65,762 de-identified WRP case records over a 5 year period. 9,262 cases specifically referred for RTW assistance were analysed to identify factors associated with a positive RTW outcome
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 47% of those referred for RTW services were able to upgrade their work status whilst 30% maintained their Stay at Work or pre-referral work status. The significant independent predictors associated with a positive RTW outcome were a shorter duration of disability (p< 0.001) (0R, 0.971; 95% CI, 0.964-0.977) and a higher socio economic index score (p=0.002) (OR, 1.131; 95% CI, 1.045-1.223).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that WRPs are seeing an increased focus on management of workers with increasing disability, with socio-economic disadvantage, increasing age, from blue collar backgrounds. The duration of disability is a significant determinant in achieving positive RTW outcomes suggesting that injured workers should be referred earlier for RTW services.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Petrina P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: RTW outcomes; Workers' compensation; occupational injury; occupational rehabilitation